| Windchaser - Heaven Can Wait |
| Date: 10th October 2007 |
| Author: Mark Cherrington |
Here's a brief summary of Windchaser's race: We had on board BSC members Tony Partridge, Michelle Havenstein, Chris Hughes (one of our regular twilights crew), along with Mark Cherrington and Janene Porter. We got a pretty good start in the 15-20 knot SW, staying well to leeward, but in clear air and with a good reach up to Wangi. We, along with a lot of other boats, had to tighten up considerably when we realised we were going to pass inside a western nav mark. We also took good note of the very shallow water up towards the Swansea Bar (more on this later!). We put up the kite (MPS) heading towards the Belmont mark, but it really didn't seem to help much, mainly because our kite work was very ordinary. Boats just using whiskered jibs did much better. By the time we got around back to Wangi, we'd pretty much given up on the kite; we were just losing too much time, and so we opted to whisker the jib from then on... Throughout the first lap, and past the Raffertys buoy, we'd been pretty pleased with how we were going. We were not up with the faster boats, but we were having good battles with the likes of Brakks, a Cole 34 of a similar design to ours, and others. Sailing along the eastern edge of the lake between Wangi and Swansea, we were relaxed and comfortable, eating dinner, looking at the boats we'd passed, and thinking how we were doing OK. All of us were in the cockpit, skipper was obsessing over the GPS, trying to work out how to put the marks in, and half listening to the debate behind him: "Why has that boat in front of us just tacked suddenly? Are they going home or something?". Then a gentle "sshhhhh'ing" sound, and our speed dropped to zero. We were aground. No one had been watching the depth, the nav marks or where we actually were. All getting on 1 side of the boat, pushing with the pole and reversing achieved nothing. No option but to call the Coastal Patrol for a tow. We went aground about 2030, and it was 2130 before we were back afloat. We were all very flat for a while, but then just sort of got back into it. All the boats we'd been battling were of course long gone, but a couple of slower ones caught up with us and threatened to overtake, until we got our act back together a bit better. We had a beautiful run from Spears Pt in the north, around to Toronto (did the whole leg on 1 tack, from dead downwind to close-hauled, with breeze all the way), then down around Coal Pt to the Wangi mark and back around Wangi peninsula. Around Pulbah around 2-3 am, the breeze was picking up, and by the time we got to Mannering Park at about 5 am, with the sun starting to rise, it was up around 15 knots. The buoy was a bit hard to find in the early light, and we actually overshot it. The breeze kept building back to Raffertys, with good 20 knot puffs around Pulbah (there's a gap in the ranges to the west, which seems to just funnel the westerly breeze straight down this part of the lake), then back up past our nemesis near the channel. Still good breeze all the way, but we were too far behind other boats to be able to catch any. Wind dropped off enough going by Coal Point for us to have a bacon and eggs breakfast, then picked up quite a bit heading in around the Wangi mark. Even more of it around Pulbah again, then it started to really build heading down to Mannering Park. We were getting regular gusts to 25 knots, with a couple to 30 knots, which allowed us to catch a Sonata 8 struggling with the conditions. Managed a lovely gybe around the Mannering Pk buoy, and then a race to get to the Raffertys mark by midday, to give us exactly 3 laps. We nearly made it, missing out with just a minute to spare. By now the breeze was hammering in on Shaun's wharf at Raffertys, but as 1 of the 1st boats in there (finishing so close) we had pick of the spots. We dropped our crew in there, fended off other boats looking to hang off us (we could see damage happening), then headed over to the (sheltered) western side of the bay, from where Tony P was kind enough to pick us up and take us back to Raffertys. Balmain did very well, picking up the Club Challenge award, with Umbakumba 2nd in Division 2. The combined BSC/MHYC team (Windchaser/ Brigitta/Animus) I believe came in 2nd. I also believe no other teams managed to have all boats finish. Overall a great event. We've identified a lot of ways in which the event could be improved, with BSC members also offering suggestions and support. It should be a much better event next year, and hopefully will see all this year's BSC boats back, along with other boats. BSC also provided crew for another boat, Brigitta, with Evan McHugh and Ann Brogan volunteering late in the day. And we need to mention Alan and Deb, who were pressganged 2 days before to sail on Shaun Lewicki's boat "Heaven Can Wait" after he lost 2 crew. Unfortunately Shaun was unable to get his boat ready, with a last-minute accident making her unsailable (literally an hour before the race). When another boat waiting to start needed crew, Shaun tried to make Alan and Deb go, but they insisted he take the spot, and then assisted in derigging Shaun's boat, retrieving her from the water, etc while Shaun was out sailing. |
| "BOB" and the Brain Explosion |
| Date: 18th June 2007 |
| Author: Anonymous |
| Please Note: Names have been withheld to protect the innocent (Wife) |
| After receiving a "Wanted to Buy" email from a fellow BSCCD member, curiosity got the better of us. We contacted the member to find out why he would want to replace his beloved dinghy "BOB". |
| Although we may laugh heartily at the story that follows, we are laughing with you, not at you, because we hope that one day something like this does not happen to us. |
| The saga begins: |
We Spent last Sunday evening (QB weekend) on Windchaser, with the forecast for a fine Monday and nice breezes. After a bloody cold night, we got going around 11 am, with the aim being to go to BSC and top up the water tanks.
