Solo Ventures

Every time o care to stop at the Avalon Woolie's for supplies, or even when pottering about on Careville Beach, I am struck by the beauty of the place and the people.  The area, between Avalon Beach to the east and Clareville Bay to the west is salty with surfers, sailors and water lovers. Trees, pines, palms and gums,  tend to be enormously tall due to the heavily sloping ground of the Bilgola Plateau, just to the south. Winding narrow roads course through a natural gulley, provide glimpses of old homes, some modified, nestled in among enveloping land and shady trees. While homes are well kept, they seem geared towards comfort and function rather than for show. Many have room for a boat and cars owned by generations of fily that can share a home they are loath to leave.  Those same streets are populated by ebikers, cyclists and joggers of all ages, out to get a tan and keep young. Its not unusual to encounter older couples, tanned and lithe, softly discussing their next move or me

going to the boat I expected her bilge to be overflowing due to the stern gland leak. I would give that 56 pumps or more and move on to fitting a new ladder which I picked up from the post office on the way. will I never learn? I boarded from the surf ski tender, with buckets of tools and my new ladder, with no problems. compared to my previous effort just after Christmas it was a firm 8. my last was a dismal 3, my balance, coordination and flexibility were all crap. marvellous what morning exercises and sensible eating will do.  the news on board vegan better. the bilge needed only five pumps. tick, next job. ah, fit the ladder. I bought 8 x 6mm x 50mm bolts on the way. drill, too, bolt up and voila. not so fast there sailor. the configuration was for a vertical mount! I got myself into a Rubik's cube mental knot trying to cone up with a solution. no go, I'd need more coffee and time to think it through, at home.  then I started tinkering with the port side chainplates. the lo

You drift along as a parent watching your kids do stuff; they work hard and get second place, or even win, complete a course, "win" a job position, buy something they want, and so on.   But today my once little girl, my first born got a licence to drive this beast.  She signed up, paid her money, did the course and passed the driving test. I know I could never have done it and I am hats off hootin' impressed. Go Mia!

 I've been making a QME windvane "off the side of my desk " as they say. And as I'm beavering away, gnawing wood and all, I'm thinking about the end product; its fit for purpose and especially its durability. I came to the conclusion that the QME could do the job, but may fade out when its needed most (eg. high winds, running in hard conditions), and it may need babying care. I lile to say clearly, that this view does not relate to the lack of a servo rudder. Previously, I made a QME vane and fitted it to .y previous Folkboat and wasore than happy with the result. Admittedly, the combo were not pushed on winds about 15 knots, but with proper handling I reckon it could go all right.y concern relates to the dry or plane bearings used in the QME. If I do sail for thousands of offshore miles, in all winds, I am doubtful that plane bearings would hold up.   So I remained gruntled ... until I was reading idly about the Jester Challenge and something about the Hebridea

I am just musing over an ABC TV program highlighting the progress of the country of Singapore towards sustainable living. What I hear from industry leaders and visiting journalists is a description of what is being done. This contrasts with what we are labouring under with successive governments: moaning about unachievable goals set by world environmental bodies, arguing for exceptional circumstances to avoid limits, then promises that we will be " somewhere near " a specific goalamy years on the future. The collective Australian attitude to sustainable development is clinging to old ways, resisting and delaying change.  This contrasts greatly with Singaporean attitudes: " economic development should not be pursued at the expense of the environment or social inclusion". Looking   after the planet, and the people!  An ABC reporter, after describing the city as a giant garden, added that the environment was more beautiful, cooler and accessible to all citi

The  Clipper Round The World Yacht Race slipped into my home port a few days ago and will leave tomorrow. Z  The Clipper is a one design boat race with crews supplemented by paying crew. Their previous stop was in Perth, after Newcastle Aitlie Beach and the Ha Long Bay Viet Nam, China and then west coast US, then Portsmouth UK. I suspect they do via Panama Canal which is a bit odd for a sailing race. 

I've just had a birthday and at my age, you wonder how many healthy ones you have left. So, anyway, right now I'm c hewing over the big jobs that need doing on Jack Spratt. * Haul out, reduce and replaced through hulls, clean and paint, replace stern tube? packing,  check rudder bearings.  * replace chain plate bolts * fit bow roller, ground tackle * make & fit solid dodger, windvane, ladder, gimballed stove * storm gear ready Phew! I reckon the rest I can do while cruising along the coast. Then I will make a decision on Australian Ship Registration. If its a no,then I'll buy a ready made cruising boat and go. 

"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking. by John Masefield 1902. "A Star to Steer Her By", the name of Ann Gash's story of circumnavigation. She sailed quietly from Clareville Beach, north along Australia's east coast. A dream in her heart which shared with very few people, to attend a flute gathering in the UK. Those she did share her aspiration with often wanted to rescue her or tried to prevent her leaving. Some years after Ann's retirn, she continued to cross oceans in her little wooden Folkboat, the same community pulled together to buy a replacement for Ilimo   which she had sailed onto the rock by Barrenjoey Head. 

In my more salubrious moments, I like to watch the blue collar TV station. Tonight's program was " Towies " (auto & marine salvage) and it featured the recovery of a $750 000 yacht. She had struck bottom while motoring through the Great Sandy Straits by Fraser Island, lost her keel and sank.     Cap Fatty details this in one of his books; how modern, lightweight, fin Keeler's are made so poorly that you literally throw them away if they run aground. Fatty provides evidence, that a single bottom bump will compromise the structure. Yep, the entire boat! The once speedy Bavaria 50 on tonight's show did it in one go; bump, snap and gurgle. The weather conditions were benign and the sea state was flat calm on enclosed waters. 

My day began with attending online rosary and mass, as it has for some weeks. After exercise I found two YouTube videos from my "Subscribed" list. Surprisingly, the bicycle touring video offered more than a sailing video.  The Sailing Brothers posted a video of them and a local expert fitting lithium batteries. This was manna from heaven or from a Generous Benefactor, or something. So, the Brothers cheerfully talked about wiring in the batteries and, under guidance, seemed to fall into doing a very professional job. At the close of the video the Brothers excitedly said something about another Anonymous/Mysterious Benefactor who had opened up the possibility of the boat having Starlink. Up until now the Brothers had portrayed themselves as simple Welshmen stumbling their route cheerfully across the world. But now they are raised to cutting edge sailors as far as; navigation, communication, and the ability to post live video from anywhere in the world. I am perplexed as to the