A front came over Mindarie around 2.30 pm, very nasty little one and did a lot of damage further across the city. Northam copped the worst with roofs gone and lots of damage.
After it passed it settled down again and the temp reached 41deg which was extremely uncomfortable on board. So we headed to dome and airconditioning to have some lunch and cool off.
We finished packing up, taking the bimini cover off and I left the boat so Frank could reposition the ropes and move her further off the jetty. The marlon board at the rear needed to be away from the jetty in case it jammed underneath.
It was interesting watching small boats coming in to be put on trailers and seeing the surging. The water would rise a couple of feet over the boat ramp jetty then drop again.
At home it was extremely steamy so jumped into the pool to have a cool down.
Biance fizzled out to be a tropical low, but on her way she battered Geraldton and Bunbury copped some high winds. So now all we have is another steamy day to get through and hope this is the last one we have to face this season.
With the little we faced it certainly gave a little reality to the people in Queensland and what they have gone through and our hearts go out to all those who have lost everything.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Birthdays, cyclones and a lovely cod.
A very brisk sail for my birthday, another stopover at Hillary's and dinner at the club to celebrate. Brendan & Jan met us at the boat to celebrate my birthday which was lovely of them.
Terribly hot, humid and yukky, with the news that cyclone Bianca is heading down the coast. We left Hillary's at 11.30 to head back to Mindarie with a head wind all the way, so it was motor all the way bashing into it. Frank showing Bob the track back to Mindarie that he takes which at times gets pretty shallow but quite safe.
It was the sort of weather that you stop worrying about what you look like and just dress to keep cool. The sun was fierce and could feel it burning into my back as we motored along. It was actually a great trip back, I sat on the rear seats and enjoyed the rocking and admiring the colour of the water as Meridian ii pushed her way through it.
A sighting of sharks as we passed Mullaloo beach with the Westpac helicopter following them and hovering over, only a few people swimming at the time.
A perfect reversing into the pen as there was no wind in the marina. Made her secure and then Bob collected his gear and bid us farewell.
Activity on the marina in view of the cyclone heading down and it would appear we were in its path, as well as Bunbury. So emails were being sent out for everyone to properly secure their vessels.
Jarrod from Stormy came to sort the boat out and as he was leaving gave us a beautiful freshly caught cod. Gary, Rae, Katrina and Dan came to help us eat it. Frank bbq'd it whole and it was absolutely delicious.
We retired at 11pm feeling extremely tired and were rudely awakened at 5am with a loud bang and pelting rain. Of course all the hatches were open so it was a mad scramble to shut everything down. After which Frank went back to bed and I sat up waiting for the worst to happen.
It was just a front passing over so I fell back into bed and woke at 8.30 to another hot, steamy soupy morning.
Grib files tell us it will pick up around 8pm tonight and then increase tomorrow, so in the mean time, we batten down, do all that we can to ensure the safety of the boat and go home to batten down there as well.
Terribly hot, humid and yukky, with the news that cyclone Bianca is heading down the coast. We left Hillary's at 11.30 to head back to Mindarie with a head wind all the way, so it was motor all the way bashing into it. Frank showing Bob the track back to Mindarie that he takes which at times gets pretty shallow but quite safe.
It was the sort of weather that you stop worrying about what you look like and just dress to keep cool. The sun was fierce and could feel it burning into my back as we motored along. It was actually a great trip back, I sat on the rear seats and enjoyed the rocking and admiring the colour of the water as Meridian ii pushed her way through it.
A sighting of sharks as we passed Mullaloo beach with the Westpac helicopter following them and hovering over, only a few people swimming at the time.
A perfect reversing into the pen as there was no wind in the marina. Made her secure and then Bob collected his gear and bid us farewell.
Activity on the marina in view of the cyclone heading down and it would appear we were in its path, as well as Bunbury. So emails were being sent out for everyone to properly secure their vessels.
Jarrod from Stormy came to sort the boat out and as he was leaving gave us a beautiful freshly caught cod. Gary, Rae, Katrina and Dan came to help us eat it. Frank bbq'd it whole and it was absolutely delicious.
We retired at 11pm feeling extremely tired and were rudely awakened at 5am with a loud bang and pelting rain. Of course all the hatches were open so it was a mad scramble to shut everything down. After which Frank went back to bed and I sat up waiting for the worst to happen.
It was just a front passing over so I fell back into bed and woke at 8.30 to another hot, steamy soupy morning.
Grib files tell us it will pick up around 8pm tonight and then increase tomorrow, so in the mean time, we batten down, do all that we can to ensure the safety of the boat and go home to batten down there as well.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
day sail & Dolphins
We did a day sail on Saturday with the family and friends. What was supposed to be an ordinary sailing day turned out to be perfect. 12-13 knot winds and gentle swell. We have decided to ignore the weather information as the days they have said would be a no sailing day turns out to be the best.
