Modelling the nautical caps

Caz Coffey gave me the jaunty nautical caps, so Nicky and I felt we should model them, thanks Caz. I reckon if we showed our up wearing them at the Big River Sailing Club we would be expected to shout a round of drinks!

Nicky and I decided to launch at Brushgrove on the Clarence River (between Maclean and Grafton). It is a good ramp and we launched uneventfully. However we were spooked by the high voltage power line just below the ramp. It said 10.9 metres and we clear under 9 m but they did look like instant death. So I towed Little Dragon about 100 m behind the zodiac just below the power lines and then we raised the mast.

Although it was almost 3 pm before we got under way we had a great sail almost all the way downstream to Lawrence and back again - only slightly marred by hassles with the jib furler. Nicky got heaps of practice tacking. The wind was NE initially around 6 kts and increasing to maybe 14 kts. I thought about putting a reef in and we would probably have sailed better if I had. Next day we met a Big River Sailing Club member who told me that he had capsized his Hartley 16 racing the previous day at Harwood, so it must have been blowing.

We returned to Brushgrove and anchored for the night just clear of the power lines and rowed across to the pub for dinner. Excellent. Then it was a moonlit row back to Little Dragon for a night aboard. We rapidly spread the fly wire across the entrance to the cabin as the mozzies were ferocious
Next morning it was, as seems the norm on the Clarence River, a dead calm. We had a leisurely start and sorted out the problems with the jib furler and there still wasn't any wind. I was hanging out for a cappuccino at Ulmarra, so we decided to motor upstream. It was fascinating to watch the bird life and observe rural life on the banks. We really need to learn more about the vegetation. Were the impenetrable reeds native or weeds? We tied up at the pontoon at Ulmarra and found that the trendy coffee shop was closed for annual holidays. Never mind the beer garden at the pub is gorgeous.

By lunchtime it was absolutely stinking hot so we braved the muddy water and went for a refreshing swim. At last, at 1.30 pm, the wind finally arrived, initially a light NE but it soon increased to a brisk breeze. We set sail and hadn't been under way for long when there was a heavy rain squall. Nicky at the helm got drenched and a bit chilly. It was amazing to be so hot and within an hour cold. I was snug doing some repairs in the cabin - very well timed.

We got back to Brushgrove by 5 pm with the sky looking like a thunderstorm was imminent so we packed up and got ashore as fast as possible. After enjoying a cuppa and snack we set off on the long drive home. Thanks Rob for cooking dinner for two weary, windswept but happy sailors.

The last photo is of Little Dragon with her anchor light anchored at Brushgrove.