We started the motor, then I unhooked Bob from the stern cleat, and walked forward to attach him to the mooring buoy.
I then cast off from the mooring (single-handed, Janene was down below), and smartly went back to grab the tiller, to ensure we didn't foul the mooring line, hit any other boats, etc.
The rest of the day on the water was pretty routine. We picked up Evan and Michelle (Slightly Underrated) from BSC, had a chat with Tony and Sue from Vida on the dock, then headed off. Filled up with fuel at Rushcutters, then a great sail up and down the harbour in 10-15 knots.
Anyway, in the middle of all this, I announced that I had no memory of actually tying Bob to the mooring buoy. "Nah," they all said, "You did it, and it was so automatic, you just can't remember doing it. Happens to us all the time!"
Reassured, I stopped worrying.
By the time we dropped off Evan and Michelle at BSC, it was getting on for 5ish, and starting to get dark. By the time we were approaching the mooring, it was pitch black -- with no cheery white Bobbing dinghy to guide us in.
Yep, sometime between untying Bob at the stern, and walking to the bow, I'd just let him go. No idea how, why or when. Also had never noticed him floating around...
So there we were, pitch black, no dinghy, with the car a couple of hundred metres away on the other side of the Lane Cove River (Woolwich side). What do we do?
Aha, I know: We'll liberate another dinghy from the Longueville side (closer to our mooring), tying Windchaser up to the wharf there. There's also a handy set of boltcutters in the cockpit locker (for just this sort of emergency).
So we chase away the fishos from the wharf, and I set off with a torch and bolt cutters. The plan is to cut the chain, take the dinghy so we can get ashore on the Woolwich side, then return to the Longueville side and put a note on the dinghy explaining our situation, and leaving a phone number so we can pay for a new chain.
Fortunately I find a dinghy which has the chain bolted on with a pair of screws, which means the need to cut the chain is eliminated.. Run back to the boat and grab a screwdriver.
This all works OK. Dinghy is released from its chains, and paddled around to Windchaser, waiting at the dock. We head back to mooring, pick it up, I ferry Janene to the Woolwich side so she can do the 20 minute drive around to Longueville to collect me, then I paddle back to Windchaser to finish looking her up, closing seacocks, etc etc, before paddling over to the Longueville shore, and replacing the bolts on the dinghy saddle. Easy.
BUT THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!!!!
Attached to the saddle that held the chain in place was also the dinghy's painter. In my haste, did I reattach the saddle to ensure the painter was properly held on? No. Happily it held while we were towing the dinghy back to Windchaser's mooring. However, as I approached Windchaser on the mooring after dropping off Janene, the painter came loose in my hand. But at least the saddle and bolts were still there. To save time, I tied the dinghy to Windchaser stern first using a VERY short length of string (not rope), and attaching it to a line looped off the stern of Windchaser.
Then jumped back on board, did all the shutdown stuff according to the list, double-checking things like the ports were closed, electrics off, seacocks closed, etc etc. Lock up and chuck a couple of bags in the dinghy, hop in the dinghy, and get ready to paddle ashore. Last job is to arrange a bit of netting in the stern "sugar scoop" that the PO used to keep the ducks off when Windchaser lived at Lake Macquarie. Having seen ducks in the LC River, we continue this practice.
To do so, I need to undo the string holding the dinghy to the boat. Then to finish arranging the netting, I need to step back on the boat for a second. You guessed it. I look up, and there's the dinghy, just out of reach and getting further away.
Bugger bugger bugger. What do I do? Strip off all my clothes and swim for it (it's a coldish night, but I reckon it'd be OK)? Call the Coastguard and wait an hour or so while they come around? None of these are very attractive.
