At Peace on My Local River

  I am often envious when reading about happy couples cruising happily together. Too many years ago, while anchored off Whitehaven Beach, my girlfriend turned the air red with a raging argument. Her rage was so extreme and incomprehensible that it totally marred my memory of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world as well as my love of sailing.

For reasons unclear to me now, we went on to  get married. Increasingly sailing was a love I was made to feel ashamed about and any time spent sailing or preparing the boat became a major hassle. Eventually I got the point where my boat became a haven of peace, a place for me to de-stress and spend a few hours of quiet solitude, being on the water, dreaming.

Finally my wife and I separated and she served up a cauldron of cold bile as she parted; all aimed at belittling anything I love, sailing included. My changed life circumstances left me no prospect of bluewater sailing so my dear Folkboat 'Bohemian' had to go. 

But there is good in a simplifying one's life and my attentions turned to 'Misty' my little 19 foot trailerable sailboat. Over the winter I lavished my love on her and made her ready. The hope of one day soon launching her on the local river kept a flicker of flame burning in my heart.  Today this happened and as we ambled downriver the old feelings of peace and freedom returned, my senses tingled with excitement, new dreams began to conceal in my dancing mind.

Many a sailor is dashed onto a lee shore by storms while others have their hopes slowly crushed by sharks on the shore. But I urge you to hold onto your dreams and never give up on yourself!

The dog's smile reflects my own.

Ready tor Lift-Off

After beetling about with paintbrush in hand through our winter, multiple Hunter 19 'Misty' is ready for the water.

School holidays begin in two days' time, so I may have a for'ard hand, my son Joe. He can't go too ling without broadband access so that will be our largest obstacle. I hope to launch just a few miles from home and cruise about 50 nm's to the Pacific Ocean.unfortunately, due to the number of low bridges the first half with rely on engine power or drifting; shanty boat style.

Ramping it up

Over winter I've been escorting my Hunter 19 trailer sailed, Misty. Mostly this has involved just cosmetic work, sanding and painting, repairing cracks in the rudder assembly, trailer lights and varnishing any timber exposed to the elements.

Last Sunday week ago, as the weather was heating up I thought it might be time to check out the revamped boat ramp on the Paterson River.  Due to Misty's exposed centreboard casing I was mainly interested in the water depth and I could tell right away that it was fine. Feeling light hearted, that I now had a perfectly good boatramp just minutes from home, I went for a quick rockhop along the shore. As my weight bore down on a particularly large boulder it rotated rapidly sending me downwards onto my ribs. A painful week later I was referred for a liver scan to check for possible haemorrhaging. It will pass, I will get on the water.