Row and blow

 On Thursday, forecast was for 15 knots North North Westerly winds. I  got Derry the Skerry down to AYC ramp about 11. Wind was indeed Northern and about 15 knots, so we set off  keeping close to the coast heading East, with the wind slight on the Port forward beam. I should have turned back at Kororoit Creek mouth, wherever coast turns South East, but I kept going. Wind shifted north west, and strengthened considerably. Again  I should have turned round but I figured if I could get round the jawbone I would be relatively sheltered.  I headeded onto Williamstown Beach, landed there, and had a coffee from the kiosk, hoping the wind might ease. No such luck.

When isn't out again it was still blowing hard. Around the point from the jawbone there was nothing to break the wind, and a bit of a chop had built up. I tried rowing straight into the wind, hoping the make it to the sandbars at the Creek mouth, but I only got a few hundred metres. The nose would blow off the wind, the boat turn down wind, and I would loose all the distance I had made. I was worried I would break or loose an oar, and get blown out into the bay towards Mt Martha.  

Eventually I gave up, and retraced my route back to Williamstown Beach. I called Anne who ever so kindly drove over and waited with the boat while I went back and got the trailer. A bit of logistical shuffling but home safe. 

The Bom recorded gusts of 29 knots at Laverton and Fawkner beacon while I was out. So I know now what strength wind I can't row into. Reading up on this later, I think I should have tried tacking into the wind. An article in small boats magazine suggests using the centreboard and tacking. A second article suggests ensuring boat is trimmed well down forward. One correspondent says he rows from the forward position into the wind. Hmmm. If ever I am out in similar conditions I can try these. But smartest thing would be not to get into the situation in the first place.

Still, it was an interesting day and I am emboldened to land at Williamstown Beach again for coffee in the future, noone came and tried to chase me off, in fact the natives were very friendly and welcoming.