I wanted to show off the Big River - The Clarence - to my sister Pat. What better way than joining the Clarence River Yacht Club annual Classic Cruise (also known as Classic Pub Crawl)? The Clarence has become my favourite sailing base for the last 3 years.
Sunday 2 October. When we arrived at the Clarence River Yacht Club (the Scout Hall) in Grafton and it was raining. A spot of deja vu as in 2010 the same event was virtually rained out. Ignoring the rain we rigged and then socialised with other damp trailer sailors at the BBQ. We learnt that 16 boats had signed up.
Monday 3 October. After a leisurely BBQ breakfast we launched and set off down river. Our mood had lifted as the rain had gone and the sun was out. Observations record that there was a 10 knot gusting 14 knot southerly at 11 am. We had a great but all too short sail to Ulmarra - our lunch stop at the Ulmarra pub. This was the only time we anchored and rowed ashore. The rest of the week we were able to raft up at each stop or tie onto a wharf or pontoon. Ulmarra is a gem and Pat was suitably impressed.
After lunch we sailed on downriver to Brushgrove. The observations show that the wind rose to 17 knots gusting 23 knots at around 1400, but I don't reckon it was that strong. We were easily able to stem the flood tide. We puzzled some boats with our erratic progress. I was testing out my new GPS using Brushgrove as a way point.
At Brushgrove we rafted up outside Big River Sailing Club members Col and Jan Hinbrook's riverside house next door to the pub. Perfect. Then we enjoyed an excellent pub dinner and got to know Sue and Jenny who spoke enthusiastically about their experiences crewing that afternoon.
Tuesday 4th October. Another fine morning and a good southerly sailing breeze. So off we went on the ebb tide to Lawrence for lunch. By this time the fleet was all over the place doing their own thing which is fine as the event was billed as a "leisurely cruise". We didn't want a large lunch so settled for just a cuppa at the pub.
Next it was on to Maclean for the night. All was well until about 2 km before Maclean. There was only a light breeze and it was on our nose. The flood tide got stronger and stronger. We tacked backwards and forward many times but just couldn't make it. Defeated, we motored the last bit. I was delighted to find that my favourite spot on the inside of the town pontoon was vacant. It felt like it was just waiting for me.
At Maclean most of us headed off to the local Chinese restaurant. The company was good and the food cheap - but I don't reckon it is likely to win any awards. However the egg and bacon roll and coffee deal at a local cafe the next morning was worthy of an award.
Wednesday 5th October. The organisers had arranged for the Harwood Bridge to be opened at noon for us to sail under as a group. It was such a short distance from Maclean to the bridge that most of us motored then anchored waiting for the moment. It is a strange feeling knowing that all the traffic on the Pacific Highway has been held us just for us.
Once under the bridge the wind died away and many of the fleet decided that it was hopeless trying to reach Iluka under sail against the strong flood tide so on went the motors. We stopped at the Big River Sailing Club for a quick shower. Several times during the afternoon the wind came up briefly and we hauled the sails up but each time it was short lived and we reluctantly put the motor on again. We only have a 5 hp outboard so not surprisingly most of the fleet were lined up along the beach in front of Sedges Pub when we finally arrived. We were the only boat with a stub keel meaning we don't dry out flat, so we tied up to the pub's new pontoon. It is meant to be for 4 hrs only but they seemed OK about us staying overnight. It was a week night out of season.
Thursday 6th October. The organisers planned this as a free day in Iluka and despite the light rain people were heading off on the ferry to explore Yamba. The official plan was for everyone to sail back the next day to Maclean reaching Harwood Bridge at a prearranged time for another opening. We decided it was time to head home, and I was quite prepared to drop my mast to get under the bridge - I just can't make it safely with it up.
We thought we had timed our departure from Iluka late morning to catch the beginning of the flood tide, but somehow the ebb tide kept running against us for quite a way. The forecast wind didn't materialise and the light rain continued. All in all it wasn't the best trip back to Maclean under motor, but we made it uneventfully and again found space at the pontoon. I suppose one has to accept that it isn't always going to be fine weather.
Friday 7th October. Bruce from Woolgoolga wanted to get his car from Maclean back to Grafton and I wanted to get to Grafton to pick up my car and trailer so we could pull out in Maclean. We came to the obvious arrangement which suited us both.
My old Helly Hensen sailing jacket had lost any pretence at being waterproof, despite reproofing it. Helen had kindly arranged to loan me one after I got soaked on arrival but it was time to buy a new one. So we went to the chandlers at Yamba on the way home only to find that their jackets had been such a bargain that they had sold out.
Saturday 8th October. This is a postscript as on the Saturday we were safely back home in Byron Bay hosing Little Dragon down ready for her next voyage. We watched with horror on the radar a severe storm approaching Grafton. We now know know that the race back from Maclean to Grafton was abandoned. Initially there was absolutely no wind then they were savaged briefly by up to 40 knot winds as well as hail. I gather that they all survived pretty much unscathed. Well done.
Finally a thank you to the organisers of this most enjoyable event and to all the other participants. I hope to meet up with many of you in the future at other trailor sailor events. In fact we have already met up with Ian Flappers Reid at Manly where he showed us round Bayside Sailability.
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