The young grandsons friend who was on board decided he didn't like being rocked around and wanted to go home. Thankfully he fell asleep and woke up feeling a whole lot braver and as they always do, a very welcome pod of Dolphins escorted us into Mindarie which made him forget that he didn't like being rocked around. He now thinks it is awesome and he has news for when he returns to school. Will be rather funny when Grandson and he give the same news, but then maybe something more exciting will happen before school starts again and the Dolphins will be forgotten.
The young grandsons friend who was on board decided he didn't like being rocked around and wanted to go home. Thankfully he fell asleep and woke up feeling a whole lot braver and as they always do, a very welcome pod of Dolphins escorted us into Mindarie which made him forget that he didn't like being rocked around. He now thinks it is awesome and he has news for when he returns to school. Will be rather funny when Grandson and he give the same news, but then maybe something more exciting will happen before school starts again and the Dolphins will be forgotten.
Friday, January 14, 2011
stop over at Hillary's
We sailed, or should I say, motored 25% of the way, to Hillary's on Thursday morning. No wind to speak of when we left Mindarie, then up she came to 21knots. We were doing over 6knots with just the main up. We arrived just as the Thursday morning race was finishing and all the mains being dropped along with ours, then into the relative calm of the Hillary's marina. We followed "Sana ii" in and waited for "Sally Mallay" to berth as she was in the pen near the visitors jetty. The plan was to tie up on the visitors jetty, attend the cruising meeting that night and spend the night there.
As we were tying up "Coco" followed us in to tell us there was a pen near them, but as we were already tied up decided to stay where we were.
Bob had joined us that morning to sail down with us and was staying over as well. As he said, it would remind him of old times when he would go and sleep on his yacht years ago.
We were greeted by the "Maitre D" of Pinky's to see if we would be needing lunch. Always makes us feel like visiting VIPs.
The racing fraternity all gathered at Pinky's for their after race catchup, so we went across and joined them for a drink. We then returned to M2 for our lunch which Laura had very kindly made for us.
A walk across to Hillary's Marina to get Bob some crock thongs, then back to boat to get cleaned up and ready to join the mtg that night.
A very good meeting with Dan & Katrina giving us a glimpse of their crossing of the Tasman, then a couple of others giving us a view of their trips. Time then to pack up and back to the boat with Rita, Brian, Grant and Ann joining us for coffee.
It was midnight when we retired to our bunks, a bit difficult to go to sleep after a few coffees through the day, but finally nodded off.
Woke in the morning to the tide having dropped a couple of feet and what had been an extremely easy exit from our boat to the jetty became a challenge for me. Managed it with a little help from hubby and offered thanks for floating jetties at Mindarie.
It was motor all the way back to Mindarie, I was feeling rather tired, so climbed into my bunk and lay enjoying the motion of the boat. Absolutely no wind when we came into the marina and Meridian ii behaved herself beautifully while being penned stern first. Then it was coffee pot on and a batch of muffins into the oven to celebrate a most enjoyable couple of days.
As we were tying up "Coco" followed us in to tell us there was a pen near them, but as we were already tied up decided to stay where we were.
Bob had joined us that morning to sail down with us and was staying over as well. As he said, it would remind him of old times when he would go and sleep on his yacht years ago.
We were greeted by the "Maitre D" of Pinky's to see if we would be needing lunch. Always makes us feel like visiting VIPs.
The racing fraternity all gathered at Pinky's for their after race catchup, so we went across and joined them for a drink. We then returned to M2 for our lunch which Laura had very kindly made for us.
A walk across to Hillary's Marina to get Bob some crock thongs, then back to boat to get cleaned up and ready to join the mtg that night.
A very good meeting with Dan & Katrina giving us a glimpse of their crossing of the Tasman, then a couple of others giving us a view of their trips. Time then to pack up and back to the boat with Rita, Brian, Grant and Ann joining us for coffee.
It was midnight when we retired to our bunks, a bit difficult to go to sleep after a few coffees through the day, but finally nodded off.
Woke in the morning to the tide having dropped a couple of feet and what had been an extremely easy exit from our boat to the jetty became a challenge for me. Managed it with a little help from hubby and offered thanks for floating jetties at Mindarie.
It was motor all the way back to Mindarie, I was feeling rather tired, so climbed into my bunk and lay enjoying the motion of the boat. Absolutely no wind when we came into the marina and Meridian ii behaved herself beautifully while being penned stern first. Then it was coffee pot on and a batch of muffins into the oven to celebrate a most enjoyable couple of days.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Back home again
After spending five days on board, we are back home again with all the chores of a home staring me in the face. It doesn't take long to realise that living on a boat is so much easier than living in a house with all the extras that go with it. Floors to wash, furniture to dust etc etc. What takes 15 minutes on a boat takes me all day in a house if not all week. I made the comment that the longer I live on a boat, the less I need a house. I wonder how I would feel about this if I didn't have the house back up. It could make a difference. Just know that walking through the front door and seeing how much needs to be done here I wanted to flee back to the boat.
