14 hour round trip but worth it

I planned a weekend at Harwood with Hans Schwab-Triado crewing on Saturday and Nicky on Sunday - but as so often happens bad weather forced a change of plan. There was a strong wind warning on Saturday as well as thunderstorms forecast. So I cancelled - just as well as there was a storm right over Harwood on Saturday afternoon.

I ended up going with Hans for a day sail on Sunday - a long day - 14 hr round trip. Teacher Nicky was still busy writing end of year reports that had to be handed in the following day. The forecast had improved and was now for NW - NE 15 - 20 knot winds with "isolated thunderstorms". The tide was just right to head from Harwood to Iluka on the ebb and return on the flood.

Hans is an experienced sailor (as well as being yet another ocean swimmer) and owns a part share in a trailer sailer moored in the marina at Ballina. I was flattered that he heaped praise on Little Dragon. We set out reefed but the forecast winds didn't eventuate and we soon shook it out. The wind was closer to E than NE and never above around 10 knots en route to Iluka so we had to tack. It was a pleasant but slow sail only spoilt by the extremely intrusive, loud "hum" from the keel case. That wasn't present before the keel was removed for maintenance.

We swam, lunched and were enjoying a short doze in the harbour at Iluka when a NSW Maritime launch turned up and asked to see our life jackets. It is the first time I have have been checked and was a bit disappointed that they didn't also want to see my compass and other safety gear. Then we sailed back to Harwood. I kid you not, the wind shifted to NW so for much of the trip we didn't get the expected run. We watched a storm forming to the south but nothing came of it.

Most of the trip we relaxed enjoying watching eagles soaring, huge rays jumping out of the water and the occasional dolphin playing. Our mood was shattered when Hans spotted this new sign on the bank.

Dropping the keel the easy way

There has been an animated online discussion on The Trailer Sailer Place about ways of getting the keel out of a trailer sailer. The ideas including tipping the boat over on one side and securing the mast to a tree - but there was speculation that might distort the hull. I had two offers of help but finally I decided that it was too heavy a job for mates and to do it the easy way. I took Little Dragon to Harwood Slipway just next to the BRSC.



The boat was lifted and the keel removed, sandblasted, painted and put back again with a new winch wire, bushes, block, flanges etc - I am still on a steep learning curve.

I was pleased to find a Kiwi shipwright at Harwood Slipway who was a Farr afficionado, he used to own a Farr 7.4m and has sailed with Bruce Farr. When he took the winch to bits he found that the tiny block the winch wire goes round was totally stuffed. Needed replacement. Problem: The New Zealand makers had gone out of business and no-one else makes one the right size. My mate Peter Barnes (a retired fitter and turner) came to the rescue and did an amazing job totally rebuilding the old block using a lump of brass he has had since he was an apprentice. Thanks a heap Peter.

I had a hunch that it was time to get the keel and winch checked and I am relieved that it is now done - even though my wallet is now lighter.

No

Bragging - we came third!

Sunday 15 November 2009 was the Port of Yamba Yacht Club Founding Fathers Regatta. What it boiled down to was a repeat of the previous day sailing from Harwood to Iluka but adding 2 circuits of a triangular course and finishing at Iluka rather than racing back to Harwood.

Chris Cook volunteered to take the helm of Little Dragon on the understanding that he was in it to win. He is the President of Sailability and came second in the last International Federation of Disabled Sailing world championships in Auckland. Sounded good to us.
Chris found an old blue plastic crate that fitted neatly into the cockpit and modified it so that his short legs could reach it to brace (see photo 2).

There was very little wind at the start, but Chris managed to time it just right. Well done. It was a little depressing to watch the rest of the fleet getting away from us. Not much we could do. They are all rated faster than us.

Gradually the sea breeze picked up and soon we had around 10 knot ENE - N winds gusting up to 17 knots and fluky. Chris took the helm most of the way but Noela and both took a turn.

