Tuesday, November 9, 2021

The lost train wheel of Atlantis

 


The water was super clear today. I spotted this artefact, in about 4 metres of water. It is a long way from the moorings area over where Mr Wise's boathouse was, but it probably is from some blokes boat mooring from long ago. 

It was one of those truly beautiful mornings. The ramp was busy, and I had a close encounter with some guy who suddenly backed in front of me at the jetty (just as well I had been practising reverse) but it was just lovely on the water.




Friday, November 5, 2021

Dolphin Day

 


I met Gerard with his new to him Hartley ts14 at Werribee South yesterday morning. Took us a while to get rigged and on the water - I have been spoiled by the Skerry and how quick and easy that is. It was a bit grey and blowy, which helped keep the number of fishing boats down. It was very quiet and relaxed at the ramp.

Once we motored out through the chop and put the sails up, the wind easedright off, and the sun came out. It was very pleasant pottering along at about two knots, parallel to the coast heading towards Little River, and we were almost asleep, when a dolphin surfaced right beside us with loud exhalation of breath. Made all three of us nearly jump out of our skins. I think it is the dolphin equivalent of playing "Boo!" He stayed with us for about three minutes swimming backwards and forwards under the boat and checking us out, before finding us too boring and heading off. 

So, I have had a close encounter with a seal and a dolphin on the Bay this week, a reminder that the Bay truly is a wilderness.






Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Sealed again

 


I was planning on having a slow Monday, and feeling a bit seedy, but there was a text from Andrew saying he would be launching at 10, so I stirred my stumps and got down there. 

I am very glad I did, it was a perfect Skerry sailing day, wind about 12 knots, steady, blue sky, and Mr Seal was home. 




Saturday, October 30, 2021

Swinging the lead

 


Sunny Sunday in snapper season, and predictably the ramp is chockers. The overlow carpark has overflowed, cars and trailers everywhere. No launching for me today.


Instead I decided to try making a weight for a depth finder, a bit of copper pipe, bashed shut at one end, and filled with melted lead. My first try at smelting. It was all very exciting. I wore a mask, and stayed down wind, but I have had an odd metallic taste in my mouth since. I hope I am not lead poisoned.

I  attached the old haliyard line from the Sabre, and put a mark every metre up to 5 metres. Now, when anyone accuses me of swinging the lead, I won't be able to deny it.


Friday, October 29, 2021

Tempest

 A huge storm blew through in the early hours, bringing down trees and scattering rubbish. That's the challenge of cruising on Port Phillip, it is hard to get a series of decent sailing days in a row.




Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Two different days

 I got the Core Sound out yesterday, with Gerard as crew, and Ian along in Westy. There was almost no wnd. I believe my moving average for the outing was round 0.8 knots,but you would need to subtract the torqeedoing out and back at round 5 knots from that. It was very pleasant.


We rafted up for morning tea, still moving at about 0.6 of a knot, perhaps backwards.


It was a nice morning to be out. 

This morning, I arranged to meet Andrew with his laser and Paul with his Sabre. By contrast to the day before, the Northerly was gusting while we were setting up.  My boat blew over on its trolley while still on land. Andrew decided to stay on land, Paul launched but capsized in a few feet of water.

I got out in the Skerry with the reef in. It was an exhilarating rather wet ride. Nearby BOM Laverton weather station recorded 20 and 22 knots gusts while I was out. Good to know the Skerry can handle that.
 

After my troubles tacking in strong winds on Sunday, I did some research on how to get out irons on your desired tack.  The suggested method, push boom over to the side you want it to be on, point rudder towards it, worked a treat. 

It was not as relaxing as yesterday but still fun.










Sunday, October 24, 2021

Lake sailing

 


It was the first WBA sailing day for ages on Sunday. The weather was not so great - 30 knot gusts at St Kilda - but parts of the lake are relatively sheltered and really nothing that bad can happen. Jim came out as ballast, and we had a few close encounters with the concrete wall on the far shore, after a fluffed tack, a hat overboard drill, a tiller overboard too, but all learning. I went out in Peter's Lapwing. I am glad I put sailtrack on the Core Sound, the rolling the sail round the mast reefing is definitely not something you would want to do on the water in a blow. Good fun though.