tophatyachts.com

Hello Hatters

Our fourth day on Lake Mac yesterday with one of the locals. Had to have a lay day today ,2nd wife wanted the lawns mowed and some building works completed around the house ? Weather permitting back out tomorrow ?

cheers Bear

Bear,

Sailed the three grandchildren up to the fireworks at Gosford last night. I was worried about the youngest, but three year old Oscar found his sea legs in no time and insisted on pushing and pulling everything on the boat, blowing the whistle on his life jacket and sitting on the foredeck with me to watch the fireworks. It was a long trip home against the tide but well worth the effort to see how excited the kids were about coming along.

Nice to see Egret II with wind in her sails. Your 40 yr old headsail sets better than my 8 yr old sail. I guess the modern Thaiwanese/Chinese sails are not built to last as long as the old Aussie made sails. I still hope to sail up to Lake Macquarie this month if I get a weather window and might see you out on Egret II then.

Regards,
Mark

Gee, weather looks nice. Hope the rest of ya holiday goes well.

cheers

Louis

Mark ,That would be great visitor always welcome ,the Lake is a beautiful place to visit ? even better to sail on ! My poor old main is showing her age .Will invest in a Shilland sail this year .Brian Shilland made Egret II's sails as a first year apprentice with L J Mitchel back in 1973 .He did say to me "the 1970's sail cloth had cloth and resin in it, not just resin ? "

Louis always remember ? Never a bad weather day sailing? it just depends how you look and respect it !

Cheers Bear

Just back from tidying up the boat from last night's outing with the grandchildren.

While on my boat on the mooring I waved frantically to a Columbia 27 that seemed to be attempting to sail straight into Pretty Beach across the shallow bar that protects it (I think Michael from Dulcamara also tried to do this last year). Anyway, the two gents in the yacht did not see me waving them away or did not understand my signals and they put the Columbia well aground. The tide was still quite high but was running out. The gents had sailed up from Sydney a few days ago and were cruising in Broken Bay, trying to sail to Gosford when they slid onto the bar. After watching them unsuccessfully try to motor off and to sail off, by backing the genoa I rowed over in my dinghy and offered to run their anchor out so they could try to kedge off. I have never had to do this before, but it worked a treat and they were off and away in no time. I was surprised how much the boat heeled when the anchor warp was ground in on the winch. I hope I do not run aground again for a long time but I will keep kedging off in mind if (when?) I do.

Cheers,

Mark

Another trip to Lake Mac would be great..... Not so soon for me I'm afraid.

Mark, I did try what those two. In the Coumbia did, and went aground very quickly, but sawing on the outboard in reverse got me off quick smart in a run out tide. I have the sounder now, so it's going to be rare that we go aground again in Brisbane Water.

Glad your grandchildren enjoyed the night on the boat.....

We opted for a land based NYE this year, but we're out tomorrow taking some first timers out.

S... that what you look like ?

Cheers Bear

Couple of shots of Blue Moon, Damulcara and Storm Petrel at the Lake Macquarie get together. There is also a short video of Jacko at the helm of Storm Petrel after we put the kite up after Norah Head on the way home at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFJgt32K11U

Many thanks to the Lake Macquarie Hatters for making us welcome.

Cheers,
Mark

Was great to catch up with some TH skippers & crew, & LM locals at the Lake.