Hamilton Island to Sydney on Bardoo

Sign at Percy Yacht Club captures my sentiments 

I joined Dave and Linda Ashenden for a second time on Bardoo this time from 20th November to 23rd December, starting  at Hamilton Island and ending at Sydney - around 1300 nautical miles.

Bardoo, 52 ft wooden Sparkman and Stevens designed ketch

We sailed south from Hamilton Island Marina keen to get out of the cyclone belt as soon as possible. Unfortunately conditions made snorkeling and diving at spots such as North West Island unsuitable, the wind was always blowing the wrong way. So we kept on going south but did achieve the customary visit to Percy Island. 

Pam, Dave and Linda at Percy Island

We left the traditional name plaque screwed up to the ceiling. I reckon it will be there for decades.

 

Then we planned to sail to the east of Fraser Island to Mooloolaba but yet again faced strong southerlies so that became a most unattractive prospect. Instead we headed into Platypus Bay intending to sail down the Great Sandy Strait on the inside of Fraser Island. The strong southerlies kept on blowing so we took refuge at Bunderberg many kilometres up the Burnett River for a few days. Eventually we headed back out into Platypus Bay and south to Kingfisher Island Resort. The southerly was still blowing and we had such an uncomfortable night that we left at dawn without going ashore at the resort. The early start enabled us to navigate the Great Sandy Strait at high tide in daylight. Despite the wind on our nose making for uncomfortable conditions we didn't touch the bottom once. However we had to retreat into Garry's Anchorage for a couple of nights, tucked away from the never ending southerly wind which was gusting around 40 knots. Finally the wind dropped enough for us to brave the "mad mile" at Wide Bay Bar and head out to sea. Bardoo took the rough conditions in her stride.

By now we were well behind schedule so we abandoned the planned stop at Mooloolaba and sailed on to Southport and after a brief stop kept going to Iluka where John Woods joined the crew. During the 48 hour trip from Iluka to Port Stevens we experienced everything, strong headwinds, strong following winds and patches of dead calm. It kept the crew on their toes with continual sail changes and sadly we had to give in and motor the last few miles. I was on night watch when Bardoo surged down the face of a wave at 12.6 knots - Dave and Linda reckons that set a record. I was simultaneously thrilled and terrified not daring to adjust the sails or change course even one degree.

John Woods, Ancient Mariner from the Big River Sailing Club joined the crew from Iluka to Port Stevens

By the time we reached Port Stevens we were back on schedule and had time to spend several days exploring the Hawkesbury River and around Danger Island, such a different experience to being out at sea - both equally enjoyable in very different ways.

Flotillas of these put me of my morning swims

Anchored near Danger Island 

We reached Sydney on schedule on 21st December and I enjoyed a couple of days anchored off Rose Bay between a couple of super yachts (but neither nearly as "super" as Bardoo even if they were bigger and one had a heliport). One can't complain about happy hour in the cockpit watching party boats festooned with Christmas decorations parade up and down the harbour.

Well said Mark Twain, thank you Dave and Linda for making it possible for me to throw off my bow lines.

Tin Dragon's sea trials on Lake Ainsworth

 We skulked home from the March regatta bitterly disappointed. Tin Dragon just wouldn't tack. Ignominy. Savaad decided on a major upgrade. Previously we didn't have a centre board now we have a flash dagger board (recycled rosewood) and a new plate case that has been sealed so thoroughly that surely it can't leak (?) We have also replaced the rudder - see photos above and below.

 But will she now tack? It was time to find out at Lake Ainsworth and our mentor Rob Crosby came along to give support ( hoping to have a go himself). 

 On Friday 8th November there was a pretty strong northerly onshore breeze. I told Savaad that I fancied staying ashore taking snaps (yes I wimped out) so Rob pushed him off solo.

 Tin Dragon certainly flew and after tweaking the tiller extension and the main sheet leads and righting her after a capsize Savaad managed a tack. He pronounced himself pretty satisfied.

 Then, after a picnic lunch, Rob headed out to put Tin Dragon through her paces before we packed up. All went well until... see below

 Oh dear - anyone got a spare mast?

Clarence River YC Classic Cruise aka Pub Crawl

The photo was taken at Brushgrove on Saturday 12 October where I launched and we sailed up to Grafton ready for the start of the cruise the following day. See how peaceful if was on Saturday morning before wild winds hit us at the same spot on Sunday night. There were some estimates of  wind gusts up to 40 knots. I wish I had a photo showing how different the river was on Monday morning to Saturday morning. We chose to stay at Brushgrove all day and wait for the wind to abate rather than venture out into the raging  river.

