Wednesday, January 19, 2022
A ladder to the stars
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Fiddling around
Jim from the Dinghy Shop called yesterday. He had to curtail his trip down to Tassie because of engine problems, so he was back in the shop, and the Ronstan Fiddle block I ordered before Christmas was in. Good news for me at least. My back still not so good. We went for a swim first thing, then I thought I would try out the Fiddle Block.
The SE wind had kicked up by the time I was ready to launch. I tried sailing off the lee shore, but Derry isn't great without rudder and centreboard down. After a couple of fruitless attempts I rowed out a bit, then off we went bouncing through the chop. Coming back in, surfing on the waves, I was hitting over 7 knots. The boat felt very controllable. The Fiddle Block is a success, much easier than the cleat arrangement it replaces.
It wasn't a long sail but glad I got out.
Thursday, January 6, 2022
A serious present
I aggregated my Christmas and birthday presents for a dry suit, which arrived yesterday.
Steve Early and Bruce Batteau, two sailors of small open boats with much more experience of making extended voyages than me, both have positive reports and both are glad of their dry suits. "Don't get cold, don't get wet" is a good motto. I could probably have used one that rainy day down at Mallacoota. The challenge will be getting into the damn thing. Steve Early speaks of "slipping on" his dry suit. More like a five minute wrestle with a contortionist for me when I tried mine yesterday. I doubt I could get it on or off in the Skerry on the water. And it is quite a sizeable package.
Anyway, it feels quite comfortable on, and I feel like an extra in a sci-fi film from the sixties.
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
A message
Chop ouch
Khiem was down from Sydney and yesterday turned out to be the only day we could get out for a sail. Liem his son, who is a keen dinghy sailor, came with us and helmed ably for most of the trip over to Williamstown and back. Gerard launched his Hartley ts14. Peter was going to get out but pulled the pin after looking at the forecast. Federico was out in his Impulse with a couple of AYC boats, tho we only saw them as we were coming back in.
It was a grey, choppy day, wind around 15 knots Southerly, but it seemed to build up some decent swell, particularly off Breakwater Pier and off Williamstown Beach. I was running to help Gerard, then with multiple people on board I was twisting to get the engine up and out of the way. Somewhere in there my back went haywire. Coming home, I could not get out of the car, I just couldn't lift my leg to get over the door sill. I also managed to get my hand caught in the engine raising mechanism. So I am feeling a bit sore and sorry for myself.
Somehow, sailing with other people seems to bring distractions. Rewards too, but on balance I am coming to think the Steve Early/Webb Chiles model is what suits me best.
Khiem made a nice video, though I hate seeing myself on video. Oh well ...
Sunday, January 2, 2022
First for the year
I got the Skerry out for the first sail of 2022 yesterday. A bit humid but lovely on the water. I was a bit stupid rigging and wrapped the sail round the peak of the yard, which I didn't notice till we were underway. I hove to, dropped sail, untangled snafu, then rehoisted and sailed on. Easy. The Skerry is a very well behaved boat. It was a relaxing sail.
Saturday, January 1, 2022
Art, life, cat ketches