Lisa and my time was all above-board this weekend. Lisa had suggested we book onto a keelboat sailing course, to provide me with some prior hands on experience before my big trip. It was a bit uncertain as to whether the course would go ahead. Being the only ones booked for this weekend, and they needed a minimum of four people to make it cost effective. No one else booked. However, Adventure Sailing, with a bit of encouragement from Emma who we had been dealing with, gave us an early Christmas Present:
So Saturday morning, completely unsure of what to expect, we made the short drive to Port Geographe. Parked up and within 20min were on the boat receiving a rundown of the basics, which included a plethora of nautical names and phrases that our instructor for the day, Tim, rattled off. Like I can rattle off climbing language. Something that continued for the next two days. And was further compounded by having a few trainee instructors tag along, resulting in five people throwing these unfamiliar words at us:
It was all part of it, and as the first day wore on the names and phrases took on meaning. Assisted by practicing the basics of sailing, including preparing the boat for sailing and when coming in and then undertaking manoeuvres. On Saturday we also had Rosie to help ease us into things on the first day. A day for which we experienced no more than moderate winds. Not a bad way to start, allowing us to focus on each step in a more relaxed way. Not needing to react to sudden gusts or change of wind at speed:
We must have spent five hours on the water in the first day, and with just two of us we covered heaps and got lots of practical experience. Sunday blew in with fresh to strong, and at times gusty, winds. And while I drove the boat out of the marina is a very relaxed manner, once in the bay I wasn’t able to kick back with my feet up. Due to the stronger winds we downsized the jib, and even then didn’t actually put it up, and reefed the mainsail to make is shorter. Even then we were moving a fair bit faster than at any time on Saturday:
Emma was happy for Lisa and I to take the tiller for the entire trip, and it was so different to our chilled Saturday. Needing to be a bit more decisive and quicker with our decision making. We were also glad for the extra hands today from Sasha and Potsi, which really assisted as we went through ‘man overboard’ drills and other manoeuvres. And despite the need for constant vigilance of changes in the conditions, it was not stressful and we both really enjoyed the experience as well as all the banter and laughs:
I had confessed to Dan when first invited on the big trip, which is now only two weeks away, that while not worried I was just a little nervous. That healthy level of nervousness that makes you tread carefully and consider the risks appropriately. But not so much as to hold you back from giving things a go. However, after these two days on the water I feel the levels of nervousness have dropped a notch or two. Thanks for the suggestion Lisa! That said where we are heading will probably be a whole lot different to the protected waters of Geographe Bay:
Sandbagged 