Grand Final Frolics!
Oh what a beautiful life!
Seeing it was Grand Final day here in Australia, the usual Saturday yacht racing down at the club was moved to earlier in the day with a very short course so people could rush back to watch Australian rules football. Too early, too short and too little inclination to go racing or watch the footy match, had Danni and myself decide to head out for a sail instead.
A quick fly-by at Subway and a cooler full of drinks had us set sail just after midday. Breeze from the north at around 10-15knots, temp mid 20's with only a light cloud cover, schweeeeeet, just too good to pass up!
Today we had time, we didn't need to be anywhere and could just set sail and head away. Do what we wanted, go where we wanted and just be in each others moments.
First leg was over towards Williamstown as the wind was suitable, but after a few minutes we got bored with that and decided to head further south-west towards the commercial ships anchorages towards Geelong. A beautiful and relaxing reach past Altona, Werribee and Point Cook, we did throw in some sail training to see what Bela Vida would do when involuntarily thrown into a jibe or tack and the effects of apparent wind vs. true. No point wasting an opportunity to teach or learn.
Danni sunbaking on deck and Jens dancing around the cockpit,... Yes you heard right, I tend to have a jig when it's just Danni and myself sailing. Not usually one for this, it just seems to happen naturally when I'm at my happiest! :-D
Even the dolphins came for a look, but obviously didn't think much of my moves and didn't hang around long.
Anyway, a jibe later with course south-east Danni steered us towards 'Cape Brindisi', a 274m long, 48m wide, draught of 14m, Marshall Islands flagged tanker on anchor here, while I did the dishes down below. Amazing feats of engineering and the large bulb just out of the water under the bow is apparently perfect for seals to rest and sunbake as well. Who knew?!? A sail-by around her stern, we changed course once again and sailed close hauled towards Sandringham yacht club. The wind started to strengthen and almost near the bay's other shore we had to reef our sails to allow for the 30 knot winds now blowing. A tack back out away from shore towards the noth-west and it was a bit of a slug up-wind, but since it was a northerly, the water was very flat and Bela Vida enjoyed the stronger pressure. What a lovely and forgiving boat she is and she takes anything the elements throw at her in her stride. Just like water of a ducks back!
Nearing Altona beach once more, we tacked around and we could head straight for our home, St. Kilda harbor. A strong gust from between the large buildings of the city, just as I was dropping and securing the main sail, had us getting pushed around just as we were trying to heading into our safe harbor. It took the engines hard work to get us up against this gust, but it soon subsided and all was good once again.
On our way in we managed to inconvenience some guys on their little fishing boat, who frantically had to reel in all of their many fishing rods before we would cut through their lines. Not sure why they think anchoring in the narrow entrance is a good idea, but it is starting to be a regular occurrence and it is also becoming a bit of a sport with me, to see just how quickly they can reel their lines in. Last nights contestants did rather well and deserve a prize of sorts!
Anyway, we put Bela back in her berth safe & sound, cracked a can and enjoyed the last bit of sunlight as the moon rose.
I checked on a chart at home, re-plotting our trip, we did around 32.5 nautical miles (just under 60km) with an average of 6knots of speed and I saw a hight of 7.4knots while Danni was at the helm. Not bad for a 29 year old yacht with a slight seaweed beard growing on her hull.
Thank you to both of my girls! ;-)
