Twilight Race 5

This week's Twilight race was so frustrating. After a small but steady breeze just before the start, we found ourselves struggling in very light air for the rest of the evening. A new crew member - the "Brisbane Bather" (named as a result of an unfortunate and unexpected dunking in Port Cygnet Bay) - had a perfect training day on the water. Coming 15th did little to cheers us up, but we did have a great tussle with Cap'n Stan on Wyvern. The lead between the two yachts changed a number of times and, fortunately, the girls under the close tutelage of Cap'n Tank, were able to catch the last little bit of breeze and make it over the finish line a minute ahead.
It is interesting just how tiring it can be sailing on a calm day. So many changes of sail settings and constantly adjusting the angle of the yacht to the winds as well as the concentration needed to keep focussed and ahead of Wyvern made for a very tiring evening. Coming in to the clubhouse later than most other people also meant cold steaks off the BBQ and cold potatoes! Mmmm.....next week we must do much better. Cold food is not much fun!

Cap'n Tank was as exited at beating Wyvern over the line as he would have been if we had won the race. Even with such a poor placing we are still well up in the seasons ranking so cannot be ashamed.  This learning to sail stuff is FUN!

Hopefully we will be able to improve next week (our handicap will go back to being a little better as a result of this week's poor placing) and keep up in the rankings.

Only three more races to go......................................:{

'Til the next time - sail well!

Twilight Sailing 2012

After many months of inactivity we have finally been racing in the 2012 Twilight season. With a new coach "Cap'n Tank" and a new crew "Overboard" and "CC",  I have finally been on the helm full time. We have had a great season to date. After 4 races we have had a 9th place, two 2nd places and a 5th which puts us pretty close to the lead over the season to date. We have been blessed with near perfect sailing conditions up until tonight when we were subjected to 15-20 knot winds and choppy waves. "Overboard" and I managed to put a reef in the main sail for the first time ever which was not easy to do when the yacht was heeled at 40 degrees. On reflection it probably would had been better to have rolled in a little of the giant genoa on the furler and left the main sail at full size. I needed to battle constantly with Pathfinder's tiller to keep her from turning up into the wind. A couple of times this was unavoidable as she just did not respond to the helm. This usually occurs in strong winds and when the yacht is over powered.  I have tired shoulders from fighting the tiller!  The girls worked well as a team and Cap'n Tank is a gem. He gives great support and confidence. He is always there to solve a problem or advise and is a great tactician. We have done far better this season and it has been really satisfying knowing that I can manage the yacht myself.  I was so reluctant, in past seasons, to helm the start of the race but with guidance it is now far less of a challenge.  

I really appreciate having two girls on board who are confident and knowledgeable as well as great fun. We still do not take it too seriously - but  the girls and Cap'n Tank agree that it is really enjoyable and low key - great team work and a good atmosphere on board.

Til next time - great sailing and kind winds to you all.

Easter Cruise - Pathfinder sails again!

It was with enormous excitement and not without some trepidation that we set off on Good Friday to sail Pathfinder out into the beautiful waters of the D'entrecasteaux Channel, south East of our home base at Cygnet. This was our first opportunity to go cruising on her since her purchase in mid 2007. Teamed up with two other yachts manned by friends, we headed South East and across the Channel to an anchorage called the The Quarries. A sheltered bay protected from the Southerly winds we were able to settle down for two relaxing and totally enjoyable days reading fishing and socialising with friends. Pathfinder went well although the very light winds meant we had to motor and sail. We found the boat comfortable to live in and the modifications made when we were fixing the mast worked well. We have some issues with the electrical systems which will need to be addressed fairly urgently. The fuses kept blowing which controlled the navigation lights which was an issue. Fortunately we were at anchor deep in the bays at night surrounded by other yachts, all with anchor lights gleaming. We had torches to read by as the cabin lighting was also defective. This was all checked out two weeks previously and found to be fine so what the issue is will need to be explored. After two nights at the quarries we sailed further south to a very picturesque bay called Mickey's. This was like something out of a magazine. Tree lines shores, white sandy beaches, great fishing - everything one could wish for. The company was great and the yacht performed well. Easter Monday saw us all go our different ways. My 'significant other' needed to be back home to start the apple harvest by Tuesday so mid-morning we set off sailing home with a steady 4 knot wind from the south behind us. It was a long days sail with Pathfinder reaching almost 5.5 knots on the last leg but mostly sitting on around 3-4 knots. This was the longest sail we had taken the yacht on together and without additional company so it was a really good test for us. We had to navigate ourselves home without guidance from others. For novice sailors this was a challenge but one which we achieved with few hassles. It was such a great confidence booster to know that we were able to navigate ourselves back to the mooring with ease. The sail took all day but it was full of pleasures. Two seals, basking in the sun on the surface had quite a surprise when Pathfinder snuck up on them! The winds were also favourable, if a little light.

