BRSC changes secretary

I headed south down the Pacific Highway early and arrived at Harwood in time for the AGM. Ended up club secretary. The photo shows outgoing secretary Colin Hinwood with me. I wonder how much work is involved. Time will tell.

The plan was for Nicky to arrive by noon and for us to spend the afternoon sailing. The preliminaries went fine. By the time Nicky arrived Little Dragon was all rigged and ready to go. Go where? There was so little wind that we decided not to bother to launch.

We cut our lossses, packed up and headed over to Woody Head to join some friends who were spending the weekend camping and playing Irish folk music.

Pam becomes an Ancient Mariner

Finally I made a Wednesday gathering of the BRSC Ancient Mariners. Learn more about them on their blog http://www.brscancientmariners.blogspot.com.au/

Keith Mountford came along to crew for the day and the weather was so perfect that it would have been a crime not to launch Little Dragon and have an afternoon sail. Wind just right. Temperature just right. Slack tide.

Keith and I alternated at the helm while we were tacking down river, but Keith came into his own on the run. He handled my whisker pole with great applomb. Not surprising really as when he was a youngster he was forward hand in those seriously competitive 18 ft skiffs on Sydney Harbour.

 

 

I thought lunch time was the right moment to drop a hint that my starboard navigation light needed wiring up. I suspect tongue in cheek, the Ancient Mariners produced soldering gear and told me to get on with it. I have never even seen a soldering iron before let alone a crimping iron and hadn't a clue how to start - but I am happy to learn. After the requisite period of teasing Barry Swanson generously stepped in and wired up my new light. It ended up not needing soldering. Thank you Ancient Mariner Garry Swanson.

18th August start of Big River Sailing Club sailing season

I haven't been afloat in Little Dragon (or anything else) since my last post which is see was four and a half months ago. Since late March  I have had some spells of ill health and it has been a horribly cold winter.

It was great to meet the BRSC regulars again and have a couple of hours sailing. Like most new parents who think their baby is the best in the world I still reckon Little Dragon is pretty special.

When I left Byron Bay I doubted that I would launch as the wind was gusting 26 knots. Fortunately it was less than that Harwood. John Hayes and I headed out into the river well reefed. Then the wind dropped off and we could have shaken out the reef but didn't bother and had to motor back to the clubhouse unable to stem the strong ebb tide. That didn't matter as I wanted to give the engine a good run after sitting idle so long.

I was keen to show off how spick and span Little Dragon looked with freshly varnished bright work, touched up red topsides and the chips in the white fibreglass filled in. I have even varnished the wooden step down from the cockpit into the cabin. Not a good idea with semi-gloss varnish. It is dangerously slippery. Never mind: the Ancient Mariners of the BRSC always seem to have a solution to boaty problems. John Hayes suggested I revarnish and while wet sprinkle on granulated sugar and hose off when dry. I will report if this works.

I have left Little Dragon semi-rigged at Harwood saying "see you again next week". I will have to go back as soon as possible as I stupidly forgot to flush the outboard with fresh water. I am clearly not back into the routine yet.

Report: Sugar does work and I have washed it off very carefully so I don't attract ants.