When Noela took over Rob White's elegant classic wooden boat from Coffs Harbour was about a couple of hundred yards astern. Noela's dormant competitive instincts were awoken. She was determined not to let her overtake - but try as she did she failed. The classic yacht very slowly snuck ahead and maintained the lead all the way to the finish.


After the finish at Iluka we decided to sail straight back to Harwood rather than put in at Yamba. It was a pleasant, broad reach or run most of the way and no pressure - the race was over. In fact both Chris and Noela were so relaxed that they both had an afternoon nap below on my comfortable bunks. I admit that I rather enjoyed having the cockpit to myself for a while.

Thanks to both of you Chris and Noela, you were great and well and truly earned your afternoon nap. Chris, you gave me some great tips that I will try to remember if there is a "next time". When the handicap results were published we discovered that we had come third in Division 7 which was way better than I expected. I am unashamedly bragging to all my mates.

The third photo is of John Woods, the BRSC training officer, who has been unfailingly supportive of me, despite my steep, and at time eventful, learning curve since the day nearly 2 years ago that the "4 Shielas" launched Little Dragon.

The final photo is of the BRSC, the social hub of the regatta. I heard tales of other events such as a weekend race from Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay - food for thought... By Sunday evening it was all winding up, tent city was no more and most boats had headed home. I was so weary that I slept aboard Little Dragon another night. All in all it had been a great weekend.


During the regatta I took the opportunity to buttonhole other trailer sailer owners and seek advice as to the best way of getting the keel out for maintenance. The upshot was that I took Little Dragon to the Harwood Slipway on Monday morning - but more of that in the next post.

Little Dragon goes racing

Although I have tagged along with the annual Bridge to Breakers race for the last 2 years from Harwood to Iluka and back, a marathon 42 kms, I have steadfastly refused to race. The last time I entered a race was around 50 years ago when I was about 18. However, after surprising myselfy by enjoying a Sailability scratch race on Lake Ainsworth in a 2.2m access dinghy, I started thinking well "why not give it a go?".

I spoke to my friend Duncan Dey, who regularly wins the NS14 class. He was very supportive and lent me the latest racing rules. They have certainly changed in 50 years. Way back then if one stuffed up one had to retire, now one is meant to do penalty turns - a much better idea. I spent hours doing the the Kingston Beach Sailing Club animated on line racing rules quiz.

Although my crew Noela had never competed in a yacht race she has competed in other sports. She was willing to "give it a go". So, with considerable trepidation, I signed the entry form.

The Big River Sailing Club runs the 2 day regatta. Hariet Woodrow, Commodore, was amazing. As well as appearing to coordinate absolutely everything she cooked 10 dozen sticky date puddings for the Saturday dinner. I bet she is the only Commodore in the world to do that. In fact the whole BRSC team did a great job and I thank you all for giving us all such an enjoyable and smooth running regatta.

The race briefing was given by Phil Cavanagh. There were over 60 boats competing, split into 8 divisions with 3 starts. Little Dragon was with the other trailer sailors in division 7.
I was so determined not to be over the start line, or in fact anywhere near the yachts jockeying for position, that I ended up around 2 mins late in crossing the start line. I consoled myself that it shouldn't make much difference in a race that was going to take around 3.5 hours.

The conditions were near perfect, warm and dry, winds E to ENE around 7 to 11 knots. Unfortunately we never caught up with the boats ahead of us - but they were all rated as faster than us. Noela and I took turns at the helm and although maybe we concentrated a bit more than usual we enjoyed ourselves. Noela spotted sea eagles. We watched the fast catamarans come flying past us with athletic sailors hanging out on trapezes. It was far more comfortable in Little Dragon and I have to admit that on the run back from Iluka to Harwood we even had a cup of tea. Very civilised but apparently not the norm when racing.

To our absolute amazement when the handicaps were worked out we came 10th out of 13. My aim had just been to finish.







After an excellent dinner Noela and I slept soundly aboard Little Dragon and the last photo was taken early on Sunday morning before I dressed for breakfast.