My crew Rae Wills enjoys a sun downer - well it is a nautical pub crawl.

On the subject of pubs we stopped at Ulmarra's picturesque pub en route to Grafton but only drank tea. We dined at the historic Brushgrove Pub for 2 consecutive nights. The wind on Monday meant we had to forego lunch at Lawrence pub and head straight to Maclean where we only drank a morning coffee. Then we waved at the Harwood Hilton as we milled around waiting for the  bridge to open, having missed out on the scheduled dinner there. Our final pub was Sedges at Iluka, a bit run down but a superb location and it lays on decent tucker.

It would have been bad manners to let Rae drink alone

Our totally undeserved spot prize for arriving last at Brushgrove

The iron headsail proved its worth but we do prefer to sail and did most of the time.

There was a butcher's dozen in this year's fleet and we enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow trailer sailor enthusiasts. Thanks to Paul and Margie of the Clarence River Yacht Club for organising such a successful event. Thanks also to Rae for agreeing to come along as crew, you were great.

Brief coffee stop at Maclean.

The fishing comp. Look hard and spot Helen's catch,

Sunrise while motoring from Brushgrove to the 10.30 am bridge opening at Harwood

Bridge opening at Harwood on Tuesday morning.

We sailed from Harwood to Iluka in record breaking time hitting quite a fearsome chop caused by a stiff head wind against a full ebb tide around Browns Rocks.  Rae quickly learnt the arcane art  of shifting her weight  and getting the jib in at the critical moment when we tacked . Yet again we were the last to arrive in the shelter of Iluka Bay and were met by slightly concerned enquiries of "are you ok?". We had had a ball.

My trailer was waiting for us at the boat ramp ramp near the Iluka ferry terminal and we ended a most agreeable cruise there on Wednesday morning after a final evening of congenial company at Sedges.

We were safely home on Thursday but I spared a thought for the rest of the fleet racing back to Grafton. As happened the year before the wind turned ugly on the day of the race and I am still waiting to hear if there were any breakages, presumably nothing serious as I would have heard by now.

Take note crew I can go single handed

Sometimes I have a glut of friends volunteering to crew. This time my luck was out. They all said it would be great but....  As Little Dragon hadn't been out for a while I decided to go down to BRSC anyway knowing the forecast was excellent.

With a spot of help to stand the mast I rigged and with a helping push was launched. No spare crew hanging around the club that morning so I set off single handed. I prudently headed up towards the Harwood Bridge against the tide and the very light head wind. It took me two hours to tack up there and run back to the club house feeling ready for the ham and salad roll that I had equally prudently ordered earlier. I surprised myself by really enjoying being out solo, a quite different experience to chatting with a crew - although perhaps I won't venture out solo in stronger winds. What surprised me even more was being met by the BRSC rescue launch on my run back. Members were getting concerned about my welfare - late for lunch is not a Ditton trait. I was just fine.

The other reason that the rescue launch was coming for me was to tell me that they had found me a crew for the afternoon racing. Slightly crossed wires - I have no intention of racing this year. My racing crew, Richard from Sydney, looked very crestfallen. We reached a quick compromise. I would take a 15 minute break for my ham and salad roll and a cuppa and then we would join in and "gamon race". It turned out that Richard is a boat owner and an enthusiastic racing skipper. So I said "go for it" and he happily took the helm, but I did stipulate that we shouldn't get in the way of anyone competing in the club points series. That wasn't a problem as Little Dragon was, as usual, slower than the rest of the fleet. I am not at all sure if I made the right choice to crew not helm. It was hard work leaping around the foredeck getting our whisker pole out on each short run.

No photos this time - bit hard when single handed and/or gamon racing and I haven't got into the current craze of selfies.

Ancient Mariners on a jaunt down river

1 June 2013 - the first day of winter

The Ancient Mariners are a (fairly) hardy lot, so undeterred by the arrival of winter we assembled at the BRSC to prepare for a 0900 start down the river from Harwood to Iluka via Yamba. The river was blanketed in a thick but very pretty fog which Richard Sutherland caught in the photo below. Soon the fog dispersed but there was barely a whisper of wind. All three boats set off optimistically hoisting their mainsails but mainly for show. I admit we all motored at least half way to the Goodwood mark. Then, just as I was getting fed up with the noise of our outboard, there was enough following wind to let us silently ghost downstream to our smoko break at the beach just east of the Goodwood Wharf.

