This could be the last time

I got the Core Sound out this morning, motivated by a growing sense that it might well be the last time, for a while at least. Hopefully not permanently.

It was a calm warm morning, and I was on the water by about 10. I sailed round to anchor off AYC, to say good morning to Andrew and let Oz have a leg stretch. Bjorn and his wife were walking Poppy their dog down there, so Oz had a playmate, and we all had a nice ad hopefully adequately distant chat. We are social creatures to be sure.

I headed off again, andrew followed and soon passed me in the light airs but we moved along ok, out past Altona reef mark, where the wind dropped to dead calm. But we managed to ghost along, very relaxed sailing, till Andrew pointed to the dark patch on the water heading our way fast, and a sudden blast from the north hit us, making for some exciting sailing. Anne was on her way down, and I did not want to keep her waiting, or I would have put in a reef. By dumping the main we kept reasonably upright - Oz looks very alarmed when we get too much of a tilt - and with a couple of tacks we made a good landing near where Anne was waiting.

The wind had kicked right up, and Anne and Oz were a bit anxious as we beat across towards Williamstown. We tacked again, and came in near Kororiot Creek mouth, usually a totally deserted spot, but today there were people walking their dogs there, thanks to the warm weather, the low tide and the general shutdown of most other occupations. We had lunch, Oz barked at a few dogs, and then we set off home, wind behind us, under mizzen alone, creaming along at 4 to 5 knots.

Tonight, on my Facebook feed, there was a post from Maritime Victoria: To help slow the spread of coronavirus, we recommend you cancel planned boating activities this weekend. Recreational boating is a non-essential activity.
The advice to Victorians is clear: if you can stay home, you must stay home. Your exposure to others while refuelling, buying bait or being rescued in the event of an incident may contribute to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
This is tough. But each of us are being asked to make sacrifices to save lives.
Take care everyone. Stay up to date with the latest health advice from DHHS: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus Better Boating Victoria Victorian Fisheries Authority
I expect Stage 3 restrictions , when they come, will prohibit recreational boating.  Today may well have been the last on the water for a while.