Jim from the WBA came over last week with his kayak. It was a good kayaking day, sunny with not much wind. We rowed over to the mouth of Kororoit Creek. but it was too shallow to get in.
We headed on via the Jawbone and along the coast, to T28 channel marker, but no seals home unfortunately. On the way back we saw a raft of about 10 penguins. I was too slow getting my camera, by the time I had it out, all but one had dived below the surface.
We were entertained by the seaplane doing circuits and bumps, clearly taking advantage of the calm conditions to get in some landing and take off practice. He managed not to run us over.
It was a really nice day on the water and good exercise too.
Anne and I launched the Core Sound round 10 from Altona ramp. The forecast was for light northerlies, but it seemed to be gusting up a bit, 12 to 14 knots over at Fawkner beacon this morning. But it helped us scoot along, and we got round to Williamstown with two tacks. There were two boats tied up at the loading berth at Ferguson Pier, but we tied up on the main bit, next to a ladder. It was beautiful there in the sun, having a cup of tea. Why can't I remember to wipe the gopro lens though?
We got some admiring comments and envious glances from the jetty above, and a little girl was very concerned as to how Ozzie was going to get up onto the jetty. Vincent called while we were sitting there, and he came down to join us for lunch. We got fish and chips, good at the time, perhaps not so good subsequently. But something about sailing in and having lunch made it all special.
I did feel a bit like Steve Earley who does the wonderful Log of the Spartina, which involves lots of small boat voyaging to visit locations where there is lots of eating at salty establishments.
After lunch we motored off, as it was dead calm and sheltered in Hobsons Bay. Heading out past the very end of Williamstown, we saw two dolphins, also heading out. The wind had switched round to a South Westerly, so we had a nice reach home once we passed the last cardinal mark. I said to Anne that we should be back round 3, and sure enough, we were nosing our way into the safe harbour bang on 3.00.
It was a grand day out on the water, one of the best.
I wheeled my Bolger Pirogue down to AYC ramp today. Light airs forecast. I missed the bit about rain. At least, as well as getting wet, there was a magnificent double rainbow.
Andrew was a maybe, but must have decided it was too cold. He may have been right, it was a chilling experience. Sandra, the renegade, got her Sabre out. She took some splendid photos of the Pirogue in action.
It is an interesting little boat, but not all that comfortable in the cold, as it is difficult to move round much. I broke one of the gudgeons, and was lucky to get back with limited rudder. It was a good day on the water.
I came across a quote from Mark Twain tonight: "the only real, independent, genuine gentlemen in the world go quietly up and down the Mississippi River, asking no homage of anyone, seeking no popularity, no notoriety, &give not a damn ..." I admire their style, and his.
Gerard was launching at Werribee South, and despite the grim forecast, I got down there too. I wimped out on Tuesday, which turned out to be less windy than forecast. Wednesday turned out to be more windy than forecast, which goes to show you never can tell.
Wind was almost due South, so we ran straight down the river, and had lunch on the island.
My gps showed 127 tacks back up the River. It was a good workout. The wind was sometimes non existent, blocked by the cliffs, sometimes blasting down at 20 knots. No time to relax. I have been a bit sore and sorry since, I am out of practice.
I cobbled together some of Gerard's footage with the odd bits I took. I always wish I had taken more, and I wish I would remember to a) check that I am actually taking video when I think I am (not time elapse which is cumbersome to manage) and b) wipe the camera lens before each shot!
The awful creek/drain that exits into the bay between the AYC ramp and the Altona Safe Harbour wall has redirected itself to run parallel along the shore front past the club ramp. The creek deposits silt, mud and slime which is building up between the shore and the outer sandbanks. I guess this is sort of nature at work, but it makes launching at low tide a work out. Especially if, as was the case last Thursday, one tyre on your beach trolley has gone flat.
It took me ten minutes to drag the boat across the quagmire. and it was hard work.
Once on the water. the wind was light, but it filled in and I had to hike out on the last tack over to Altona Pier.
Andrew very kindly offered to help me drag the boat back, so it was only half as bad coming home.
I discovered that one of the pair of tyres on my Sabre is also flat. Two inner tubes on order.
It was a good sail though, worth the effort, though I will try to time my sailing to higher tide from now on in I think.
Yesterday morning we awoke to thick damp fog. I had arranged to meet Andrew and Gerard at Werribee South, so despite the temptation to stay in bed, we got organized and on the road. It was clearing but still grey when we got the boat rigged and launched.
We motored out, and ghosted around, waiting for Gerard and Andrew to tack out. The current was noticeable, especially when the wind eased. It was chilly. Poor Ozzie started shivering. Anne wrapped him in the emergency blanket and he looked much happier.
Anne had cooked a delicious quiche, and we pottered along in the sun,which at last had broken through, eating quiche and drinking tea from the thermos. Anne read her book, I steered us around in a few lazy, erratic loops. Gerard took a nice photo of us.
We sailed back to the dock, managing not to hit anything too hard, and got home safely.
I took a lot of photos and video, but most of it was rubbish, blurry, jerky, or dull. But I cobbled a short video, and tried using narration to make it sort of meaningful. A lot to be learned, but here it is
Yesterday, Friday, I went for a sail with Gerard who came up and introduced himself as I was retrieving the Mirror last week. He has a Shimmy 12, a very nice looking boat with a loose footed standing lug. The weather was chilly but moderate winds, but the sun came out for the last half hour. The Shimmy certainly is a lovely looking boat.
Steve was down from Wonthaggi and came out with Oz and I. Gerard took some photos of us. It would have been fantastic to get a photo of both boats sailing together. I must investigate kite photography, it would be great to get outside the boat to take an image.
I offered ages ago to give Sandra, one of my Sabre sailing buddies, a sail, and she was asking plaintively about the sailing weather. The wind forecast wasn't too bad so I suggested today. It turned out to be what the Scots would describe as a "dreich" day, grey with a constant drizzle. Sandra tooksome great photos.
Thanks to the weather we pretty much had the ramp to ourselves. We sailed over to visit the seals off Point Gellibrand, and luckily they were home today.
I introduced Sandra to the term "grim relish" today. It described the experience of being out in the grey drizzle nicely. There were a few glorious patches, of a few minutes at a time, when the sun broke through and we basked in lovely solar warmth. It was a really good sail with some splendid skies.
