29th AugustAndi Davey (in orange) and I have known each other for many years, from when we both lived in Alice Springs. I never dreamed that one day we would sail together on the Clarence River. A 4WD camping trip was more likely. Andi's partner Jessie Blackadder (in blue) grew up sailing with her father on his 26ft yacht, so she has some salt water in her veins. It has taken a while to organise a date that suited us all and didn't blow a gale.
I went down to the Big River Sailing Club on the Saturday for the AGM and chatting to members about the season ahead. Then I rigged and launched Little Dragon. I enjoy the quiet of the river in the evening and early morning. So it was no hardship to sleep aboard stern anchored to the bank. I was ready for Andi and Jessie to step aboard when they arrived on Sunday morning.
It was an absolutely gorgeous morning, sunny and one of those days that were not too hot but not too cool. A shame we don't get more of them. There was a "just right" sailing breeze, probably around 8 knots mainly SE but it did shift around a fair bit.
We all took turns tacking and gybing, sailing close hauled, reaching and on the run up to the bridge and back. We put Little Dragon through her season-opening paces. Andi had never handled a tiller before but proved to be a natural. After a while we anchored and enjoyed a picnic lunch. A thoroughly enjoyable sail. Thanks Andi and Jessie for coming and helping with the pack-up.
All went well until I was almost back at the Harwood ramp. I was approaching on an angle almost parallel to the bank very close to the Harwood Slipway. Jessie was on the foredeck ready to jump ashore. She suddenly started yelling and indicating that I should turn out into the river NOW! She had seen a submerged post that I later learnt was a remnant of an old jetty. I almost missed it but not quite. Oh dear, although the damage looked minor it turned out to be a crack right through the fibreglass hull just below the waterline. Another insurance claim...
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