Richard Sutherland captures morning mist at Harwood

Pam and Noela motor sailing 

John Woods plus Ted the poodle also motor sailing

Rick and Rob in Ally Oop motor sailing as well

The boating map shows a narrow channel through the sandbanks from the Goodwood wharf across the river then between Palmers Island and Freeburn Island to Yamba Shores Tavern. John led the way and we all made it without even touching the bottom. We kept on between Rabbit Island and Pelican Island and followed the channel markers through the eastern gap in Middle Wall, across the estuary and into Iluka Harbour for lunch. We had to motor sail again most of the way but finally had a short reach under sail. Then we go our separate ways, John, Rick and Rob head back to Harwood. Noela and I stay in Iluka overnight intending to head back the following day

The light so different to summer on the first day of winter

Next morning I checked the forecast "13 knot SW wind" no mention of squalls. We set off at noon under the iron headsail and once out of the harbour decided to sail despite the little wind there was being right on the nose. We tacked back and forth against the never ending ebb. According to the tide chart the tide had turned several hours earlier. All the while we watched two Big Black Storm clouds forming, one to the south and the other to the west and looking as if they would soon join up right over us. They did. We were caught in a strong SW squall that lasted at least 15 mins. Visibility down to a few metres and we hurtled along getting totally drenched. In retrospect it was exhilarating although I am not sure if Noela would say the same. Then, equally suddenly, it was all over. Wind gone and we had to resort to the iron headsail again if we were to make Harwood in time to pack up and get home before dusk.

On the BRSC notice board

Mooloolaba to Great Keppel aboard SV Bardoo

Bardoo was designed by Sparkman Stevens and built by Halverson in their yards at Bobbin Head in 1973 and launched in 1974.

She is a 52′ Triple Planked Canadian Oregon Carvel Ketch with a 14’11 beam and 7′ draft.

Yes, we did set all these sails and the huge MPS.

www.bardoo.net  - see "sailing adventures" "Mooloolaba to Keppel"

Owners Dave and Linda Ashendon

The new owners, Dave and Linda, have just completed a major 2 year refit and are at last reaping the rewards. I was lucky enough to be invited to join them as crew from Mooloolaba to Great Keppel. Bardoo is truly magnificent and I had one of the best times ever afloat. Many, many thanks to you both. 

25 April  Mooloolaba to Double Island Point, 12 hrs, moderate SE wind.

26 April  Double Island Point to Lady Elliot Island, 25 hrs, moderate SE wind

27 April at Lady Elliot Island in very rolly anchorage

28 April  Lady Elliot Island to Lady Musgrove Island, 4.5 hrs, moderate SE wind

29 April  Anchored in lagoon at Lady Musgrove Island - good diving and snorkelling

30 April  Short sail out of lagoon as unsafe lee shore with strong wind warning to Fairfax Islet

1 May    Fairfax Islet to North West Island, 11 hrs, light to moderate wind, perfect spinnaker run

2 May    North West Island to Great Keppel Island, 41 nm,10 hrs,light to moderate spinnaker run

3 May    Second Bay, Great Keppel Island, anchored sheltering from 30 kn SE wind

4 May    Wind moderates and sail 7 nm to Great Keppel Island Marina at Rosslyn Bay so Dave's son can visit.

5 May  Leave marina and anchor off Yepoon Sailing Club in delightful calm water. During the night a horrible and unexpected swell stopped us all sleeping.

6 May    Early morning motored back to the marina in time to buy stores in Yepoon and wait for new crew Peter and Diana to arrive.

7 May    Leave marina and sail for 4 hrs in 35 kn on the nose winds back to Great Keppel Island. Bardoo and crew handled it well.

8 May    Anchored at Great Keppel. Still wind 30+ knots. Fishing.

9 May    Anchored at Great Keppel. Still wind 30+ knots

10 May   Repeat of day before.

11 May   Repeat of day before and still forecast of 30 knot winds for next day

12 May   Sail 7 nm back to Keppel Bay Marina in 30+ knots wind - exhilarating sail.

13 May   The end - until next time.

Linda took all the photos except the first one and the one of the two of them 

 

 

 

The MPS and the mizzen staysail blew out but the spinnaker survived . 

These sails were well past their use-by-date and needed replacement anyway. Now Linda is pondering on the design for the new MPS and spinnaker.

 

We ate Dave's 16 kg wahoo for many nights

 

 

I know that several weeks in a confined space with people one hardly knows is many peoples idea of hell - but I'd do it again any time on a yacht like Bardoo and with owners like the Ashendons.