New year 2011

Spent the night on the boat and saw in the new year with Dan and Katrina from "Camelot". A lot of activity on the marina but we had a very peaceful new year start. To bed by 12.15 after cleaning up the dishes. Woke at 6am to hear Sadiqui Ra preparing to leave for Rottnest.
Very quiet here today, perhaps a few nursing sore heads.

Kids having some cooling off fun

beautiful sunset at Woodman Point

Sunset at Woodman Point

Back home

Well all good things must come to an end, so here we are back at Mindarie with a boat that looks like a couple of dozen people have lived on board for a week. So its the big cleanup today.
It was definitely a great way to spend Xmas, on the water, with son-in-laws ski boat to add some fun times. I even braved it and had a go in the biscuit, but being dragged through the water at a great number of knots isn't my idea of fun especially with the pain to the rear anatomy.
Very nice mooring, but the sailing club leaves a lot to be desired. The ablutions don't give the feeling that they are very sanitary and really need to be demolished, but guess finances dictate. Karine got busted for bringing rubbish to dispose of in their bins and told you guys are filling the bins and they won't be emptied till Thursday. Certainly a different message that we got when we drove down to check it all out and talked to the commodore. We paid our fees for doing just that, but seems whoever was looking after the place didn't seem to think that mattered.
The young girls went over for a shower and he kept coming in while they were in there which freaked them out as the doors wouldn't shut properly.
So we managed with swimming and swill downs on the boat.
The wind came up on xmas night, a gale warning from Mandurah to Jurien and that is certainly what we got. We had to take the shade down and stow it. It blew all night and most of the next day. Thankfully the anchor held and we managed to weather it out.
Kyle and Karine left on Sunday afternoon when it died down, but said they would be back in the morning so Kyle could help Fran sail back and I would go back with her.
She was having trouble with migraines,so needed to get home to sort herself out.
We had a lovely last night on board. Fran made a little platter for us and we sat up on the foredeck enjoying. Then he barbequed snags, I made a salad and we sat enjoying that on a beautiful balmy evening.
A major breakthrough for me as I was desperate to wash my hair and decided to give it a try in the head sink. What bliss, I managed it and oh beautiful clean hair, I felt like I had just stepped out of a lovely long hot shower it was so refreshing.
So now, clean up and pack up and back to reality.

Xmas morning

Woke at 6am as I do with the sun belting in through the hatch.
Made myself a cuppa and sat on deck enjoying the peace and tranquility.
Gradually they all surfaced and Xmas day started with Papa cooking pancakes again. First and foremost was Karines two little fish which she totally enjoyed.
Looks like being a hot one today, so will be spending time in the water and on the ski boat.

whats happening with the weather

I thought this was supposed to be summer, rain and wind all day yesterday and through the night before. Back to wearing sweaters. It has fined up today and just the possibility of showers.
Shopping for supplies before we leave Thursday morning. Looks like we should have good weather while we are down at Woodman Point. Thirty eight and humid Xmas day, so will be happy to swim to cool off.
Instead of continuing on to Bunbury we will return to Mindarie on Monday as there is a cyclone brewing up north and don't want to get caught in the effects of that system. So Bunbury will have to wait for now. It looks like it will be just hubby and I for the return trip as everyone will be abandoning us after they have indulged in all the Xmas fare.
Busy time now getting everything ready so will wish you a very merry Xmas and a safe and happy new year.

checking Woodman Point

Drove to Woodman point today to check out where everything is. Talked to people from the sailing club. They all seemed very friendly and welcoming.
M2 is looking very chrismassy with twickling lights along her safety lines and a wreath hanging from her transom.
Only a few more days now to prepare for Xmas, so lots to do before then.
Can't wait to be on our way and spending a few days just relaxing. We have been invited to join the xmas carols at the sailing club, so that should be fun. Plenty of space for the family to use the ski boat and have fun on the water.

Xmas plans revamped

We had a family discussion yesterday regarding Xmas at the Cut, The family discussion was actually just our one daughter who has quite a strong influence on the decision making. I wonder who she takes after?
On reflection the thought going through my mind was that spending Xmas in the Cut at Mandurah wasn't going to be the most exciting place to be. I made the comment that it wouldn't be the best place for the kids as I wouldn't recommend swimming there. This is where daughter came in and decided it definitely wasn't the place to be if she couldn't fall off the back of the boat into the water.
So we have re visited the Xmas location and it will be at Woodman Point as this offers so much more. The Son-in-law will be bringing his ski boat as there is a ski area near where we will anchor. It is also closer for the other family members who will be coming to spend some time with us over the Xmas break.

good news

Good news today, the hot water system is up and running. Finally after all the hastle we now have hot water.
Xmas is looming and we are looking forward to sailing to the Mandurah Cut. Some of the family will sail down with us and others meet us there.

another lovely sail

Woke yesterday feeling a tad under the weather, so we felt it a good idea to have a quiet day.
Phone call from Ross wanting to visit, we ended up going out at 12.45 and had the most delightful sail. Back to Mindarie at 7pm and Ross' wife met us at the boat with a lovely eske full of food. So we sat out on the deck and enjoyed a happy hour then barbequed some kebabs for dinner.
Ross very kindly donated a lamp to hang in the cockpit which made dining so much easier.
Another yacht had slipped in quietly while we were out and was penned opposite us. The name Radiqui Ra, and have googled it to find out where it is from and who owns it as there is no sign of life on board. The owners google tells us live down Quindalup way. So hopefully someone will show while we are still on board and we can meet the owners.
Looks like we will be packing up today and heading home as jobs are calling from that direction.
It had been a lovely stopover but looking forward to a dip in the pool and some nice airconditioning.

