Clarence River YC Classic Cruise aka Pub Crawl

The photo was taken at Brushgrove on Saturday 12 October where I launched and we sailed up to Grafton ready for the start of the cruise the following day. See how peaceful if was on Saturday morning before wild winds hit us at the same spot on Sunday night. There were some estimates of  wind gusts up to 40 knots. I wish I had a photo showing how different the river was on Monday morning to Saturday morning. We chose to stay at Brushgrove all day and wait for the wind to abate rather than venture out into the raging  river.

My crew Rae Wills enjoys a sun downer - well it is a nautical pub crawl.

On the subject of pubs we stopped at Ulmarra's picturesque pub en route to Grafton but only drank tea. We dined at the historic Brushgrove Pub for 2 consecutive nights. The wind on Monday meant we had to forego lunch at Lawrence pub and head straight to Maclean where we only drank a morning coffee. Then we waved at the Harwood Hilton as we milled around waiting for the  bridge to open, having missed out on the scheduled dinner there. Our final pub was Sedges at Iluka, a bit run down but a superb location and it lays on decent tucker.

It would have been bad manners to let Rae drink alone

Our totally undeserved spot prize for arriving last at Brushgrove

The iron headsail proved its worth but we do prefer to sail and did most of the time.

There was a butcher's dozen in this year's fleet and we enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow trailer sailor enthusiasts. Thanks to Paul and Margie of the Clarence River Yacht Club for organising such a successful event. Thanks also to Rae for agreeing to come along as crew, you were great.

Brief coffee stop at Maclean.

The fishing comp. Look hard and spot Helen's catch,

Sunrise while motoring from Brushgrove to the 10.30 am bridge opening at Harwood

Bridge opening at Harwood on Tuesday morning.

We sailed from Harwood to Iluka in record breaking time hitting quite a fearsome chop caused by a stiff head wind against a full ebb tide around Browns Rocks.  Rae quickly learnt the arcane art  of shifting her weight  and getting the jib in at the critical moment when we tacked . Yet again we were the last to arrive in the shelter of Iluka Bay and were met by slightly concerned enquiries of "are you ok?". We had had a ball.

My trailer was waiting for us at the boat ramp ramp near the Iluka ferry terminal and we ended a most agreeable cruise there on Wednesday morning after a final evening of congenial company at Sedges.

We were safely home on Thursday but I spared a thought for the rest of the fleet racing back to Grafton. As happened the year before the wind turned ugly on the day of the race and I am still waiting to hear if there were any breakages, presumably nothing serious as I would have heard by now.

Take note crew I can go single handed

Sometimes I have a glut of friends volunteering to crew. This time my luck was out. They all said it would be great but....  As Little Dragon hadn't been out for a while I decided to go down to BRSC anyway knowing the forecast was excellent.

With a spot of help to stand the mast I rigged and with a helping push was launched. No spare crew hanging around the club that morning so I set off single handed. I prudently headed up towards the Harwood Bridge against the tide and the very light head wind. It took me two hours to tack up there and run back to the club house feeling ready for the ham and salad roll that I had equally prudently ordered earlier. I surprised myself by really enjoying being out solo, a quite different experience to chatting with a crew - although perhaps I won't venture out solo in stronger winds. What surprised me even more was being met by the BRSC rescue launch on my run back. Members were getting concerned about my welfare - late for lunch is not a Ditton trait. I was just fine.

The other reason that the rescue launch was coming for me was to tell me that they had found me a crew for the afternoon racing. Slightly crossed wires - I have no intention of racing this year. My racing crew, Richard from Sydney, looked very crestfallen. We reached a quick compromise. I would take a 15 minute break for my ham and salad roll and a cuppa and then we would join in and "gamon race". It turned out that Richard is a boat owner and an enthusiastic racing skipper. So I said "go for it" and he happily took the helm, but I did stipulate that we shouldn't get in the way of anyone competing in the club points series. That wasn't a problem as Little Dragon was, as usual, slower than the rest of the fleet. I am not at all sure if I made the right choice to crew not helm. It was hard work leaping around the foredeck getting our whisker pole out on each short run.

No photos this time - bit hard when single handed and/or gamon racing and I haven't got into the current craze of selfies.

Ancient Mariners on a jaunt down river

1 June 2013 - the first day of winter

The Ancient Mariners are a (fairly) hardy lot, so undeterred by the arrival of winter we assembled at the BRSC to prepare for a 0900 start down the river from Harwood to Iluka via Yamba. The river was blanketed in a thick but very pretty fog which Richard Sutherland caught in the photo below. Soon the fog dispersed but there was barely a whisper of wind. All three boats set off optimistically hoisting their mainsails but mainly for show. I admit we all motored at least half way to the Goodwood mark. Then, just as I was getting fed up with the noise of our outboard, there was enough following wind to let us silently ghost downstream to our smoko break at the beach just east of the Goodwood Wharf.

