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.

Try try again

 

It was a grey cool morning, and Gerard and I set off once again to try our luck sailing over from Werribbee River to Little River. The forecast was for north and north Easterlies swinging round to South South Westerlies after lunch. 

We motored out of the river mouth, only to find that the winds were light to non existent, and already from the south west. The best angle we could lay was taking us to Portarlington about 8 miles away. We kept going but only managed to get about 2 nautical miles in an hour.  Gerard saw a seal, I tried to photograph some of the splendid plump gannets bobbing contentedly on the water.

 I suspect the fishing is good for gannets over that way. We tacked and the wind shifted a bit more, so we were heading back much the way we had come. Gerard wasn't feeling great, so we decided to cut our losses and head back in.

It isn't that far to Little River from Werribbee River mouth, about 6 miles. I am determined to get there!

Rolling down the river

 

I got round to downloading the video from the Werribee River expedition. 

I must remember to a) wipe the camera lens and b) take some footage in the second half of such outings. It is typically more exciting, ie conditions more challenging, with less time to think about recording, and I am more tired and thinking about other things, like not capsizing. But it does leave the narrative unbalanced.

To the edge of the world

 

The day before our sail up the Werribee, my friend Kate and I rode our trikes to Point Cook coastal park, via back roads and bike path.  

To the Island

 

We hoped to sail from Werribbee River to Little River, but the conditions were more boisterous than expected, with lots of whitecaps out in the bay and returning fishermen undermining the expedition members morale with reports of rough swell out there. Jamie in his Mirror headed off first, had a few close encounters with fishing boats in the channel and with the pier, so decided an up river trip in order. 

I had a bit of a rocky start, Ozzie tried to jump ship onto the pier, fell in and had to be rescued, dripping wet. Still, once we got going it was a lovely run up the river. Some beautiful stretches along there.

We had lunch on the Island, then tacked our way back. The core sound is a good boat for river tacking, no sheets to mess with. But the pointing angle not fantastic. My gps track tells me we did 90 tacks!

We got back without serious incident. Jamie lost screws from lower rudder pintle, and we were worried for Gerard but he eventually turned up, just as I was thinking of relaunching to go look for him. 

It was  a good day, but I am disappointed not to have got to Little River. And I think I have had enough Werribee river for a while.

Argonaut

 

I got out for the first sail of 2021 today. The wind was all over the place, one minute we would be hiking out and easing sail for dear life, next it would be almost dead calm. There were two Mirrors and three Sabres, a nice little flotilla. 

As I was sloshing through the revolting seaweed swamp in front of the AYC clubhouse to launch, I  spotted an Argonaut shell, embedded in the muck. It is the third I have found in my lifetime, and the second I have found in the Bay. It is amazing that such a fragile object can have traveled so far intact, probably from somewhere in Bass Strait, through the Heads, dodging stink boats and jet skis, all the way to wash up there where I would happen upon it.

It reminded me of the childrens radio program we used to listen to, back in the fifties, the Argonauts Club. It was all announcers with plummy bbc accents and hearty songs that were largely meaningless to my young brain - "Argonauts Row Row Row!", but I can remember wanting that badge desparately. Somehow it never happened. I hope finding the shell is a good omen for adventuring to yet uncharted shores.