Sunday 17th May 2009

Yet another quick sail on Matilda Bay in light winds (about 5 knots), this time with my sailing buddy Russ. The sailing was very peaceful and relaxing, but I think I have enough experience at light air sailing for now - come on weather! Let's have a nice 10-15 knots!

The trip was good in that it gave me another chance to practice setting up and launching the boat. With my recent modifications to the rig I'm capable of putting up the mast unaided and can be sailing within 20 minutes of arriving at the ramp.

For anyone interested in the rig modifications here is what I have done. Previously the forestay and jib halyard passed through the deck at the stem and ran through a block back to the side of the centreboard. OK for making fine adjustments when racing with a crew - but not so good when single handed cruising. So, I put on a new stem fitting and have run all the control lines on the outside of the mast. This will also allow me to fit mast head bouyancy. The jib halyard passes through a 2to1 block at the head of the sail and then down through a jam cleat. To raise the mast I just have to push it in to position and then haul down on the jib halyard (which is always in place). Then I tie a loop in the halyard below the cleat and shackle on a 4to1 purchase which allows me to really get some tension on it.

Not sure how it affects performance, but this set up has allowed me to:

• raise and lower the mast single handed
• use roller furling on the head sail
• insert mast head bouyancy
• clear the inside of the cabin of control lines

So - it works for me.

Collision! Man Overboard! .. and a short sail

Sunday 3rd May saw Providence's long awaited return to the water. Since the last sail I have ripped out a bathroom, laid a new concrete floor and started clearing the backyard in preparation for the pool. It looks like these renovations are going to have a big impact on my sailing.

This time I had a boat full of people - my wife and two kids and our friend's 7yo son who is mad keen on sailing. We launched from the usual ramp in Matilda Bay in very light NE winds at about 9.30. Sailing away from the ramp was a struggle in the conditions - there is a very narrow channel between the pens of the yacht club and the moorings (see the picture - the arrow indicates the wind, and the line is where we managed to steer). We were doing OK, just ghosting along squeaking past the moored boats - then a power boat steamed in and the wash pushed us on to a mooring. I was able to fend us off the moored boat, but the barnacles on the mooring buoy made a nice scratch on our bow.

After that little incident we were clear of the channel and had some more room to move so tacked out on to Melville water. This trip was just about getting out in the boat so we didn't really have a plan about going anywhere. We headed South towards Canning Bridge for a while on one long tack and only changed course slightly for an impromptu practice of our man-overboard routine. In this case it was a hat overboard, but this proved to be quite realistic. If one of the kids had gone over without a life jacket I think their hat would be all that would be visible, and they would probably float for about as long too. We managed to get back in time and fish it out - so that has added to my confidence a bit.

Not long after that we headed back to the beach and packed up. On the way back I gave the kids a go on the tiller to start getting them involved in managing the boat. Soon I will have a great crew.

And that was it - a short, sweet sail to keep everyone happy and foster the sense of enjoyment so that I might be able to get everyone out again some time soon.