Richard Sutherland captures morning mist at Harwood

Pam and Noela motor sailing 

John Woods plus Ted the poodle also motor sailing

Rick and Rob in Ally Oop motor sailing as well

The boating map shows a narrow channel through the sandbanks from the Goodwood wharf across the river then between Palmers Island and Freeburn Island to Yamba Shores Tavern. John led the way and we all made it without even touching the bottom. We kept on between Rabbit Island and Pelican Island and followed the channel markers through the eastern gap in Middle Wall, across the estuary and into Iluka Harbour for lunch. We had to motor sail again most of the way but finally had a short reach under sail. Then we go our separate ways, John, Rick and Rob head back to Harwood. Noela and I stay in Iluka overnight intending to head back the following day

The light so different to summer on the first day of winter

Next morning I checked the forecast "13 knot SW wind" no mention of squalls. We set off at noon under the iron headsail and once out of the harbour decided to sail despite the little wind there was being right on the nose. We tacked back and forth against the never ending ebb. According to the tide chart the tide had turned several hours earlier. All the while we watched two Big Black Storm clouds forming, one to the south and the other to the west and looking as if they would soon join up right over us. They did. We were caught in a strong SW squall that lasted at least 15 mins. Visibility down to a few metres and we hurtled along getting totally drenched. In retrospect it was exhilarating although I am not sure if Noela would say the same. Then, equally suddenly, it was all over. Wind gone and we had to resort to the iron headsail again if we were to make Harwood in time to pack up and get home before dusk.

On the BRSC notice board

Mooloolaba to Great Keppel aboard SV Bardoo

Bardoo was designed by Sparkman Stevens and built by Halverson in their yards at Bobbin Head in 1973 and launched in 1974.

She is a 52′ Triple Planked Canadian Oregon Carvel Ketch with a 14’11 beam and 7′ draft.

Yes, we did set all these sails and the huge MPS.

www.bardoo.net  - see "sailing adventures" "Mooloolaba to Keppel"

Owners Dave and Linda Ashendon

The new owners, Dave and Linda, have just completed a major 2 year refit and are at last reaping the rewards. I was lucky enough to be invited to join them as crew from Mooloolaba to Great Keppel. Bardoo is truly magnificent and I had one of the best times ever afloat. Many, many thanks to you both. 

25 April  Mooloolaba to Double Island Point, 12 hrs, moderate SE wind.

26 April  Double Island Point to Lady Elliot Island, 25 hrs, moderate SE wind

27 April at Lady Elliot Island in very rolly anchorage

28 April  Lady Elliot Island to Lady Musgrove Island, 4.5 hrs, moderate SE wind

29 April  Anchored in lagoon at Lady Musgrove Island - good diving and snorkelling

30 April  Short sail out of lagoon as unsafe lee shore with strong wind warning to Fairfax Islet

1 May    Fairfax Islet to North West Island, 11 hrs, light to moderate wind, perfect spinnaker run

2 May    North West Island to Great Keppel Island, 41 nm,10 hrs,light to moderate spinnaker run

3 May    Second Bay, Great Keppel Island, anchored sheltering from 30 kn SE wind

4 May    Wind moderates and sail 7 nm to Great Keppel Island Marina at Rosslyn Bay so Dave's son can visit.

5 May  Leave marina and anchor off Yepoon Sailing Club in delightful calm water. During the night a horrible and unexpected swell stopped us all sleeping.

6 May    Early morning motored back to the marina in time to buy stores in Yepoon and wait for new crew Peter and Diana to arrive.

7 May    Leave marina and sail for 4 hrs in 35 kn on the nose winds back to Great Keppel Island. Bardoo and crew handled it well.

8 May    Anchored at Great Keppel. Still wind 30+ knots. Fishing.

9 May    Anchored at Great Keppel. Still wind 30+ knots

10 May   Repeat of day before.

11 May   Repeat of day before and still forecast of 30 knot winds for next day

12 May   Sail 7 nm back to Keppel Bay Marina in 30+ knots wind - exhilarating sail.

13 May   The end - until next time.

Linda took all the photos except the first one and the one of the two of them 

 

 

 

The MPS and the mizzen staysail blew out but the spinnaker survived . 

These sails were well past their use-by-date and needed replacement anyway. Now Linda is pondering on the design for the new MPS and spinnaker.

 

We ate Dave's 16 kg wahoo for many nights

 

 

I know that several weeks in a confined space with people one hardly knows is many peoples idea of hell - but I'd do it again any time on a yacht like Bardoo and with owners like the Ashendons.

Our land of drought and flooding rains

Why hasn't Little Dragon been sailing since Christmas?  Anita's photo says it all.

Anita Ostenfeld's photograph of BRSC surrounded by floods

The Clarence River has suffered 3 major floods between Christmas and Easter 2013. Fortunately the clubhouse itself and Dick's donga stayed just above water level but the local club members spent many days hosing mud out of the boat sheds.

Climate change anyone?



