Sorry to all of you who spend relentless sleepless times waiting for the next Sandale update, but we have been busy, well, twilight sailing. Now, we are aware that these are laid back affairs and that trying too hard is frowned upon by true yachties, but we have been winning! It was a bit of a mystery as to how, as we were never first over the line, but we now know why.
After the race there is a BBQ in the clubhouse. The president of the race committee walks around the gathered throng with a bottle of wine to present to the winning skipper. Trouble is, mid week, getting dark early, bit cooler, whatever, most now go straight home. So we, being the die hard BBQers that we are, happily recieve the winner's bottle as the committee member sprints past on their way to the exit. Ahh winning- it is just as simple as turning up!
Just turning up at Bali (and, hopefully, winning) will be the end result of successful navigation and in that regard we resemble the old joke. Each day at mid-day a train arrives in some small wild west town, and exactly at noon blows the whistle. One day the train driver and the Mayor are chatting, and the Mayor tells the driver that he is always amazed at how accurate the trains clock is, so much so that he uses the noontime whistle blow to set the town hall clock.
'Well,' says the train driver, 'I set the train by that clock because it is the only one to be accurate along the entire line.'
We now have the SPOT that tracks the boat and uploads positions to google maps every ten minutes. So if we get lost, we can look ourselves up on google and update our position that will then be refreshed via SPOT to google and we can look ourselves up and know where we are and then.....
It's all a bit circular.
But seriously, navigation requires not only to know where you are, but where you are going. And is not that just like life?
Note that knowing where you have been is of historical interest only. It is like photographs. Pointless. No photographs today.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
FAD
position 115 13.100E 39 59.952 looking for fad
ah! there it is.
maff had a dive and saw fish, I drove the recue dinghy and Geoff circled in the yacht. Saw Tuna and Dolphin fish.
Tonight for dinner we are having fish substitute.
heading to rotto now, check out our track by clicking on the find me spot, just to the left there.
ah! there it is.
maff had a dive and saw fish, I drove the recue dinghy and Geoff circled in the yacht. Saw Tuna and Dolphin fish.
Tonight for dinner we are having fish substitute.
heading to rotto now, check out our track by clicking on the find me spot, just to the left there.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Perigee-syzygy
Of course viewing the lunar perigee-syzygy was going to be better away from the ambient light of the city. So why not skip over to Rotto to take in this phenomenom known as a Supermoon?
On Saturday at dusk the full moon climbed over Perth and the Darling Ranges, hanging like a 70's rock stars gold medallion, moving towards its big moment.
As the full moon coincided with it's closest approach of the month to Earth on this night, it looked unusually large (apparently 2% bigger!) and bright, giving us a lunar perigee syzygy. The last time this occured was in March 1993, so we were surely in the right place and the right time to view this special effect!
A beautiful night was followed by a cloudy morning, perfect for a colourful sunrise, with the usual hot afternoon blue skies and strong sea breeze for our saill back to Freo.
A perfect sailing weekend!!
On Saturday at dusk the full moon climbed over Perth and the Darling Ranges, hanging like a 70's rock stars gold medallion, moving towards its big moment.
As the full moon coincided with it's closest approach of the month to Earth on this night, it looked unusually large (apparently 2% bigger!) and bright, giving us a lunar perigee syzygy. The last time this occured was in March 1993, so we were surely in the right place and the right time to view this special effect!
A beautiful night was followed by a cloudy morning, perfect for a colourful sunrise, with the usual hot afternoon blue skies and strong sea breeze for our saill back to Freo.
A perfect sailing weekend!!
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| Lunar Perigee-syzygy |
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| Sunrise |
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| Thompson Bay |
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| Yacht Race |
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| Sandale |
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| Look Mum .... no hands! |
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
disaster!
At the briefing on Tuesday night we learnt about cyclones, how late ones are worst, and how the water temperature is 26degrees, perfect breeding conditions for the buggers, how to get three days warning by looking on the internet site that we cannot access unless we are within range of a phone tower. But not what to do except then worry for three days and apply Buy-Ballots law.
Then we had the medical news. Malaria, Dengue, Rabies. And that was the good news! Rope burns, seasickness, class one drugs and lockable cabinets, it goes on and on. How to call Freo emergency on the sat Phone. What are they gunna do? Because then the man from AMSA, the maritime search and rescue authority, told us they can't use helicopter if we are more than 100km away or at night. As it takes five hours to pinpoint a distress beacon and then 50 mins to mobilise the aircraft the 'window of opportunity' for having a disaster is between dawn and about mod-day. Did I miss something? Oh, practise emergency drills.
So after a rather nice twilight race last night we threw a few things overboard as a Person overboard drill. We got most of the things back. We consider this a success.
