It was distinctly brisk on our walk this morning, and the sea birds all looked like they had a rough night with the storm last night. I tossed and turned a bit, worrying about the big task for today, cutting the centreboard slot in the thwart. Routers can do a lot of damage very quickly.
After a lot of measuring and fussing, I drilled a couple of holes, connected them with the jig saw, then very slowly ran round the perimeter with the flush bit on the router. A bit of sanding and filing, and I have the top slot done. I will flip the boat, and cut the bottom slot tomorrow. That, and fillets under the seats, and I will be pretty much finished the construction phase. A bit more coating, a lot of sanding, then painting. Maybe I can be finished for WBA sailing day in a week tomorrow. Or finished enough.
Bjorn shared some of his photos from our trip last week. It is always interesting to see the familiar from another perspective.
A great shot of Ozzie "looking very Zen" as Bjorn put it. Once the Torqeedo fired up and we started careening around the boat harbour, I am afraid the Zen calm was shattered.
Until the wind picked up, the surface of the water was like molten glass. Great images from a very pleasant sail.
This morning I launched the Core Sound to try out the second hand Torqeedo I bought a few weeks back. It has no tiller, and a separate throttle. The idea is you steer with tiller.
The good news is that the short shaft is an ok length with crew weight towards the stern. I was worried the prop would cavitate, but does not seem to be an issue.
Not so good, the prop is about twice the size of the Honda's, and I could not turn to starboard in the harbour space without hitting rudder blade with prop. I should have just turned the boat using dock lines, and we could have motored out no worries, but, by trying to be a smartarse, I put on a good bonehead boater display before we were finally pointing in right direction. Bjorn came out with me today, and very kindly witheld any criticism of my boat handling, and refrained from jumping ship.
The Torqeedo can push the Core Sound at 4.6 knots, max. Display says I can only do that for a couple of miles, but that is plenty for getting in and out of harbour. At around 2.5 knots display tells me I can do 19 miles. I used about 16 % of battery fiddling round, getting in and out of the harbour today. It feels very civilize though, and it is great to be able to clear the transome once you don't need engine.
The wind was light today, so we broke out the mizzen staysail, which seems to help. And eventually the wind picked up a bit, and we enjoyed a nice run over towards the Jawbone.
All in all it was a good day on the water, and I learned a few things. It was good to have a break from Skerry building.
Gerard came over yesterday to hold the centreboard case while I measured, fretted, drew its outline, then drilled holes for the screws that come through from underneath.
The hole nearest the centre frame was too close to use the power drill, so I used the hand drill I inherited from Gavan, my lovely father in law. He would have loved this project. It was nice to use one of his tools, his contribution to the work.
As you can see from the photo Gerard took, working on the Skerry requires some good stretching and bending. Just as well I have been doing my back exercises every day.
Every morning as I walk Oz along the beach here, I look over at the coast on the other side of the bay. My brother Tony lives near there and for ages I have been saying I will sail over and meet him for lunch. Yesterday the wind forecast looked promising so we set off early. Roman was cycling by and kindly held my boat while i parked the car and trailer.
We sailed out of safe harbour under mizzen, to find there was a decent breeze out there. It took a while to raise the main and get organized.
But once we were set up we flew along, a very broad reach with quite a chop. Apart from the Bellarine ferry and a survey boat that seemed designed the generate spray, the Bay was empty of vessels.
We had a top speed of 6.8 knots, probably surfing down a wave, but burbled along round 5 knots. We hove to across the shipping channel for a cuppa and to add a few more twists to the mainsheet attatchment, for some reason I turned the wrong way in the few seconds I had holding the end of the sprit before the boat starts turning into the wind. The lesson is, make sure the attatchment is untwisted on land before setting off.
I dropped the main outside Sandringham and came in under mizzen, past all the massive white expensive boats that are moored there. But I was sailing, they were tied up, so I rekon I was getting the better deal. Tony was there as welcome committee, and I ghosted in and tied up next to the little beach of the off the beach sailing club.
We had lunch and an excellent coffee at the little kiosk there, then I set off for the journey back.
The wind faded and I motor sailed across the shipping channel, then settled in for a long beat back. About 17 NM for the round trip.
As the I Ching puts it, "It furthers one to cross the great water". I feel distinctly furthered.
Feels like someone has turned the temperature down. It was 4.7 degrees yesterday morning when I was rigging the boat. But the forecast was for steady Westerlies below 10 knots, a good day for Bjorn's first sail on the Core Sound, and it warmed up as the morning progressed.
Bjorn took some nice photos of the getting the boat in the water phase. I usually have my hands full and too busy to take photos. Altona ramp was very peaceful, despite the blue skies and light winds. The wind must have seen us coming for it faded away pretty much as we motored out of the harbour.
Steve was out in his Impulse, and eventually ghosted over and came aboard for morning tea.
Bjorn did a great job as both helm and expedition photographer, and I thank him for the photos. Despite lack of wind, it was a good outing.
When I got home and the Core Sound washed and put to bed, I put the second coat of epoxy on the interior of the Skerry. I got most of the epoxy where it was meant to go, but there were a few runs, and some wound up in the dog's fur, on my jacket, on my bench, down my right sleeve, over tools, etc. I think I was a bit tired. But it is becoming a boat I think.
Peter, who built my Core Sound, launched his new boat at the Wooden Boat Association sailing day on Albert Park Lake today.
Not much wind, but a good opportunity for him to try out the new boat and rig.
There were some lovely boats there today, including Roger's 120 year old lifeboat.
The lapstrake panels are made that way to allow for wear as the dinghy was hoisted up and down the sides of the mothership. After a couple of hours sailing we ghosted back to tie up in front of the club.
Some serious, boaty conversations ensued. After lunch we sailed round the island again, after which the wind died. Time to break out the oars.
I dropped Gerard back in Werribbee, and got home round 4. I am pretty tired now, but it was a good day.
