The Willy Wagtail nest

 I think the photo says it all - a willy wagtail decided to build a nest and lay two eggs. It was a great spot from the willy wagtail's point of view as my boat cover protected the eggs from wind and swooping sea eagles. 

 

What a dilemma. I only found the nest several hours after I moved Little Dragon across the paddock. Eventually we decided to carefully detach the nest and without touching the eggs relocate the nest to a similar spot on a catamaran that wasn't going anywhere for several weeks and was only a couple of metres away from the original location. We hoped that the parents would find the nest that night although it seemed more likely that these eggs were already doomed. Dick reassured me that this pair of willy wagtails had been around for several years and always laid two clutches a year. 

Next day, feeling like a murderer, I rigged Little Dragon ready for my crew Martin and Lewis Bail to arrive. It was a long weekend and we planned to stay a couple of nights, but the forecast  was so bad that we decided to settle on a day sail then beat a retreat homeward. There was a fine breeze in the morning and we zoomed up and down the river for a couple of hours then came back to the clubhouse for lunch and made a snap decision to take part in the Saturday afternoon race.

There was still a good breeze and we were enjoying ourselves although somewhat frustrated by our difficulty in laying the mark close to the clubhouse. I admit that we finally decided to keep going without rounding that mark. I fully intended to own up to our "course adjustment" when the race was abandoned due to an approaching storm (which circled round and fizzled out).
 

PS A week later Dick told me that during the week the nest had been smashed up and the eggs gone. He isn't sure what happened, maybe a possum.

Little tackers sail training

15 September 2012

Six very young future sailors turned up for the the BRSC's first sail training session of the 2012/13 season.

Peter

Noela

Noela and her friend Peter arrived at midday and as more often than not happens at Harwood after a very calm morning an afternoon sea breeze sprang up. I had already rigged so without further ado we launched and headed off down river intending to cruise (not race) in company with Norm in his 19 foot trailer sailor as far as the Goodwood mark. However we were going so well that we kept going to the first port marker. Despite some help from a flood tide by the time we got back to the club house the Saturday afternoon race was over, boats packed up but we were just in time for the last slice of Jan's home made cake. Noela had told me that Peter had "some experience sailing in Sydney Harbour". It was quite obvious within a couple of minutes of setting off that he was no novice. So I interrogated him and found that he has sailed 16, 14 and 12 foot skiffs and even competed in a world championship on Lake Macquarie. He quickly slipped back into competitive mode and tried to get the last ounce of performance out of Little Dragon.

 

The prototype Clarence Cruiser

 

Ancient Mariners Gary Winter, John Hayes and John Woods have been busy all winter designing and building this Clarence Cruiser. At last she was ready for sea trials. On Friday there was far too much wind for any of the Ancient Mariners to venture out to sea or even into the Clarence River. On Saturday morning Gary at least established that she floats but there was too little wind to see if she will sail to windward.

 

Last week I complained I turned into an ice block sleeping aboard Little Dragon. This weekend it was again chilly at night but I was well prepared with masses of bedding and stayed warm as toast. In the early morning while I was sitting on the veranda eating my muesli a sea eagle swooped down to the water just in front of me. Magnificent.

 

 

Pretty chilly for first day of spring

Cathy Jones and Jill Trevillian

The last week of winter was glorious, balmy and sunny. I was looking forward to sailing on the first day of spring. Unfortunately although it was sunny and there was a pleasant light breeze there was also a very wintry chill in the air.

Cathy hasn't stacked on weight, there is a PFD under the jacket!

Cathy and Jill came down to Harwood for a Saturday afternoon sail and all went according to plan. We zoomed up and down the river keeping well clear of the BRSC's racing. The conditions were just right for my crew to handle Little Dragon leaving me standing comfortably out of the wind inside the cabin with my head emerging just far enough to issue the occasional skipper like command.

Jill and Cathie headed home after enjoying the BRSC championship afternoon tea. I decided to camp overnight in Little Dragon and leave the following morning after chores like charging the battery. Big mistake. Well before dawn my feet turned into blocks of ice as the temperature crashed to single digits. I find that down at Harwood  the cliche that every cloud has a silver lining is always true. Just before I turned in for the night a huge orange full moon rose over the river.