Summer hols on the Clarence

Tuesday 3 January
The BRSC has a break from racing over the Christmas/New Year holiday season but members just can't keep away. They come down to enjoy using the  tranquil facilities and social sailing. I arrived and rigged Little Dragon ready for the first of my many crew the next morning.  As usual I stern anchored Little Dragon to the bank and slept aboard enjoying being gently rocked to sleep, Col and Jan were staying in their caravan, Paul was in a small tent and John, who lives at Ashby Heights nearby, showed up most days. The previous week had been far too windy for much sailing and I was lucky to arrive at the start of a few days of settled fair winds and tolerably cool days.
Wed 4 Jan - Crew Noela Yates and Nicky Greenlaw

4 January 2012 Noela and Nicky

Nicky, Noela and I had a magic day just sailing up and down the river. One of those comparatively rare days when all went well. Well almost - we did break the tiller (which had rotted). A huge thank you to John Woods who fashioned a new one overnight.

John Woods tries out his newly restored classic wooden Heron dinghy

John Woods was out sailing his superbly restored old Heron dinghy and asked us to take a few shots of him underway.

Thur 5- Fri 6 Jan - Crew Cathy Jones

Dawn at Harwood

It really is worth waking for sunrise. The river is glassy calm, an occasional fish jumps, sometimes a pod of dolphins cruise by and maybe a sea eagle soars overhead. Then some ... stink boat wrecks it all. Time to make an early cup of tea.

5th Jan - the bike just stows in Little Dragon

Cathy arrived in time for us to set sail and catch the ebb tide down river to Iluka. We had to tack most of the way, but no problem. Good practice for Cathy!

At Iluka we tied up at the new pontoon in front of Sedges Pub. It was a busy hub of healthy holiday fun, kids swimming, dinghies coming in and out. We could have done without the jet boats....

We enjoyed an excellent fish dinner at the pub, an ocean swim the following morning and an unexpectedly good coffee in the village centre before catching the afternoon flood tide back to Harwood. It was a real bonus to find that there is just room to stow my folding bike in Little Dragon.

As we left Iluka harbour I was surprised to find John and Paul in their single handed Sabres. It had taken them 3 hours to sail down from Iluka and it was going to be another 3 hours back. The BRSC's Sabre fleet has expanded in a year from 3 to 8 boats, becoming popular with slightly arthritic former Laser sailors.

Cathy crewed from Harwood to Iluka and back

Sat 8th Jan - crew Nicky (again) and Barbara Stewart

Another peaceful dawn at Harwood

Beronice and Savaad were the Saturday crew but they had to cancel at short notice. Nicky was keen for a return visit and she recruited another ocean swimmer, Barbara Stewart. Barbara had been hoping for a sail for a while and this was her chance. Barbara is an ecologist and she was particularly keen to see how much native vegetation remained along the banks. Her assessment seemed to be not bad in some places but none at all in others where manicured lawns reach right down to the water's edge.

There was less wind than the day before but still a pleasant NE breeze. We sailed down the river and then Nicky practised helming on a run without gybing. The conditions were such that an accidental gybe wouldn't have been a drama.

7th Jan - crew change - Nicky and Barbara Stewart

Sun 8 Jan - Mon 9 Jan - Crew Lewis and Martin Bail
On Saturday afternoon Theresa arrived and set up camp for herself, her 15 year old son Lewis, his 15 year old cousin Max and his mate Jake. Martin doesn't like camping and came early on Sunday for the day. The plan was that Martin and Lewis would sail with me on Little Dragon and Theresa would take the Max and Jake surfing at Yamba.

8 Jan - final crew change - Martin and Lewis Bail

The plan went like clockwork. At first there wasn't much wind but still enough for Lewis and Martin to get the feel of the tiller on a gentle reach up to Harwood Bridge. We met up with Kingsley in his Noelex 25 waiting for the bridge to open at noon. We sailed around each other for a while exchanging pleasantries. I warned him I had novices at the helm. He mischievously told them that the larger vessel always has right of way.

The wind was forecast to pick up to 28 knots in the afternoon. By the time we got back to the clubhouse  there was a lively breeze. I gave my enthusiastic crew a taste of heeling and having to move faster when tacking. Sadly the wind kept rising and I decided that enough was enough. Drop the sails and motor back. In retrospect a wise decision as not long after it really did blow up.

On Monday Theresa and Lewis were my designated crew but that wasn't to be. The weather changed. Stinking hot and not a breathe of wind. Thanks Lewis for helping with the pack up. We all struck camp and headed homeward.