This week it is all preparation for the sail to Rockingham with the club. We plan on leaving Friday morning and Dan and Katrina will be doing the same in Camelot. It is the March long weekend here, so will not be returning until Monday which gives us a nice four day break. Bob has put his hand up to come along with us and also Ross from sea rescue, so it looks like I will be galley girl again feeding the men. Not too worried about that as it is good to know we have some experienced sailors on board, so if the sea conditions aren't the best I can go below and hide under a pillow.
The following weekend looks like being a rottnest trip as Lyndon, Cherie and the kids want to do a weekend over there again.
The weather in Perth has been horrible, real Pt Hedland weather, steamy and hot, so have spent most of it indoors or in the pool. It has been too hot to do any maintenance on the boat. We will probably have to leave any of that and most of the preparation to late in the evening when it is cooler.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The return trip
We had some rather hairy rides in the tender tooing and froing between the boat and shore, but became quite proficient at getting in and out of it in very ordinary conditions. On Saturday night we went over to the clubhouse for dinner and were interviewed by the local paper, so we had our photo in the South west times. We are hoping someone will send us a copy of it as a keepsake of our week down South.
The other yachts came back from there Busselton trip and it was good to catch up again.
It was a rather social week with the yachties, family and friends so it all went too fast.
Once the weather fined up we used the zodiac to do our shopping at Coles and to go across to Dome to meet up with our sister in law Ruth for lunch. Ed and Barb, friends of ours met us there as well. Dolphins are always in the bay and it was lovely to have them escort us across to Dome.
We had a chinese meal with Ed and Barb one night and to our great amusement Ed emptied his crock shoe of a pile of rice that had landed in it onto the table. Barbs comment was that she can't take him anywhere.
We joined the other cruising people there on another night to enjoy a banquet dinner with them all.
When the weather fined up it was bliss to be able to swim off the back of the boat and relax after the beating we got, and as is always the way, just starting to relax and enjoy and it was time to weigh anchor and head back.
The first day we sailed to the Cut in Mandurah and moored there for the night. As we neared the cut we reached 8knots which put a huge smile on Als face. After the many times I have been anxious about sailing, I sat on the back seat and just marvelled at how M2 was in her element in these conditions and could only have the greatest admiration for a beautiful old girl who was doing what she loved best. It was very hot when we arrived, so persuaded hubby to take the tender off the back so I could have a swim. Alan, who was helping us sail back also jumped in too cool off. Not the best place to swim no doubt, but when you are hot, who cares. It was delicious in the cool water.
We also had another friend on board, Ed Stuart who has never sailed but wanted to come with us and experience it.
Frank cooked us a lovely steak for dinner, I heated up mushrooms, made deb potato and opened tins of peas and corn. All washed down with a 10 year old bottle of red donated by Ed. Desert followed and then all fell into bed after a fantastic sail and dinner.
Up and about at 5am to untie and head off for home. What can I say about that sail, flat sea, perfect wind, so breezing along at around 6knots. The only time we put the motor on was past Garden Island to get us to the shipping lane. Then it was back to blissful silence again for the rest of the trip.
We were priveleged to pass close by the Queen Mary 2 as it was arriving at Fremantle. What a beautiful ship! So lovely to see her being escorted in by the pilot boats, what luxury that would be on board her.
Our arrival at Mindarie was estimated to be between 4 & 5pm, but with the wind conditions near to perfect we were there earlier. I took the helm for the last bit and then the dolphins arrived and escorted us the last bit of the way. As Alan said, do we really have to go in here, maybe we could miss the entrance and keep going and I really had to agree, it was such a fantastic trip.
We are hoping for a repeat of this in about 4 weeks, so can only hope it will be as enjoyable as this trip was.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Bunbury stay
Frank & Bob sailed to Bunbury on their own, I drove down with Bob's wife Laura and spent the three days waiting for them to arrive in their caravan at Koombana RV Park.
The weather was pretty awful and it took them three days to get here, They moored on a Fremantle mooring at Woodman Point to wait out a blow. Thankfully Bob is still a member of the Fremantle sailing club so they were able to do this.
They arrived Tuesday afternoon and anchored outside of the Koombana sailing club. There were quite a few boats already anchored here as the Fremantle, Hillary's and South Perth clubs were doing a run to Geographe Bay.
That night we went and had a catch up with them all at the club and then back to enjoy Lauras dinner which she had prepared earlier in the slow cooker. Then it was in the tender and fight our way back to the boat. A very bumpy wet trip and was a little concerned for my cases as the water was coming over the front, but we made it back without them getting too wet.
A good nights sleep and then we headed over for showers and to meet Bob & Laura to go back for Lauras brothers funeral. That was a huge funeral and a wake after with a large number of people.
Thursday was shopping day, we checked out the spud shed which was pretty good but unfortunately didn't sell meat, so after we got back, Frank and I went in the tender to Coles to pick up meat and a few other bits and pieces that we would be needing.
My neice contacted me and as they were out fishing came back to the boat and we enjoyed a catch up with her and her husband.
Then what a night, the wind hit and we spent a very uncomfortable night on the boat with over 30knot winds howling and the boat pitching and rolling. Woke at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep, so lay hoping that the anchor was well and truly bedded down. I moved into the saloon and spent the rest of the night there which was better as I couldn't hear all the banging and rattling like I did in our aft cabin. Finally dropped off and woke again at 8.30 with the wind still howling and the boat still pitching. It looks like it won't be abating for some time so will have to grit our teeth and ride it out. We have given up on the idea of showers at the club as it would be too difficult to get into the tender and battle the wind.
Thank heavens for a very substantial anchor which held and kept us in the same spot all night. Luckily I had a new prescription of stemetil on board so that helped with the nausea.
The weather was pretty awful and it took them three days to get here, They moored on a Fremantle mooring at Woodman Point to wait out a blow. Thankfully Bob is still a member of the Fremantle sailing club so they were able to do this.
They arrived Tuesday afternoon and anchored outside of the Koombana sailing club. There were quite a few boats already anchored here as the Fremantle, Hillary's and South Perth clubs were doing a run to Geographe Bay.
That night we went and had a catch up with them all at the club and then back to enjoy Lauras dinner which she had prepared earlier in the slow cooker. Then it was in the tender and fight our way back to the boat. A very bumpy wet trip and was a little concerned for my cases as the water was coming over the front, but we made it back without them getting too wet.
A good nights sleep and then we headed over for showers and to meet Bob & Laura to go back for Lauras brothers funeral. That was a huge funeral and a wake after with a large number of people.
Thursday was shopping day, we checked out the spud shed which was pretty good but unfortunately didn't sell meat, so after we got back, Frank and I went in the tender to Coles to pick up meat and a few other bits and pieces that we would be needing.
My neice contacted me and as they were out fishing came back to the boat and we enjoyed a catch up with her and her husband.
Then what a night, the wind hit and we spent a very uncomfortable night on the boat with over 30knot winds howling and the boat pitching and rolling. Woke at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep, so lay hoping that the anchor was well and truly bedded down. I moved into the saloon and spent the rest of the night there which was better as I couldn't hear all the banging and rattling like I did in our aft cabin. Finally dropped off and woke again at 8.30 with the wind still howling and the boat still pitching. It looks like it won't be abating for some time so will have to grit our teeth and ride it out. We have given up on the idea of showers at the club as it would be too difficult to get into the tender and battle the wind.
Thank heavens for a very substantial anchor which held and kept us in the same spot all night. Luckily I had a new prescription of stemetil on board so that helped with the nausea.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Biancas dying moments
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.
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.
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.
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