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.
Thanks for that little story. Those minor incidents and excursions are very interesting for someone with all that to look forward to, when he finishes building the darn boat!
ReplyDeleteRob540
Hi. I've bought a TS18, but haven't had the opportunity to put it in the water yet. I've enjoyed your blog (might start one of my own once I get a few kilometers under the keel.
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