Our current adventures with Peter Robyn a 1950 classic wooden sloop
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12 February, 2018
What a great weekend on Peter Robyn. My first unofficial race (didn't enter) with an unofficial did not finish due to gear failure (the reef clew blew out of the old sail in strong wind).
Kettering Wooden Boat Rally was excellent fun. I set out Friday afternoon taking 2 hours leave from work and was underway at 3.30pm in 10 - 16 knot breezes with a bit of swell. I was heading straight up wind to Kettering so several tacks were involved. The wind dropped at the Tinderbox heads so the Storm Bay swell was not so severe.
I pulled into Kettering around 8.30pm too late to take my allocated spot on the wave attenuator (it was already taken) so moored up as instructed next to a "No Mooring"sign on the fuel berth :-(
Day one came with a beautiful sunrise and the promise of a super cell (120km/h winds). Needless to say I didn't head out for that race although a good number did. Vanity was 4th. Curry night at the Rally sounded good, although not wanting to risk it I cooked steak on board the boat and simply had some wine with everyone after dinner.
Day Two was race day for me even though the forecast was for high wind. I managed a sail in a race with the crew from the Yacht Vanity (https://www.facebook.com/theyachtvanity/) . Rob can't reef his huge gaff rig yet and the forecast was for over 20 knots, so he and his cousin John sailed with me. It was very helpful having someone on the winches and another on the main. We really put in some heel and had a ball until the ripping sound of the reef clew just after our first tack.
Day Three I headed back up the channel in around 4 hours compared to slightly longer on the way down. I have several videos and photos of all the action below including some nice pre-storrn shots and a couple of nice sunrises over the boats.
Sailing down to Kettering at Tranmere
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Returning from Kettering at Taroona
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31 January, 2018
Since last posting, Peter Robyn has had a couple of small trips out. On 6 January 2018, I slept in Sandy Bay as I did last summer. The forecast was for a tranquil night with a strong windshift and gusts around 9 - 10.00am the following morning. While the outcome was accurate the timing was out by 6 hours. I nodded off peacefully around 10pm - blowing out the little oil lamp. A still night quickly turned at 4.00am into a 30 knot north easterly and I was no longer in the lee of the bay - I woke suddenly to the sound of a dragging chain and had to get on deck ready to fend myself off a nearby yacht which fortunately I missed. Once passed, I let out more rode and she held fortunately before grounding on the shore which was 100m further on. Phew. After watching for a good 10 minutes I went below again to finish my night's rest - albeit uneasily listening out for the familiar moaning sound of a dragging chain.
My next outing on the Australia Day long weekend was less eventful and turned out to be a perfect evening. The winds were 6 - 7 knot gusts (?) according to Windy Weather App and what a lovely sunset we had. Beccy and I headed out for some champagne sailing in ideal conditions. With the new hull clean and smooth she tacked and gybed perfectly in light conditions without stalling even once. We had such a nice sail Beccy commented how nice it is to have Peter Robyn and how she would like a sail to Cygnet over the Easter weekend. Excellent! As I had hoped to spend Australia Day weekend at Woodbridge I asked if we could tie up in Constitution Dock at the public floating Marina and await Isabella's shift finish at a nearby restaurant and we could take her back to RYCT via boat as an easy trip home. A cool way to spend a hot night. Perfect, Beccy thought it a great suggestion. We sailed peacefully on a fading breeze slow and easy into Sullivan's Cove. I dropped sails 50m off the breakwater and gently idled in enjoying the peace. As I approached a free pontoon I noted a lady kicking her feet in the water. Three sheets to the breeze she was surprised to see me approaching and asked if I was alone. "No my wife is resting below" I replied dropping the bow line onto the cleat. The lady humped off to the next yacht and made a lewd joke about a bow line and lower part of the human anatomy. She so embarrassed the neighbouring skipper who helped me with my bow line they had to leave quickly. Bec and I spent a perfect calm evening having grilled salmon and salad from Flippers (all others were closed) as we waited for Bella. We later found the biolumescence was here in the cove and were delighted when a half empty cup of tea lit up the water like blue paint. It was amazing! Later as I headed back around Battery Point - I noted the bow wave was a long blue line angling off the boat. What a miracle this sight is to behold.
Peter Robyn is entered (awaiting confirmation) in the Kettering Wooden Boat Rally on the Regatta Long Weekend 9 - 12 February. I will post some pictures and a story after that adventure.
Champagne (only 1) sailing - Australia Day Long Weekend 2018
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