Ah, I know, start the boat up and motor around to collect it. The torch is in the dinghy, and it's on, so at least I can see it. So unlock the hatches (geez, am I glad the keys don't happen to be sitting on the dinghy seat), put on the electrics (including nav lights), open the engine seacock, start the engine, run up the front and cast off the mooring. Run back to cockpit, put her in gear, grab the tiller. Crap, the tiller's lashed to the backstay; what kind of stupid knot did I use to tie it up? Shove the motor back into neutral and wrestle with the knot (thinking a knife may be the solution here). Finally it comes free, and I can go get the dinghy.
Now where is it? Despite having a lighted torch in it, it's completely disappeared. Happily I did think to grab the billion candlepower spottie, and I can soon pick it up. It's actually only about 20 m away (which is an interesting lesson, despite that torch being on -- a Dolphin one with a fresh battery -- just happened to be facing away from me...). Pick up the dinghy and reattach it to the stern (still stern first, because that painter isn't attached, remember).
Get back to the mooring, manage to pick it up OK (thank god there's no wind or tide), and restart the leaving-the-boat process. Lock it all up, and get back in the dinghy. In the meantime, Janene rings: "What on earth are you doing? Why are the nav lights back on?" Me: "Just don't ask, OK."
Finally cast off and paddle ashore, duck net in place. Drag dinghy back to its resting place and screw the bolts back in. In doing so, I find the nyloc nuts and washers that had been on the other side of the bolts, and which had dropped to the ground; earlier I was able to undo the screws without touching these -- I'd initially thought the screws were just self-tappers.... Do them up extra tight for the owner, so they hopefully won't let go in future.
As a final present, leave the perfectly good oar we'd picked up floating past the dock at Balmain earlier when dropping off Evan and Michelle. Too long for our locker (and our little dinghy, if we ever see him again (SOB)). Hopefully the oar will be a pleasant surprise for the owner, whoever he is...
That's it.
FOOTNOTE: No sign of Bob, but have left his details with NSW Maritime and the Water Police. The Water Police guy was great. Said (Thursday) that he'd be going out later that afternoon, and would have a special search for the little fella. That was before all the rain started. Really, he could be anywhere on the harbour. The tide was going out as we left, so he could have been swept into the Parramatta River, and then down into the harbour, and of course later we had a moderate westerly wind... Or he could have just drifted around the corner and be sitting somewhere in Woodford Bay filling up with water in all the rain. If it clears up this weekend, we may mount our own search party. |
| We are very happy to report that a week after the event "BOB had been found alive and well hiding in a little bay not far from his home. |
| The Continuing Adventures of "Brakks" |
| Date: Easter Cruise 2007 |
| Author: Marc Weynton |
Apologies to all in the delay in uploading this misadventure as it has only just come to light whilst querying the whereabouts of the only Dugong Burgee in captivity. This is in keeping with the Brakks' adventure cruising tradition - see Sugarloaf Bay Sailaway story below. How Brakks lost the original Dugong burgee. Alan Clark left the Dugong burgee on the boat, so we attached it to the backstay prior to leaving on Good Friday for the inaugural Pittwater BSC 'Dugong' Easter Cruise, of which I think that we where the only boat from BSC Cruising Division foolhardy enough to leave on the appointed day. The forecast was 20-25 kt S with 3-4m swell and 1-2m sea, rain was also in the mix. Mary, Simon, Kris and I had prepared and provisioned the boat the previous weekend, Tommy had repaired the alternator, so we were good to go. We started out at around 11am with the No.3 and one reef in the main, tender in tow, burgee attached and all in great spirit. By the time we got off North Head, I realised that we were over canvassed, I contemplated a second reef then decided that we were cruising not racing, so down came the main. This was also easier on the crew as trying to put in a second reef in 4-5m swell in 15-20knts whilst it's raining, wasn't really a safe option. After we secured the main, we then set off north. What a ride! Surfing down big clean swells, getting up to 9-10knts at the bottom of them. It was only then that it was noticed that our tender was overtaking the boat at the bottom of the swells and that my oars had left the tender. So I headed onto a close reach to slow the boat and seaway motion as much as I could. Then Mary, Simon and Kris managed to haul the tender onto the boat over the safety lines on the starboard side, this was no small achievement in the conditions, at one stage we had Simon pulling the painter from the coach house roof, Mary under the tender in the cockpit pushing up and Kris pushing from the stern safety lines. Anyway after about 10 minutes of enthusiastic conversation and instruction from all members of the tender retrieval party it was finally secured under the boom, just as well we didn't still have the main up. It was whilst we were all congratulating each other, on a successful first go at retrieving the tender that we noticed the "Dugong" burgee had left the scene. So she is out there some where, last seen around Long Reef. We got from North Head to Barrenjoey Head in just over 2 hours, a record for little Brakks, we averaged 6.5 knots with just with the No. 3, once we got 15kts on the GPS with white water from the bow higher than the safety lines. Still not sure why no one joined us on our 'cruise' up that day. So I guess the main lesson here is to make sure you attach your burgee properly! |