I think the most enjoyable thing about boat living is the village atmosphere, here inside four walls one doesn't know what is going on outside of them and can become so isolated. While living aboard there is always someone popping by, walking past & stopping to have a chat.
But for now it is back & forth between the two and making the most of the opportunities of having a permanent home to return to with all the modern comforts.
I think the most enjoyable thing about boat living is the village atmosphere, here inside four walls one doesn't know what is going on outside of them and can become so isolated. While living aboard there is always someone popping by, walking past & stopping to have a chat.
But for now it is back & forth between the two and making the most of the opportunities of having a permanent home to return to with all the modern comforts.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Day sail
We slept on board Wednesday and Thursday night. Bob & Laura arrived Thursday morning loaded up with enough food for a week. I had woken feeling very unwell and wasn't looking forward to being rocked around, but took some medication plus a kwell and after having a bit of a lay down started to feel better. We had a coffee after they had settled all their things in the v berth and then prepared to go.
It had been raining heavily the day before and the weather bureau had forecast morning showers Thursday. Unfortunately Frank had left the forward hatch open earlier on Wednesday and with the rain we had, things had got a little damp but that was soon taken care of.
As we left Mindarie marina and into the ocean it was very choppy and windy. This kept up for a couple of hours with large swells, but as she does, M2 took it all in her stride and have to say so did I. I have this tape that goes around in my head....she heels over, not falls over. It seems to be working as I am getting more used to adverse conditions. Just don't ask me to helm. Gradually the day warmed up, the sun came out and the seas flattened. Good winds so we didn't have to ark up the iron sail.
We spent the day sailing, catching up on news and returned to Mindarie at 3pm. It took a few goes to reverse the boat in, but finally managed it. Richard from across the other finger had seen us coming in so came to give us a hand which was very nice of him. Just a young lad who sails with his dad.
Just a little aside from this, Richard and his Father John and Mother Lorraine have a yacht penned in Mindarie, they belong to the Hillary's yacht club. They are on another jetty and Beth, the lady in the office has given them access to our jetty as there are three yachts from Hillarys on ours. The Cruising club call us the Hillary's sub committee and sometimes the "Glee Club". We all often get together for sundowners and bbq's. A few sometime sail up and join us as it is quite a pleasant sail from Hillary's and a nice place to stay over.
Back to our day, it was time to relax, make a cuppa and a few snacks. Then a bubbly to salute the day.
Laura had decided she would like to return home and sleep in her bed, so after we had spent the evening chatting, they packed up and left. So back to being just us, showers and bed and for the first time ever on M2, I didn't wake until 9am.
It had been raining heavily the day before and the weather bureau had forecast morning showers Thursday. Unfortunately Frank had left the forward hatch open earlier on Wednesday and with the rain we had, things had got a little damp but that was soon taken care of.
As we left Mindarie marina and into the ocean it was very choppy and windy. This kept up for a couple of hours with large swells, but as she does, M2 took it all in her stride and have to say so did I. I have this tape that goes around in my head....she heels over, not falls over. It seems to be working as I am getting more used to adverse conditions. Just don't ask me to helm. Gradually the day warmed up, the sun came out and the seas flattened. Good winds so we didn't have to ark up the iron sail.
We spent the day sailing, catching up on news and returned to Mindarie at 3pm. It took a few goes to reverse the boat in, but finally managed it. Richard from across the other finger had seen us coming in so came to give us a hand which was very nice of him. Just a young lad who sails with his dad.
Just a little aside from this, Richard and his Father John and Mother Lorraine have a yacht penned in Mindarie, they belong to the Hillary's yacht club. They are on another jetty and Beth, the lady in the office has given them access to our jetty as there are three yachts from Hillarys on ours. The Cruising club call us the Hillary's sub committee and sometimes the "Glee Club". We all often get together for sundowners and bbq's. A few sometime sail up and join us as it is quite a pleasant sail from Hillary's and a nice place to stay over.
Back to our day, it was time to relax, make a cuppa and a few snacks. Then a bubbly to salute the day.
Laura had decided she would like to return home and sleep in her bed, so after we had spent the evening chatting, they packed up and left. So back to being just us, showers and bed and for the first time ever on M2, I didn't wake until 9am.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
preparing for sail
Preparations being made for a day on the water tomorrow. Will be joined by old friends Bob and Laura. Looking forward to a catch up and hoping the weather is kind to us and this humidity goes away.
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