Saturday comes but once a week.
I wasn't planning on doing much today it has to be said. The weather hadn't promised much so in the morning I was moping around the house waiting until the regular social gathering at QAB for lunch.
I needed to buy some oils for the car so set off to the diy stores in plenty of time to get back for lunch. On my way out I looked at the weather and thought it was excellent for sailing. I made the decision to go out sailing after lunch and sent out a text asking if others wanted to come.
Only reply straight away was from Webster saying they wouldn't be able to make it but would see us at lunch.
As usual I arrived before everybody else. Not sure how I do it. Mind you by the time 1300hrs comes around I'm feeling pretty hungry.
The usual crowd turned up but the Ghengis clan said that the traffic was so bad in town they'd meet me at Mountbatten instead of coming to QAB first. I left about 1430hrs to get over to the boat. Mel said she might turn up with her son Billy.
Despite leaving QAB some 10-15mins after Al's phone call I arrived there first. I started to get the boat ready while I waited. Once Al did arrive he helped me launch the boat. Much appreciated as it's always easier to launch with more than one. I got the boat onto the MBC pontoon while Al, Ro and Sam had some lunch and we waited for Mel & Billy to turn up.
When Mel and Billy turned up it meant we'd be 4 adults and 2 kids in a Hawk 20. I had thought we might be a bit squashed up but in actual fact there was plenty of room for everybody. I did have to sail from the same side of the boat no matter what tack we were on but it wasn't too bad at all.
Due to the number of people in the boat I decided we should head for open water before getting the sails up. Once the engine was started and we had cleared most of the trots I gave the steering over to 4 year old Billy. He did a sterling job and managed to get the hang of the tiller steering quite quickly. I guess this might be because kids that young have no preconceptions about what should be correct. They try something, if it doesn't work they try the opposite.
Once on the South side of Mounbatten breakwater we got the sails up and set off. There was a general consensus that we should go around Drake's Island before heading home. As you can see from the track we left The Sound from the Western entrance past the lighthouse.
Before exiting it did look as though there might not be enough wind on the outside of the breakwater. Needn't have worried as there was plenty.
We had a great sail, across the breakwater, in the Eastern entrance and then back across The Sound to go around the back of Drake's Island.
We got back to the pontoon not long after that because young Sam was getting extremely grissly.
Total distance 15.3km, total time 3h 26m.
I couldn't be bothered to get the boat out tonight as I will sailing with the Lerigo clan in the morning.
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