Packing up the boat, loading all the gear into the car was quickly achieved and we sadly had to return home. Plans are being made to put some work into finishing off the paint work, fixing the lights and installing the new aerial for the VHF radio over the next weekend with the possibility of another trip away before the winter sets in and makes conditions unpleasant. I plan to also have some fishing lessons with a friend. Although I caught more fish than I ever had before, I was reluctant to kill and clean them - what would we do if that is all we had to live on I do not know! The lucky finned friends were thrown back much to the disgust of the people who came with us. Still ... next time maybe! 'Til the next time - good sailing to you all.

Mast raising on Pathfinder - February 2010

Pathfinder is Sailing again!

It was an enormous thrill to be able to take Pathfinder out on her first sail in 7 months last weekend. The Challenge Cup gave me the opportunity to test sail her with the repaired mast and re-rigging complete. A worthy Old Salt who had never sailed her before came aboard to take the helm. With no intentions other than to have a great relaxing day we were able to make the 5 hour trip to Port Huon and back in relative comfort and with much better ability to sail into the wind and to sail effectively on port tack than ever before. The usual fickle wind conditions both helped and hindered us. For most of the early part of the race we were well up with all the other boats. We did, however, become becalmed in shore when all the others went out wide and sailed on. Once in the main river we were able to make up some distance on the rest, only to become becalmed again up near the final turning buoy. A strong beat to windward on the return journey, when a stiff sea breeze blew up helped but we were still too far behind to make up much. We finished 15th out of 18 boats and considering the conditions we were happy. The men of the club were again very supportive and encouraging so there is a good chance I will get the opportunity to take her out again before the sailing season draws to a close.

Drama even when not Sailing

The winter has been very long. It is supposed to be spring but we are suffering from endless rainy periods. The land is saturated and the rivers and bays around the coast have a lot of floating logs and rubbish. Last Sunday a very deep low pressure cell crossed Tasmania bringing very high winds and tides. The storm saw waves of nearly two metres from the South West rolling into our normally sheltered bay. The locals say they have never seen seas like it. At least five yachts dragged or broke their moorings and ended up on the mud banks or the rocks around the bay. Pathfinder faired poorly. Although the mooring held well the severe winds broke the mast just above the spreaders. The loss of pressure on the mast from the stays caused it to fall over the side. Frantic phone calls were received at 8am in the morning. We went over but there was nothing we could do. The seas were too dangerous to take a dinghy out to the yacht. All we could do was just watch. We were consoled by the thought that everything would be fine - it was all insured and we could get everything back to normal. Every one at the club was very supportive and caring. It was hard to watch others risking their lives to get their yachts off the mud or rocks before too much damage could occur. By mid afternoon the stormy seas had eased off and Coach Harry was able to go out and have a look. It was too hard to get aboard but he was happy that the hull was largely undamaged. A stanchion was bent but no real damage to the fibreglass. The biggest shock came when we realised that we had missed the last payment on the insurance and they had cancelled it. They did not send us a reminder - or we did not receive it - and the brain has been so preoccupied with the new job that the payment just got overlooked. The stress levels have never been higher. One quote on a new mast was $20,000. Does it mean that the Pathfinder will never sail again? We are now battling with the insurance who are not keen to insure her as she is, but will not assist in fixing her even though we have been with the company for 6 years. The boys at the Club think they can fix her with a sleeve...but will the insurance company go along with that? Its emotionally draining and it looks like it could be financially draining as well. And I was just feeling pleased that I had got the boat looking beautiful for the opening of the season. All scrubbed, antifouled, polished and with a newly refurbished genoa. Alas, life is going to be tough over the coming months. I am very grateful to the boys who worked wonderfully as a team to dismantle the whole rigging and bring it all ashore. Apart from the broken mast all else seems fine. The furler has even survived intact. Everyone chipped in and gave a hand in clearing the decks and laying it all out in a friend's front paddock so we could see what needed repair. We are seeking materials and/or professional help to fix it. One of the club members - the Commodore - arrived the other day with a spare length of mast that we could perhaps use as a sleeve and the boys have had daily conferences analysing the task and looking at all the options. I just hope that the conferencing just not take over from the fixing! 'Til next time. Keep us in your thoughts.

