Single tack loop

As Carole was in the country for only a week, work on Thursday 29 November was dropped and Sam, Nick and Carole ventured out to the boat in the calmest waters all year. The forecast was for sun with patches of cloud, the sea was dead flat and a gentle breeze blew into the harbour. After hauling the outboard out and onto the stern, we sailed off the mooring, with just the main, towards Bean Rock. We unfurled and jenoa and let the wind take us away.

About an hour later, having made no adjustments to sails and really using no skills at all, we tacked towards Rangitoto and sailed in an arch as the sky began to darken. We were nearing North Head when the air became moist and the sun disappeared. As we entered Duders Bay we lost the wind and having completed only a single tack sailed straight into the mooring and dropped the sails.

Carole was very impressed by professional voyage, which will surely not occur again (see Disaster!).

In other news, the Ben and Sam both celebrated their 21st birthdays and instead of us receiving presents, the boat did. It now has a brand new VHF radio, two pairs of binoculars, a brass clock, a GPS and some money to go towards a fresh coat of paint.