And at least we can spell Fremantle.
Then we had the medical news. Malaria, Dengue, Rabies. And that was the good news! Rope burns, seasickness, class one drugs and lockable cabinets, it goes on and on. How to call Freo emergency on the sat Phone. What are they gunna do? Because then the man from AMSA, the maritime search and rescue authority, told us they can't use helicopter if we are more than 100km away or at night. As it takes five hours to pinpoint a distress beacon and then 50 mins to mobilise the aircraft the 'window of opportunity' for having a disaster is between dawn and about mod-day. Did I miss something? Oh, practise emergency drills.
So after a rather nice twilight race last night we threw a few things overboard as a Person overboard drill. We got most of the things back. We consider this a success.
And at least we can spell Fremantle.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
finding Sandale
Great sailing last night, including party pies, fish and chips, a few beers and conversation. What a mix! Onboard we had everyone from the unemployed to Kenyan wildlife rangers and antarctic bottleshop attendants.
We have activated the FIND ME SPOT device that will track our location continually. Just click on the link to the right to open the page. You might notice that last night, after several beers, we tracked from Kailis to FSC via the unconventional overland route. None of us noticed the bump.
We have activated the FIND ME SPOT device that will track our location continually. Just click on the link to the right to open the page. You might notice that last night, after several beers, we tracked from Kailis to FSC via the unconventional overland route. None of us noticed the bump.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Daysailing to Pig Trough Bay
There are lots of great things about living in Perth, but few as good as a day trip to one of our close by offshore islands on a beautiful summers day.
Whether travelling by sea kayak or sail, you quickly leave behind the hustle, bustle and heat of the city, and become immersed in the beautiful blue world owned by the dolphins, seals and sea birds who welcome us to their home.
Yesterday Sandale had one of those classic day sails to Pig Trough Bay, on the North Eastern end of Garden Island. We poked our way up into an early, light sea breeze before mooring at our destination amongst a clutch of other boaties who'd decided on the same sheltered lunch location.
It was an easy induction for our 'sailing virgin' guests Jo and Greg, who also contributed to our slap up lunch (well done also to Holly!). Unfortunately the resident Osprey must have been out for lunch, not being at home on his nest for us to say hello, but the crystal clear water (clear of stingers!) and pristine beach nonetheless made for a very pleasant lunch stop.
We then flew home on a strengthening sea breeze, goosewinging the whole way under Mikes expert helming, surging to more than 8 knots as we defied the death rolls!
As Marty said, '....we could sail to Bali like this', and you get the feeling Sandale is ready to go!
A Maffett
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| Pig Trough Bay |
Whether travelling by sea kayak or sail, you quickly leave behind the hustle, bustle and heat of the city, and become immersed in the beautiful blue world owned by the dolphins, seals and sea birds who welcome us to their home.
Yesterday Sandale had one of those classic day sails to Pig Trough Bay, on the North Eastern end of Garden Island. We poked our way up into an early, light sea breeze before mooring at our destination amongst a clutch of other boaties who'd decided on the same sheltered lunch location.
It was an easy induction for our 'sailing virgin' guests Jo and Greg, who also contributed to our slap up lunch (well done also to Holly!). Unfortunately the resident Osprey must have been out for lunch, not being at home on his nest for us to say hello, but the crystal clear water (clear of stingers!) and pristine beach nonetheless made for a very pleasant lunch stop.
We then flew home on a strengthening sea breeze, goosewinging the whole way under Mikes expert helming, surging to more than 8 knots as we defied the death rolls!
As Marty said, '....we could sail to Bali like this', and you get the feeling Sandale is ready to go!
A Maffett
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| Sandale sitting pretty |
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| Beautiful beaches |
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| Goosewinging....or am I confused, and it was goosenecking?!! |
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| Master helmsman Mike |
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| Happy couple |
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| Steering Committee |
Saturday, March 5, 2011
clean bottoms
All long distance travellers know the importance of keeping fresh and healthy and at no time is this more important than in the confined space of a cruising yacht. Cleanliness is important and extends to everyone and everything regardless of rank or position; the more zen aware will agree that this includes both the inner and outer 'shells'. Failure to adhere to a few simple rules can lead to all sorts of problems from simply bad smells to lack of performance.
Because of this importance we chose to use professionals who use high pressure water to give the bottom a good scrub and clean, leaving the surface smooth and ready to coat with a product that will maintain looks and performance for a longer life.
The photos and videos show the benefits of this, we sailed up to and past the Leuuwin yesterday. The benefit of a clean bottom! Picture is from my phone, sorry about the quality.
Because of this importance we chose to use professionals who use high pressure water to give the bottom a good scrub and clean, leaving the surface smooth and ready to coat with a product that will maintain looks and performance for a longer life.
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