Blokes In Boats - Again!

BLOKES IN BOATS – AGAIN!

 February 2009

Another cruise in which nutrition played a part

Somehow plans evolved for the flotilla to assemble off Kettering at a gentlemanly 10am on Tuesday morning.

 On Monday night Thor put on an extraordinary and extended display of fireworks in preparation our departure. Rain thundered on roofs and wind howled in eaves.  All this had not quite subsided in the morning when a still, small voice on the telephone asked if it might be wise to defer out departure.

 “Yes! Let’s wait ‘til after lunch.” Whereupon the rain ceased, the clouds rolled back, the sun smiled and the first decision of the day was democratically reversed. By 11 am we were all out in mid channel and agreeing to make south to the Quarries for our first destination.

 Dave had wounded his wrist and opted for the rapid comfort of Nefertiti with Geoff from Geelong. Rod was on Tamahini, apologising for not having slipped (or shaved) in living memory. Young Roger was riding bravely on the recently ungreened Meander. Paddy, nursing a wounded shoulder, joined Ben on Saona. Chris was due to join us all on the morrow.

 We all braved the solid southerly with shortened sail and full oilies. As the wind built towards 30 knots the fleet spread out. The crew of Nefertiti was probably enjoying tea and biscuits and might have been relaxing belowdecks. Meanwhile, on mainsailless Saona, Paddy was dodging the occasional spray and working the helm to scrape past Satellite Island.  Meander’s beautiful cream sails seemed somewhat over pressed but Roger, having our evening meal aboard, battled gamely on. Rod hoisted a diesel mizzen.

 The Quarries provided a quiet haven as the fleet reassembled and gathered for afternoon tea and sympathy aboard the very civilized Nefertiti. Much of the sympathy was blended with advice for Rod who seemed to be having alternator problems.

 Later we all enjoyed a Jo curry, superbly reheated by Roger on Saona, washed down with a certain quantity of red wine.

 Next morning Paddy created a stylish breakfast of scrambled eggs on lightly toasted muffins with fruit in season.

 We had contemplated making for Cloudy Bay but a text from George warned us that the swell had made severely in Storm Bay so a reach to Dover was proposed. The suggestion of a visit to the Pink Bakery clinched the deal.

 In a 20 knot southerly Saona rarely fell below 7 knots from Ventenat Point to Dover Jetty and helmsman Paddy’s smile was a delight. The others arrived eventually. Tamahini’s engine failed to start so a slightly undergruntled Rod altered course for Rabbit Island where the engine is reported to have leapt into life.

 Meanwhile Chris, aboard his fine but nameless motorsailer, Gardnered purposely south from an early Kettering start and, seeing Tamahini’s new course, made for Rabbit also. 

Geoff savoured the Pink Bakery’s scallop pies in a most discerning manner but judged them to be marginally astern of those made at the Bottom Pub at Cygnet. The rest of us simply enjoyed the fare but Roger bought two spare pies for our absent friends.

 The now complete fleet congregated off Rabbit Island where, over a toasted hot-cross bun or two, with tea, a gleeful Rod reported that all his problems had been a small, red switch.

 In the generous comfort of Nefertiti the evening meal of lamb casserole was washed down with numerous stories, a few more drops of red wine and a little whisky. (Maybe there is a pattern developing here).

 If the anticipated south easterly came in during the night it went unnoticed. The morning dawned quite still. The tannin dark waters like a mirror darkly.

 Squeezy breakfast below decks on Tamahini was a hotel of alternative cereals, fruit juices, toast and coffee. There could be little discussion about our destination for the day. Since Geoff had cast his aspersion upon the scallop pies of the Pink Bakery, the challenge was on.

 Saona made for Cygnet while taking advantage of the engineer’s advice that her engine needed a good, fast run. In the mouth of the Huon River we hoisted sail and delighted in the silence, but the wind was barely sufficient to carry us over the tide. Eventually the fleet motored to the jetty just south of the PCYC. Here, with many recollections of dragged anchors, Chris was encouraged to swap his toy for a fisherman. Only as we watched him at work on his foredeck did we realize that this was a true admiralty pattern of naval, disk slipping proportions. Roger also took this opportunity to trial his new ground tackle.

 The cloud now folded away and the early afternoon march to the Bottom Pub established a serious thirst for cold beer. Pie tasting followed with the judges being full of praise but the final assessment being in doubt. While Geoff stood his ground there is a definite need to repeat the exercise before making a championship award.  

Ungreened Meander, finally!

 With a forecast of 25 knot NE that evening we made for beautiful Sandrock. First, however, there was a degree of struggle with new anchoring systems. By the time we reached our destination Roger had rearranged his system in order to cheat the chiropractor. Chris had confirmed his resolve to purchase something more proportionate.

 At Sandrock some gathered in the sunny cockpit of Saona for tea and Jo cake while others sampled Jam slice on Nefertiti. Then, following a brief interlude, we rowed across to enjoy Chris’s hospitality. Over a fine spag’ bol’ and a couple of reds we learned why he wished to distance the boat from its previous name. While pouring the port he told us that he was considering calling her “Talisker”. This, being the name of a single malt whisky from the Isle of Skye, met with general approval, as did his plan to bring this lovely boat back to its rightful state. 

Although the forecast wind had not materialized, we took various precautions. Nefertiti slipped anchor and made for Randals Bay, thus getting a head start for the morrow. Meander slipped her lines from Saona to try her revised anchoring system.

 After all the preparation the night was entirely quiet. Friday dawned through a rolling Huon mist which gradually evolved into a warm and sunny day. After breakfast on Saona the Sandrock contingent set a course for home, although Chris was somewhat delayed, perhaps held by his humungous anchor.

 Saona, with appointments to keep, motored home to arrive at Kettering at about 2pm. Nefertiti sailed magnificently up the channel into an inconsistent northerly and arrived soon after. Meander and Tamahini were seen to be sailing north and Talisker was reported to be making good use of her Gardner.

 At Kettering cheerful wives met the prodigal sailors with tales of fun that they had enjoyed in our absence.

 It had been a most enjoyable cruise.