How could I have missed so much!

I am surprised that it is almost the end of May and I have not blogged on the site since February!

Life gets in the way I suppose. I have been incredibly busy in my new job and just have not got the writing done dear reader. Sailing was a highlight of the year to date with amazing opportunities throughout the season. I sailed almost every week end with the Cap'n and my significant other until the last two races of the season when I was able to take out Pathfinder with Cap'n Jim. The twilight series went well with the girls making 7 out of 8 races. The best we did was a third but we still came in 9th out of 30 yachts over the whole season. We have has a couple of third places and a second with Cap'n Jim so I cannot complain. The opportunity to sail was all I really wanted. The yacht is going well. She has been cleaned and anti-fouled twice this season so she should be going well. New Jib sheets have made tacking easier also. I feel that I own her now and have a commitment to getting her really smartened up over the winter. Will keep in touch...keep sailing and smiling!

Twilight Races 5 &6 /09 plus two Sundays!

Well dear reader, it is a while since I have blogged and a lot has happened. Invariably I come home from an evening or Sunday sail and am just too sleepy to take up the laptop and blog. To tell the truth tonight is not much different! Over the past three weeks I have gone back to work after a 5 week summer holiday which was very busy, got a new job, gone through a very stressful time telling my boss and colleagues that I am leaving and have actually done two days of work in the new position. As a school teacher I am required to give 8 weeks notice from my job but as I only work 4 days a week I am working the fifth day at my new school until I can start full time. This has been very tiring and it seems like a year already since we went back to work! We, the girls,  have continued to race on Tuesday evenings and have had a really good time. The weather - yes the proverbial weather - has been kind with lovely sunny evenings and steady sea breezes most of the time. Race 5 was really good but we still only placed 9th out of 15 yachts. We thought we had done better. We had a great time and the team work was excellent. The 6th race was also great and we were placed 5th out of 10 yachts. The winds were kind, the sea great. Having to give way to other yachts at the buoy seems to be a common problem and tends to put us behind. We enjoy ourselves, winning is not everything and we are improving every week so whose complaining. 

I hope to get Pathfinder out of the water on Saturday next to give her hull a clean and to get the jib removed and repaired. The boys at the club are going to help me as my "significant other" is far too busy with his work to be bothered with her at the moment. In fact he is really grumpy at the moment so to even ask him to help is beyond me!   

Sunday racing has been very interesting. Last week I again joined the Cap'n and my 'significant other on Wyvern on a novelty race which started and finished on the clubhouse verandah. We had to get aboard the dinghy, transfer to the yacht, set her up, sail a triangular course and then return to the mooring, pack up and row in to shore. It was good fun all trying to get into the dinghies and out to the yachts the fastest. The winds were very blustery and one of the Solings was almost completely flattened by a gust. Full of water she and her crew were in peril of sinking so we halted our race and were able to get close enough to throw them a bucket to bail with. We then kept them company until we were confident they could make it back to the moorings safely. We were credited with 20 minutes and were given a win. We deserved it!  It was very challenging sailing to aid the other yacht and Coach Harry, who was the other Helmsman, was most appreciative of our help. Sunday racing today was again aboard Wyvern and was a pursuit race. We headed off first and made it down the bay and across the river before being caught up by Bianco. We had a good downwind run home but as the wind became lighter and lighter we were gradually overtaken by a number of boats. It was a very pleasant sail and the 9th place out of 12 yachts did not really matter. I am continually gaining confidence and now feel comfortable if asked to take the helm or trim the sails. The joy of being on the water is worth more than the place in a race.   

We have also sailed for pure pleasure this weekend - we motored south into a stiff sea breeze on Saturday and after a nap at anchor in a sunny, beautifully quiet, serene bay headed back under sail through a cold, overcast evening. Just pure pleasure. 'Til next time... may your winds be light and your days warm...