It looks like the mild Autumn weather has departed, so I am glad I made the most of it. Some memorable days sailing in the log, including a circumnavigation of Swan Island with my brother Mike. That was a great adventure, about six hours from Swan Bay jetty return. The weather was kind, with light westerly blowing us down to the end of Swan Bay and through the shallows - not a place to need a centreboard for tacking. We proved conclusively that the road bridge across to Sand Island is about 5 centimeters too low for a mirror mast. After dropping the mast, getting in a right tangle, and re-rigging, we were swept sideways by the current ripping through the cut, managing not to hit anything. We were lucky, as shortly after we popped out, beside the Ferry terminal at Queenscliff, a pilot boat was barreling in. Lucky we didn't meet him while drifting sideways. Once out in the Bay proper, we followed the top of the West Channel towards the Cole Channel light, with a pod of dolphins performing tricks around us for entertainment and company. Wind had shifted to a South South Easterly, so we had almost a dead run down to Edwards Point where we stopped on the sand spit for a late lunch.
We managed to get back to the Swan Bay Jetty on one tack. A fantastic 10 nautical mile round trip, something that could only be done in a small dinghy.
There have been some splendid outings locally as well. There are a few other dinghy sailors who also get out down here when the weather permits. It is good to have someone else out there, just in case something breaks, and nice to have the company.