Tin Dragon just won't tack

Savaad and Noela attempting to tack Tin Dragon

It was the Ides of March, time for the 11th International Tin Canoe Regatta at Iluka, which is a pretentious tongue-in-cheek title given to an informal gathering of enthusiasts intent on keeping alive an old tradition - sailing home made tin canoes. It was the third time that Savaad and I took Tin Dragon along and Noela came as forward hand and showed great ability bailing. There was a light southerly breeze until around noon on Sunday, just right for 10 tin canoes but then .....

Savaad sailed the first non-race with Noela crewing and I sailed the second non-race with Savaad crewing. There is no shadow of doubt that, in keeping with the spirit of the non-event, we had great fun despite a capsize in about 1 knot of wind and a close encounter with the new entrant Puff, see the photo below. But Tin Canoe just wouldn't tack and at times wouldn't even gybe. Really frustrating. We didn't even complete one round of the course when the leaders had completed 2 or even 3. Ignominy.

Close encounter between Puff and Tin Dragon

Before non-race 3 we gave Tin Dragon a sprit and back stay in a futile attempt to make her steerable. Savaad and Noela had an exhilarating first leg and absolutely flew across the harbour, they reckon they were first to the mark near the rock wall (a claim that is hotly contested). At that very moment a southerly buster struck. Canoes scattered in all directions, some crashed onto  the rock wall, some scudded right up to the far end of the harbour, others were barely visible to anxious watchers on the shore being largely submerged, one seemed intent on exiting the harbour in the direction of Yamba. The rescue boat had its work cut out. However Tin Dragon bravely limped back to the starting point unaided despite being water logged. Noela reports they just couldn't stop laughing.

Rob's tin canoe Odd Job has a drop rudder and drop keel

Rob's tin canoe Outrigorous drop keel

Rob's tin canoe Outrigorous has an excellent rudder

We are determined to have Tin Dragon steerable next year, but how? The main suggestions are a larger rudder and a drop centre board.  Both Rob's tin canoes sailed brilliantly and isn't imitation the best form of flattery?

PS Please Shielas get it together for next year, we missed you!

PPS We were awarded the Hard Luck Trophy.

The sardine tin cunningly contains tin, sailcloth, bamboo, balsa - what more can we need for a refit? (answer: cut up inner tubes).

Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart February 2013

Little Dragon is sulking. I told her that her little strips of bright work don't make her a wooden boat. She stayed in the yard while I flew over to Hobart.

I had been invited to crew on Bardoo in the Parade of Sail opening the Wooden Boat Festival and on the rally which circumnavigates Tasmania starting a couple of days after the Festival. However the owners, David and Linda Ashenden, had to pull out due to a family crisis.

Bardoo was designed by Sparkman Stevens and built by Halverson in their Bobbin Head yard in 1973. She is a 52' triple planked Canadian oregon carvel ketch.

 

My grandfather racing his Burnham-on-Crouch 24' One Design in 1909

I arrived in Hobart a landlubber but James Wood offered me the opportunity to crew on Windward II for the opening Parade of Sail. It made the Festival for me - no longer a landlubber. The forecast predicted winds up to about 15 knots but by late afternoon it was blowing at least 24 knots and gusting 30 knots. With only one staysail set we were flying. I recognised the design as similar to one my grandfather used to race in 1909 (see above). I was correct. Norman Dallimore, who I met when I was a child in Burnham-on- Crouch, designed both.

 

Huon Pine 43'11" carvel cutter built 1929 designed by Norman Dallimore

 



Sam Woods and Pam after the opening Parade of Sail

I was staying with my old friends Sally and Mike in Hobart. Sally, now a Chinese Australian, wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year on Sunday 10 February so I offered them a New Year gift - an afternoon cruise on James Craig. The James Craig is magnificent, but she is iron not wooden. We had a great time. After motoring down the Derwent head to wind we turned and with the wind behind us the crew broke out 4 square sails so we were able to sail majestically back to our berth alongside Princes Wharf.

 

James Craig is 179'8" Iron Barque built in England in 1874 and lovingly restored in Sydney after sinking in Recherche Bay. In 2001 she hoisted all 21 sails for the first time in 80 years.

 



I was standing on the wharf admiring "The Admiral", the oldest rowing ferry in Australia, built in 1865 when I realised that they were taking on passengers so I jumped at the opportunity. Initially we were rowed round Constitution Dock basking in reflected glory as the crowds busily snapped us. Then the cox asked for volunteers to row and of course I put my hand up.

 

 

The Wooden Boat Festival ends with a second Parade of Sail and I was keen to get afloat again, so I signed up with Windeward Bound.



 

Windeward Bound is 81'0" modern wooden Brigantine run by a trust providing youth development under sail programmes for all Australians.

Captain Sarah Parry, Master of Windeward Bound

 

This Wooden Boat Festival was the largest ever, almost 600 entrants. with about 340 in the opening Parade of Sail, ranging from tiny dinghies to tall ships and everything inbetween, some recently built and others lovingly restored classics such as Windward II. Here are just a few:

 

Notorious replica 15 century Portugese caravel built by Graeme Wylie in Melbourne (below)