stuff ups galore

Well what can I say, all bedded down on the boat Saturday night, a howling 30kn wind that kept us awake most of the night, the wind howling through the rigging sounding like young hoods laying rubber.
Woke Sunday morning to a continuing howling wind which was forecast to lessen by midday.
At 11 am we decided to just go for it. We left Mindarie marina and into a lovely flat sea. The breeze still quite brisk, probably gusting 20-25knots. Son did a brilliant job holding her into the wind to get the main up, then the foresail and she was away. Quite a heel on her and I was trying not to let my stupid fears loose, but then the 9yr old Granddaughter lost the plot and to not frighten the wits out of her it was decided to bring in the headsail. The mother wanted to turn around and go back but we decided against this. The wind lessened and we ended up spending a whole day out on the water with flat seas and gentle breezes. It was too late to head to Woodman Point so we rang Brendan to let him know and he agreed it was very wise not to frighten the young one and put her off sailing for life. As luck would have it a pod of Dolphins came to play and this was a very welcome diversion. The 6 yr old totally enjoyed the whole experience and spent the day sunning on deck and calling the Dolphins. So all was not lost.
Very hot today and windy, might just have a lay day and recoup. We will see what the day brings.

alls well

Still haven't got hot water coming through, but everything else is fine and so it has been decided to leave Sunday am early and sail to Woodman Point.
Very hot today, so will go back to boat tonight and do a clean up and make beds ready for sleepover. Returning Monday, so the weekend has just been moved forward from Sat to Sun, now Sun to Mon.

2 little dissapointed girls

Off to Mindarie to clean up the boat and see what can be done. Brunch at Dome to ease the dissapointment of two little girls being robbed of their weekend. Make that two little girls and one big girl. Hopefully the damage isn't too major, a lesson in not being pressured into doing jobs that need a lot of time and thought.

weekend cancelled

well our much looked forward to weekend sail to Woodman Point has had to be cancelled due to problems installing water heater. Sludge has spilled into motor and makes it unsafe to sail without being confident that the motor won't fail us. Extremely dissapointed over this, but guess it is better safe than sorry.

Hot water and cameras

A final try on the hot water today, if it fails to be installed this time might just leave it home and put up with not having hot water for this weekend.
The good news is that insurance came good and I now have a lovely new camera, just thinking I need a degree to work it out, but what a bonus getting it before the weekend. So hopefully will have some lovely pics of our weekend at Woodman Point.

The hot water system is turning into a nightmare. Trying to do it in too much of a rush and not having time to think it through. Thinking it would be better to take it out and do it when there is more time and less pressure. Sorry d.i.l might have to boil a kettle and go to shore for showers.

In Hot water

Hot water tank being installed as I write this. What a bonus to be able to just turn on the tap and get lovely hot water. Won't have to boil kettle everytime to wash up.

count down to Woodman Point

Count down to the Woodman point weekend, still no element for the hot water system. Today is supposed to be the day it arrives. So maybe??
Shopping today and wondering if the budget would cover a new camera seeing I lost ours. Maybe the insurance will come good and send me one before the weekend. One can only hope but feel like I have lost an arm without it.

Turning boat

Feel very pleased with ourselves turning the boat around on our own in not such nice conditions. The more we do it the more comfortable we are with bringing her in stern first.
Rottnest trip off next week due to certain family member freaking about it being schoolies week over there, so plans have changed and we will sail to Woodman Point with the cruising club with said family member aboard.
Hopefully by then the new hot water system will have arrived and been installed so a certain one can have hot water.

Meridian ii

After being on the hard stand for over 3 months she is looking a treat with a new paint job, spray dodger, bimini, seats and steps. So far just a couple of day sails but looking forward to a weekend with the family at Rottnest on the 29th of this month. It will be M2's third trip to Rottnest, once last season with the family and this year Fran took the sea rescue guys for an extended weekend.
The Hallyard to the main snapped so they had to motor back and use the foresail.
All came back looking very relaxed even with this minor drama.
The hot water tank has been removed and it looks like a replacement will be needed. Hopefully it will be installed before the Rottnest weekend.

Meridian ii

Last season we did another leg to Bunbury with Don & Rhonda. We spent a week in Bunbury this time and thoroughly enjoyed living on board and meeting up with the friends down that way. It was great to be able to do shopping travelling to shops in the zodiac and across to Dome for coffee and lunches. A very relaxing time and lifestyle which I could very easily get used to.

The third season we have been sailing. We purchased Meridian ii in February 2010, did extensive work on rigging, charts, antifouling before sailing her to Mindarie where we had a temporary pen. Our first long leg was to Bunbury with Son and Son-in-law. All went well until the return trip when leaving the Cut in Mandurah we lost our motor. No wind to talk of so a long trip back to Hillary's where we planned to anchor on the lee side of Hillary's. Unfortunately as luck would have it, the wind rose to 25knots and the anchor dragged, so it was on the radio to sea rescue and they towed us back to Mindarie. The problem was the lifters, so sea power sorted that out with installing new lifters and we were back ready to sail.
Mainly day trips along the coast through that season.

Meridian ii

Another sailing season is upon us, Meridian ii has had a new paint job and looking beautiful, she has also had a new spray dodger, bimini, steps, cushions and seats on the stern.
To Fremantle tomorrow to book Rottnest moorings for the season, a lot cheaper than paying each time we visit. Our first weekend over there will be on the 29th of November with Son and his family. Mooring at Longreach again.
So I am hoping for flat seas, blue skies and soft breezes.