... Followed by a magic Sunday

First things first: Cafe Wa in Maclean continues to make a very superior coffee. They open at 8 am daily and I just can't resist a quick fix before my crew arrives and the wind picks up.



Jerry Harris (Irish Jerry - another ocean swimmer) arrived promptly and was keen to get underway as we had to return to the ramp by around 1 pm before the tide ebbed too far and the trailer got stuck in the mud - again.



I was anchored about 20 metres out from the bank which made it a cinch to set off under sail. In fact, reflecting on the magic weekend, I didn't need to start that ... outboard once (I hope it still goes).



Initially the wind was a light SW and we headed upstream towards Harwood Bridge. Before we had gone very far it dropped away and veered SE then E and finally back SW. We were becalmed for a while but time passed pleasantly as a pod of 3 dolphins entertained us by frolicking close by.



Finally the wind picked up again. Jerry enjoyed taking the helm. The only way to learn is to practice tacking and gybing and he got plenty of both. we sailed up to the bridge and then downstream about half way to Iluka.



Although there was a fine breeze, around 10 knots, it remained very flukey. Every time Jerry thought he had got her going "just right" the wind shifted.



It was warm, dry and sunny - the sort of spring day that makes one feel good to be allive. All in all another magic day.
Now Little Dragon is home again, hosed down and tucked up under an old sail that has found a new life as a cheap boat cover.



NB I am writing this 3 days after getting home during a gale and dust storm. No-one in their right mind would be out sailing today.

A magic Saturday on The Clarence ...

My Saturday crew had to pull out so I headed off to the Big River Sailing Club minus crew. I needn't have worried, Saturday is club day and there was no shortage of takers.



Before lunch I went out with Adrien and his twin 5 year old sons. Adrien owns a 44 ft yacht which he has sailed half way round the world. My afternoon crew owns a 20 ft cruising catamaran. Both these skippers were impressed with Little Dragon's responsive performance.

It was one of those magic days when everything was just right: fine sailing breeze 10 -12 knots, sunshine but not too hot or humid, no mozzies, camaraderie on board and in the clubhouse, no equipment failures and no major blunders on my part.

The new sails look very smart but as the first photo shows the luff is slack. The sail maker is going to put in an extra cringle so that I can fit a Cunningham. With luck next time it will be a photo of a taut luff.


This photo shows off the new jib and its furler.

By late afternoon everyone drifted off home and I settled in to enjoy the mozzie free dusk aboard Little Dragon accompanied by a glass (or two) of red wine and a very palatable sachet of rice and vegetable curry that just needed heating up.

Dismasted but the sails survived

Little Dragon was looking great for the start of the sailing season, the rudder painted red, the timber trims freshly varnished and the white deck all polished. The new sails arrived a week ago to replace the 30 year old ones. So I was all set to show her off at the Big River Sailing Club and put the new sails through their paces. Andrew Landenberger (Olympic NS14 sailor and sailmaker) was coming the next day to check out his handiwork and I hoped he would give me a few hints on tuning the boat up.

I arrived early and took my time rigging. No pressure. Then my crew Lee and Nicky came and we launched anticipating two great days sailing. Unfortunately that was not to be ....

There was a strong SW wind which meant we had to get off a lee shore. Easier to motor than sail - or so I thought. The outboard started (it sometimes refuses) but I couldn't get the motor down. I was being yelled at from the shore "you'll burn it out!" I didn't need telling. I knew. I was blown back onshore and the "experts" also found it wouldn't go up and down properly. End of that story seems to be that a bolt has sheared and it will need drilling out and replacing.

John Woods hopped aboard and we managed to get off the lee shore. The rescue boat took him ashore and delivered me my crew - Lee and Nicky who we had left behind.

We thought our troubles were over. We hoisted the new sails. The mainsail set really well but I think the jib could do with a bit of fine tuning. The next problem was the brand new jam cleat for the mainsheet. I replaced the old one as it kept slipping. Well it certainly jammed but it proved very hard to unjam. It is a Ronstan fitting so it should do its job. I need to have total control over the mainsheet. Um... I reckon I need to consult with more of the "experts".

We sailed for about and hour and a half. The dinghy racing was about to start. I was at the helm. We were on a broad reach. All seemed well in the world. Then wham - we were dismasted! I had no idea why. No-one was hurt and the mast and sails looked ok. I started the motor and headed towards the bank planning to anchor in shallower water. It was too deep out in the channel. Luckily Harriet and John were in the start boat for the dinghy racing. They spotted us and came and towed up back to the ramp. Thanks to you both and apologies for causing a delayed start.

We pulled the mast and sails aboard and decided that we had better get Little Dragon ashore where we could see the damage. Now for the next drama of the day (I reckon it was one too many). I backed the trailer down the ramp to exactly the same depth as usual and we winched the boat onto the trailer. However my Subaru Forrester couldn't tow her up the ramp. It was very low tide and heaps of sticky mud had been dumped on the ramp in last year's flood. So my trailer had sunk into the mud. I was pulled out by a Pajero, more thanks to club members. By the way I wasn't the only one. The Pajero had to rescue another stuck trailer half an hour later.

By this time we were all soaking wet and cold but came back to life with hot showers and cups of tea in the clubhouse.

Finally John Woods took a look at the damage. He immediately found the cause of the calamity. I plead guilty. I hadn't attached the starboard stay correctly to the fitting on the deck so the pin broke. I promise I won't make the same mistake again. It turns out that the only damage was to the mast step and the gooseneck. They both needed a bit of hammering back into shape. The sails were fine. John offered to do the minor repairs overnight at his place in Ashby. John you are a gem.

Sorry to my crew Nicky and Lee that you didn't get any Sunday sailing and to Keith and Noela that Monday was also off. Of course I also had to cancel Andrew Landenberger - sorry you didn't get the text message.

I don't reckon I can continue to launch at Harwood at less than half tide until the mud has been dug off the ramp.