Free

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Tue 1 Jun 2010 16:43

Position: 48 39.83 S 074 19.31 W
Alongside SY Ironbark at anchor Caleta Yvonne
Wind: northwest F3 gentle breeze.
Weather: Overcast, rain, cool
Day’s Run (31st): 16 nm (21 nm sailed)

My apologies for leaving you, my gentle reader. hanging off a rock for so long.

At 10 p.m. we were at the bottom of the tide, Sylph was listing 25 degrees to starboard and had a serious bow down attitude. I put my sea boots on, stepped off Sylph and onto the rock which was now had only three inches of water over it. I shone a spotlight down into the water and onto the hull where she appeared to be resting on the rock but was relieved to see that apart from the one point of the keel the hull was not in fact touching the rock anywhere else. This appeared to be the worst it was going to get. I set an alarm and turned in for a few hours to await the flood tide. At 2 a.m. we recovered our verticality and at 2.30 our equanimity as we floated off. We then motored to a deeper clearer spot and re-anchored for the remainder of the night.

At 8 a.m. we were underway again and tacking up the channels for a relatively uneventful day. I spoke with Persimmon during the day but she was already well ahead of us and throughout the day slowly increased the distance. I considered sailing on into the dark to catch her up but as evening grew closer decided to make for a nearby Caleta which looked like it would provide good shelter. With the wind fading we motored the last mile and on rounding a point and entering the small cove there found to my delight a vessel already at anchor and tied to the shore. The skipper was on deck and he promptly made preparations to receive Sylph alongside without me asking which I thought very hospitable. As we got closer I recognised the craft’s distinctive shape as a gaff rigged “Wylo” design, and as we pulled alongside and could read the name I was even more delighted to realize that this was the famous Australian vessel Ironbark. I was hoping to meet the author of the modern classic, “Voyaging on a Small Income” but was a little disappointed that Annie HIll was not on board, and her partner Trevor was single handing down through the canals. Nonetheless I felt privileged to meet Trevor who has sailed many very adventurous ocean miles in his well know vessel. Trevor was very friendly, it was no time at all before we were sitting in the saloon of Ironbark before a cosy wood fire and enjoying a hot grog. Later I provided dinner in the form of a vegetable curry which met with Trevor’s approval, while Trevor continued to provide the liquid lubricant.

Hence last night I failed to write my blog, and awoke a little later than intended this morning. After a morning cup of tea with Trevor we have both decided to remain for the day and leave early tomorrow.

All is well.

Bob Cat:

No complaints today - heater is on, food is in the bowl (no tuna today, yet), all is still … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.