Pier review

 

Ian got out his 14 trailer sailer "Westy", Paul came with me in the Core Sound, and in light airs we sailed over and moored at the pier. It was surprisingly choppy there despite the relative lack of breeze. We got coffees and sat in the sun on the steps congratulating ourselves on our good fortune.

An older gentleman with grand daughter in tow distracted our departure communications and Paul cast off too soon, and got left behind on the dock, but I gybed round and picked him up reasonably smoothly. The two boats in those conditions are relatively closely matched, but we managed to slowly overhaul Westy on the beat back to the reef mark. Coming back to the ramp, once again we got a bit confused, Paul jumped out before I got stern line on, Oz got excited and made a leap for the jetty, missed, and went for a swim. That is the third time. I definitely need to get better on crew communication.

I went to the Dinghy Shop and cleared out my bank account buting fibreglass and some assorted screws. Then spent a couple of hours syringing epoxy into the laps between the planks of the Skerry. 

All in all, a really good day.

Daylight

 

Gerard came over this morning for a cuppa, and I enlisted him to help me turn the boat.

In the afternoon I tweaked and tightened wires. The instruction book says there should be "no gaps or light showing".

Oh well. I tack welded the garboard to the bottom panel. If there is any distortion in the hull, it is there for good.

Trial fit

 

Today it was past time to tackle the garden. Grass was ankle high, bushes growing from either side meeting in the middle. So a few hours mowing, clipping and sawing, and at least we can get around.

After lunch I got down to Williamstown chandlers to buy some 413 west system epoxy filler. It says it has excellent gap filling qualities. After contemplating my trial fit of decks, and oberving the daylight between various bits, I think I might need them.

Head start

 

It was the Stern Chaser race on Saturday. Thanks to my dismal performance in racing to date, I got off about 5th in the fleet, calculated by the handicapper to be fifth slowest. I managed to take a lead over Paul, who had been calcuted to be as bad as me, and overtook Penny who had been deemed two minutes worse. I got past the other two boats and for about a lap had the totally novel experience of leading the fleet, but on the last lap the fast boats, cats and lasers and Impulses, came thundering past. But I managed to stay ahead of the rest of the Sabres, just, despite various errors and loss of focus caused by my hat continually blowing off. Back to the end of the fleet for me for the rest of the season.

I was hoping to go to the WBA Rye sailing day, but I was stuffed after yesterday and Oz seemed unwell last night and kept waking me up. So I stayed home and finished wiring the hull of the Skerry. It is much stiffer now. Turn over tomorrow, shouldbe interesting.

New baby

 

I wired together the remaining pieces of the hull of the Skerry today, and suddenly, there is a boat in the shed. No one would give me any prizes for my woodwork, but I rekon it will come together ok with some judicious application of epoxy and paint.

I feel like a proud parent.

Rabbeting on

 

I tackled cutting the rabbets on the egdes of the planks today. Lots of potential for stuff ups but I think I got them right. Finished the gains, drilled lots of little holes, and at last the assembly has begun. I only got in about a dozen of the copper wire ties. Probably a few hundred to go, but all journeys begin with a single step.

I really dont mind the lockdown, it gives me a chance to focus without being distracted. But I do miss sailing. Sandra sent through some fantastic photos from last week's outing.

She got one of me talking to Roman, the other altona Bay cat ketch owner. So I now have photographic proof that boat exists. I have made contact with Roman subsequently via the WBA, and look forward to some cat ketch outings.

Sailers and Nailers

 

The Fairweather Sailing Club got out again Wednesday for a splendid bash out round the Reef mark, over to the pier for a coffee, then back. On the way, I spotted a Cat Ketch with tan sails and managed to intercept him so we could have a chat. People have been coming up to me saying things like "we saw you out yesterday" when I know that my boat has been sitting in the driveway. Mystery solved. The owner lives in Altona - how weird that there are two similar unusual boats in the same suburb. He moors up Koroit Creek, so with luck I can get him to show me the channel into there, which would be a brilliant overnight anchoring spot.

It was a really good sail, but a bit of a wrench to leave the Skerry project. I am a few pieces off having all the components to begin assembly of the boat.   This morning I lofted and cut out panel 2 port and starboard. Too hot to push on today, but in a few days I should have panel 3 done, then a bit of cleaning up, rabbeting, and gain cutting, and I am ready to go 3 D, maybe by this time next week.  People can pretty much have the hull done in about 8 days from that point, tho it will take me considerably longer. I have ordered a set of sails, which hopefully will arrive in March. WBA sailing day Sunday March 28. It would be great to get it on the water by then.

I am feeling very energized thanks to a great weekend away with the family. We got a house in Walkerville South, with a fantastic view across Waratah Bay to the Prom, and the best swimming beach a few minutes walk away. Our first getaway since covid, and we were distinctly out of practice getting organized and going, but it was well worth the effort.  

Travellers and homebodies, sailers and nailers, it seems that a mix of activities works pretty well. Suits me anyway.

Fairweather Sailors go to Altona Beach

 

Sandra, Paul and I in our Sabres, plus Andrew in his Laser, set off round 10.30. The wind was about 10 knots, gusting up to 15, and quite a chop. Andrew was wearing just cotton t shirt and shorts, and fell into the water when a gust hit him. He turned back, the rest of us sailed to the other side of Altona pier, where we beached the boats and got a coffee from the cafe on the Esplanade. 

Getting off the lee shore through the chop was a challenge, and it took me three tries to get going, as a wave would sweep me back into the shallows each time I tried to tack off. But we got going, and had a splendid sail back past the reef and home. 

I suspect the key to a good sailing day is to pick the weather. I find sailing in a steady breeze with sunshine beats the hell out of grey and flukey. It was a really nice morning.