6 December 09"Four shielas" launched Little Dragon nearly two years ago, Lee, Nicky, Cathy and Pam. Cathy has been tied up with her family recently so that left "three shielas" and we have continued to sail (as well as swim) together. Now Nicky is moving to Lord Howe Island for a 2 year teaching contract. We wanted to make our swan song a positive memory.
It was still a dead calm at 10 am. We relaxed on the BRSC verandah, enjoyed the ambiance, chatted and watched the fishermen. Around 11 am a very light NNE wind arrived and we set off. It was a flood tide and we planned to sail against it towards Iluka. For at least an hour the tide was stronger than the wind and we went backwards almost as far as the sugar mill. Never mind, it was very pleasant just being together afloat.
Around noon a sea breeze sprang up and we headed on a run towards Iluka for an hour or so. It was magic. We had left lunch back at the BRSC so around 1 pm it was time to head back. Although the tide was still with us the wind was on our nose. The wind increased and with memories of the strong winds the previous day we decided to reef. It is the first time I have reefed while underway and all went well, I put on the motor (which still won't start immediately), then came head to wind. We anchored, put in the reef and were on our way. No worries. The observations at Yamba show that at 3.3o pm the wind was NNE 19 - 28 knots.
In no time at all we were back at the BRSC. The pack up went really smoothly, maybe we have learnt a bit in the last 2 years.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch and post lunch swim (well, we had missed our morning ocean swim). Then it was time to head homeward. Nicky and Lee both proclaimed that it had been an excellent sail and a great weekend. I thank you Nicky and Lee for being such excellent company and crew.
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