| "Karadi Kapers" - Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2007, Tasmania | |||
| Date: 9th - 12th February 2007 | |||
| Author: Alan Clark | |||
| This was the ninth, and the biggest and greatest wooden boat show of them all, with 500 + boats entered and more than 70,000 visitors. The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is now classed as a major event in Tasmania and more than rivals the Sydney to Hobart and Targa Tasmania events. | |||
| The sounds and tastes of the sea, street buskers and performances from both musical and acting groups created a welcoming atmosphere. The performances ranged from the legendary musician Don Burrows, to the Young Brothers who played their banjos, guitars and mouth organs until they almost dropped in the heatwave conditions. Three fat dripping icecreams presented to the group by Maggie had them smiling again. | |||
| It was difficult to walk more than 20 paces at the boat show, Salamanca Markets, Battery Point, the local pubs, or restaurants without enjoying the company of a fellow Balmain Sailing Club member or sailing associate. | |||
| There was the Musikboat, captained by a Master Marina, who kept his boat in the surge going into Sullivans Dock while playing music, reciting poetry, and blowing on the french horn and, didn't hit anything as he defied being shipwrecked on a lee shore. |  |
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| For me, I liked the three wooden tug boats off Sullivans Cove, Tassie built, using exotic timbers, tough as nails and sisters. I also liked the retired cray boats that have been re-invented as family fun boats. The wet holds converted to storage and accommodation and, the decks free and clear for barbecue's, dancing, socialising and happy times with the children. A far cry from their former life laying and pulling pots on stormy seas. I can see a Tassie cray-boat in the future plying the waters of Sydney Harbour as an enjoyment trawler. |
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| The other three essentials of life besides perving on wooden boats and being entertained by minstrels are of cause eating, drinking and sailing. If you couldn't get a good meal or three at the Wooden Boat Festival, you would be as sharp as a bowling ball. The onslaught of good fresh food was everywhere. The food court with offering around its perimeter displayed the Taste of Tassie, where five noted restaurants and chefs prepared their best. | |||
| Muirs fish restaurant and the takeways in Campbells Cove, offered quality seafood at reasonable prices. The Tassie beers and wine made from pure spring water refreshed and lubricated the mind for the social gatherings on boats that continued well after the gates had shut. There were feasts on the boats, and the visions of heads bent over glasses of port while the cabin lights flickered into the morning. | |||
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| We left Sydney and sailed to Hobart knowing very little history of Karadi. Through talking to visitors and past owners we were able to glen some more of her past lives. I thought that this would be at a guess, Karadi's fourth or fifth time crossing Bass Strait however, after speaking to people at the festival, I now believe that Karadi may have made the passage thirty times, but possibly only the first time she has made the passage from Sydney to Hobart. | |||
| Rowen Fotherington took some magnificent photos of the passage from Sydney to Hobart and the festival and, has produced a wonderful DVD slideshow. For those of you that missed the presentation of this slideshow night, you can view some of these photos in the photo gallery. | |||
| "Dugongs" Sailaway to Sugarloaf Bay, Middle Harbour | |||
| Date: 18th - 19th November 2006 | |||
| The Balmain Sailing Club Cruising Division (AKA "The Dugongs") had an enjoyable sailaway to Sugarloaf Bay on 18th November 2006. With perfect spring weather there was much swimming, exploring and socialising. Those present were Aeolus, Amon Re, Brakks, Broulee, Hauraki, Karadi, Lillian, (dear old) Taboo, Quando, Vida and Whisper II; also six dogs. | |||
| The Sailaway was not without mishap or incident: | |||
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While Quando and Lillian were quietly moored to have lunch with Karadi circling us like a great white shark while we were waiting for the next Spit Bridge opening, the silence was shattered with a radio call: | ||
| Coastguard, Coastguard, Coastguard this is Brakks, Brakks, Brakks When we left Balmain Sailing Club we had a dinghy tied on the back and we have just noticed that now we don't have a dinghy. |
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After some clever navigation using tidal currents and wind direction, the Brakks crew determined the most likely location of their wayward dinghy. These techniques paid off. While Brakks was searching the harbour where they thought Brakks Jnr. may be lurking, they spotted a motor cruiser with the elusive dinghy in tow. After retrieving the dinghy they were able set sail and join the Dugongs - minus the still missing oars. |
