Peaceful Sailing
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Position: 34 46.5 S 138 29.4
E It was my intention to go to anchor somewhere along the east coast of the Gulf of St Vincent last night, but as I passed Troubridge Shoals, with the SE wind it became apparent that the shortest route to the eastern side of the Gulf would take me straight to Outer Harbor. So I decided to make Outer Harbor my destination. The wind was light and the sea smooth. At 1530 the wind veered a little, allowing me to ease sheets and reset the code zero. We continued through the night with the winds gradually easing, at times barely enough to maintain steerage way. It was a beautiful night; the smooth curves of Sylph's sails silhouetted against the clear bright stars overhead, a thin crescent moon setting with bright Venus in its arms; and the water on the other side of Sylph's thin hull slipping past us with gentle gurgle, like a little brook burbling over a pebble bottom. There was no way I could bring myself to destroy this all too brief moment of peace by starting the BRM. Instead, I lay on my bunk, allowing the concerns of humanity and our endless cruelties to one another to wash from my mind. Thus it was that we did not arrive off Outer Harbor until 0500 this morning. Rather than go directly into the marina I thought to hold onto the quiet just a little longer by sailing to anchor off the beach immediately to the south the harbour's breakwaters, then turning in for what remained of the night. The forecast was for a hot day, so I was in no hurry to go alongside the airless confines of the marina, and it was not until 1330, after breakfast, a refreshing swim, and lunch, that I started the engine, weighed anchor and motored the remaining couple of miles back into the harbour and the Squadron marina. What happens next, I am not sure. Tomorrow ... All is well.
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