The Steamtug Blog

Word had got around boat yard there was going to be a BBQ Friday night. I was there organising to get John’s little yacht up the slipway (yes…it’s the one that sunk). When I was there a few weeks ago, I was convinced to join the yacht club as they seemed to be a fun bunch of blokes. But this Friday night turned out to be the best fun I have had for ages!

Now I have had my boat here in Geelong for more than 10 years, and when I was looking for somewhere to go, the Western Beach boat club told me there was no place for my boat, so I did not join. I didn’t think about the benefits of being a member anyway. The other yacht club (the Royal one) didn’t even want to talk to me as I was not rich, or owner of a yacht, so for the past 10 years, I have just been doing my own thing. But now I see John has become a member and has received so much good advice and help, it’s amazing and I’m jealous! So I joined!

I arrived at the yard on a cold evening and stood around the fire tin with beer in hand while the BBQ sizzled in the background. They take turns at providing the food and doing the cook up for everyone there, so I was grateful of the efforts provided by someone else. With some good music playing, barbied chicken in one hand, cold beer in the other, I was happy.

I had motored over in Adaqua and the boys were talking to me about her and keen to have a look. The wind was a stiff breeze from the North about 10 – 15 knots which made tying up to their little pier tricky, but they all came down the pier to help me tie up in the true club spirit of everyone pitching in. Great! They were impressed by the fact that I had never been to the club by road, coming by sea each time.

So after many beers, it was clear that the stiff Northerly wind was not going to drop, and with Mathew’s big yacht tied up to the pier next to mine, he suggested we go for a cruise. What in the dark? What after most of us had more than 10 beers? What with the wind up like this? Oh, who cares! So off we went, staggered down the pier and fell aboard. With the wind up, but not too much there was a chop over the water but nothing too big as the engine started and we cast off, a ship of fools and drunks! Up went the sails and soon we were cruising at 7 knots with only the sound of the choppy sea lapping at our sides. Very pleasant!

We cruised inside the sandbar and up to the end of Corio Bay, past the refinery pier towards the little yellow marker they use for racing. But while there, someone came up with the great suggestion that we visit the lagoon boat club nearby. Only trouble is the very narrow twisty channel needed to enter. It’s something I hate doing in the day time, let alone in the pitch dark! So we set our heading for the Geelong grammar school clocktower which lines up with the channel enterance and the whole crew were focused on getting in. Motor started, sails down, Nigel on the bow with the spot light calling 10 degrees to port! and in we went.

We tied up at the lagoon pier like a well trained crew, fell off the boat onto the pier and staggered ashore only to find the mirror image of what we left at Western Beach. The boys all standing around a fire tin in the cold, with a man playing some nice music on his guitar and beers in hand. We sipped our beers and talked boats with our hosts for a while. One chap I recognise as his brother works with me, and he had built a steel motor cruiser in his backyard for many years, and when he launched it, sailed straight to Portarlington where I was staying on the pier for my summer holiday. So it was good to catch up with him again.

We left just before midnight, and sailed back in the little breeze left, freezing our balls off, arriving after midnight. Adaqua was still tied up to the pier patiently waiting. I bid them all goodnight, jumped aboard and motored home to the basin. A great night out on the high seas!

I returned the next morning, and we set about putting the little yacht up the slipway. And in true club form, there was many hands on deck to assist in getting her up. Not like me with Adaqua when you ring all your mates and nobody turns up to help (… well maybe Tom) It’s good to see her out of the water as part of her rehabilitation and restoration. Actually the hull doesn’t look too bad once out.

The weather for the rest of the weekend wasn’t so nice. My Mum and Dad have seats at the footy, and they had stayed in Geelong far longer than usual so they would not miss the football game that was due to be played against Port Adelaide. But the weather was so bad, they didn’t even go to the ground, but instead stayed at home and listened on the radio to Geelong convincingly win, and will hit the road, caravan in tow Monday morning. They said it was only 8 degrees on the ground with heavy rain most of the afternoon, with the stands only half full. As for me, I was going over to see what was happening to the yacht, but instead just stayed inside Adaqua looking out the window at the rain, then put on a DVD and cooked up some chilli beans for lunch without even leaving the berth. At least I was warm! How many more days until Summer?