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The Dugong's were all invited to join Alan and Sue for "Sundowners" aboard Karadi. This proved to be a challenge for the crew of the three boats rafted-up some 50 metres from Karadi. It was rather interesting watching the Sugarloaf Bay Ferry Service being established with ropes being ferried between the boats, and a rather small inflatable one-man dinghy being used to ferry the occupants between the two sets of boats. Much instruction and mirth ensued with two of the occupants from one boat being dislodged and hanging by the handrails with the rest of their bodies dangling in the water and requiring clothes to be borrowed prior to sundowners. The return journey was as much an adventure with the occupant of one of the other boats also being dislodged and being completely submerged. This being achieved under the cover of darkness, it was not discovered until the following day who had fallen in. |
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| The Sugarloaf Bay Ferry Service in operation | |||
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The Dugongs received an email from Tony and Sue (Vida) thanking all the Sues and Allans (and those few other people also there!) who combined to make the weekend such an enjoyable experience. Tony and Sue also told a story of an incident that occured at the Spit Bridge while cruising home. |
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On our way home on the Monday afternoon, as we passed through the Spit bridge at the 2pm opening, the engine failed! We let her run on under her momentum into the stiff wind by then blowing and steered out of the shipway before dropping the anchor and just about all of the chain. It held and we blew back towards but not quite to the marina before coming to an uneasy rest. Fortunately at this point a diesel barge and the skipper of a big luxury cat at the marina responded beautifully and got a rope across to us, and then we placed two RIBs between us and the other boats as a precaution before the barge pulled us away sideways (lines to our bow and stern) - just as the Sea Tow boat arrived from Drummoyne in response to our call and took us home. We were on our mooring at the club, undamaged and not at all out of pocket, by 5pm! It could have been very different if we had not learned a lot about our boat's capabilities over the weekend, especially in anchoring. We did try bleeding the engine while at the Spit but it looks like there is a blockage somewhere so I guess we'll be spending some time out at the mooring over the next little while. This was the first time we've had to call Sea Tow and Mathew, who responded, couldn't have been better. He got from Drummoyne to the Spit within about 30 mins of our call - rather faster than the return journey with our 14 tonnes in tow! Certainly justified our Sea Tow membership. |
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Alan, our Cruising Captain proposed a challenge for the Dugongs to join him in an early Sunday Morning Adventure Tour, paddling through the mangroves. Two tenders took up the challenge to join Karadi II - Razza and Bob. We had anticipated a short bushwalk when we reached the end of the creek however, we noticed the tide suddenly turn and start to go out. Rather than be left high and dry we drifted out on a receeding tide. |
 Karadi II & Bob watching the tide turn |
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Our underwater photographer in Bob was fascinated with the stingrays (Crikey) and, spent most of the trip back head down and tail up trying to capture shots of every stinray in the inlet. Some of his photographic excellence can be viewed in the photo gallery It was then back to the boats for breakfast. Plenty of food, drink and good company made for an extremely pleasurable and relaxing weekend. |
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| New Years Cruise Report from Karadi - Sydney to Jervis Bay | ||
| Date: January 2006 |  |
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| Author: Alan Clark | ||
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First Leg - Sydney Harbour to Port Hacking. | |
| Karadi found Jibbon at the entrance to Port Hacking a good anchorage, even in NE winds. There are moorings but you need to be careful of the bomboras on approach. | ||
| Second Leg - Port Hacking to Jervis Bay. | ||
| For the first time in the writer's experience, Karadi has logged on with the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP) and SYDHARB, and then been passed to Coastguard Port Kembla, then to Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) at Shoalhaven and, finally to RVCPJB. Well done! The communication was good and our transit sheet was passed on from station to station without fail; South Coast rescue organisations co-ordinating their efforts to enhance our safe passage to Jervis Bay. | ||
| The entrance to Jervis Bay is majestic, the tallest sea-cliffs in Australia, bookends for the story that opens as you pass between and, enter the tabletop water of Jervis Bay. >>Full Story | ||
| CRUISING YARN ARCHIVES | ||
| BSC Takes on the Whitsundays | ||
| Date: 10th - 17th August 2006 | ||
| Author: Arthur King (BSC Treasurer) | ||
For the information of Members and Guests Balmain Sailing Club Address: Water Street Balmain NSW 2041 (PO Box 653 Rozelle NSW 2039) Telephone: 61 2 8710 2086 Fax: 61 2 9818 8850 Email: bsclub@tpg.com.au |
