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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
 Posted - 03 May 2006 : 07:01:20 AM
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With the cooler weather and the Summer Sailing season finished in Sydney Old Pete, the Hagars' Sailing Master has departed for the warmer climate of North Queensland and the Hamilton Island Race seen. Pete will not be back until September when we start the MYC twilighters.
What a life, no wife, no kids, just sailing.
Chris. |
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Splinter
Helmsman
Australia
500 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2006 : 6:32:14 PM
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I have just been on the Site for a few minutes and have notices that the newest member is G Wise. Glenn welcome !
You have the most beautiful '30 "Bojangles" and hopefully will come up to Lake Mac in June. This boat is full of Teak. and is just so comfortable.
welcome Glenn, just let us all know what all you guys are up to and enjoying your "Endeavour" |
"Splinter" |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 06:00:06 AM
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This weekend saw us celebrating the annual prize giving at North Harbour Sailing Club. It was a low key quiet affair with a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The three yachts who were involved in serious harbour racing were all represented as well as two new boats for next season. At this stage we are looking to have at least six yachts racing next season. There is also the likelihood of more as there are a large number of yachts moored in North Harbour who do not currently race. The other interesting fact is that for some strange reason, MYC sail only on alternative weekends and we will be out to snare as many of them as possible for next season.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 1:52:40 PM
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Last Sunday at our Sailing Club at North Harbour while the crowd was enjoying the sun, BBQ and a bit of liquid refreshment we were entertained by the bays resident Pelican.
Now for some years we have had a pair of pelicans who troll the bay on a daily basis. And in recent weeks there have been large numbers of fish in the bay. Among the fish have been some schools of large, up to tree foot, mullet who have been spawning along the sand flats. We have seen from time to time some mullet who have been injured & on Sunday afternoon a two footer was sighted off the club swimming about in a odd fashion. He had apparently been hit by some larger fish and was going in circles about the surface.
And then along came the Pelican. He quickly got to work and somehow managed to scoop up this fish which did not fit into his bill. He turned it around and with the fish head in first he up-ended it straight down the hatch. The fishes girth was much greater than the birds neck. However it stretched and went down his throut. He then happily paddled off with the tail still sticking out of his beak & the fish moving. Much to the lament of the women-folk.
Chris. |
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Go Flow
Helmsman
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 11:01:02 AM
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Hi All,
We have a resident dolphin at Toronto. He/she follows dinghies and yachts from the moorings into the marina and takes a close interest in any skin divers. Dolphins are not normally seen in the lake.
Adrian |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 12:56:55 PM
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Now while some of us are making plans for this weekends Mothers Day. I'm trying to fly my eldest daughter back from New Caledonia where she is teaching. And thus a surprise mothers day treat as well as luncheons etc.
Meanwhile that daredevil yachtsman, Rodney the dog-catcher has also been lay out his own well thought out plans.
His SWMBOd' made the fatal mistake of mentioning that lobster would be nice for lunch on Sunday. And where do you get lobster? The Fish Markets. And how do you get there? Aboard the Hagar, our course!
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 07 June 2006 : 7:16:33 PM
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There is an interesting mix of individuals who are the owner partners of the Hagar IV. After some thought I have split the four of us all into two camps. All are married with families and lead very active lives.
There are the two interlectual professionals, which includes Ian the Dentist as well as his brother-in-law Andy the Teacher. They both lead active social lives with sailing just a small portion of these activities. Ian cannot sail this long weekend because his is away OS walking in the mountains of the Mediterrean somewhere. Andy has made this weekend available but is all booked out for the rest of June & most of July with a spate of bushwalking adventures.
The other group is the hard-bitten, led by Rodney the dog-catcher and myself. We two are the middle management types and like to work at the coal-face, so to speak. We do most of the work on the Hagar and all aspects of the boat are our first priority if allowed and we both live for sailing.
It will be interesting to see who steers the Hagar this weekend coming up. It is really Rods turn as he has not steered in a regatta in the new Hagar while Andy had the helm at the 40th & I helmed at the nationals.
One of the best thing about sailing aboard Hagar is that its' a bit like a game of rugby with a lot of verbal encouragement, much of which can be misinterpreted if you dont' know the individuals. The three owners this weekend all played rugby and sailed together for more than thirty years so its' a bit like family at times.
And so a lot of what is said on the water is just water under the boat so to speak.
Looking forward to some hard sailing this weekend.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 12 June 2006 : 10:51:29 AM
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| Well Friday nights delivery to the RMYC at Toronto was a very mixed voyage up the coast. We popped out from behind North Head into a mixed sea with hardly any wind at 6.30pm and motored straight out to sea. Rod was the navigator and we then headed on a bearing which would take us about ten miles out to miss all the headlands, islands and reefs. We then turned in at about 2.00am towards Moon Island and arrived at about 5.15am and waited for the sunrise. The voyage was very bumpy with the wind going around the dial, it was cold and wet with rail showers and all were sick a few times. The wind on the way up ranged from zero to up to about 14 knots and Andy had the best run when it was in the east and overall we averaged about 4.2 knots. We sailed, motor sailed and motored, the sea was bumpy with a southerly swell. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 15 June 2006 : 01:10:58 AM
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Good evening fellow insomniacs. Have just returned from delivering Rod & Andy back up the the Toronto YC. We were met by Adrian and bought the Hagar in off a club mooring. Fueled her to the brim and loaded her up for tomorrows return trip to Sydney. This is the only window of opportunity in the southerly wind pattons as there will be a westerly tomorrow which makes for a quicker return passage. With luck Rod & andy should be home around 5 or 6 pm Thursday.
Of interest, we were met by the Toronto Dolphin when we came in on Saturday morning. This Dolphin had a large chunck missing from its top fin.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 16 June 2006 : 11:50:02 AM
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Yesterday afternoon, which was Thursday, Rod & Andy arrived back from Toronto, Lake Macquarie having taken the 6.00am bridge opening at Swansee. They reported that they were back on the mooring by about 4.30pm in North Harbour & had motor sailed for most of the voyage down in a very light westerly with flat seas. The only dramas was when Rod missed the channel & touched the bottom of Lake Macquarie going out as well as the engine stopping due to sludge in the fuel lines.
Chris. |
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JohnSwan
F'ore'ard Hand
Australia
18 Posts |
Posted - 20 June 2006 : 12:41:11 PM
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Geez Chris,
Don't be so hard on us more cautious oldies.
I had a good crew signed up for sailing on the Lake, but only young Eric H
was avaliable to sail up and down the coast.
When we saw the forecast for strong winds and rain, we abandoned.
On Saturday morning, a ray of sunshine came thru, and I decided to drive up to see the action.
I got to the top of the ranges, and got lost in a swirl of fog and rainstorm. I came home.
Anyway, I am returning to Melbourne this week to resume my previous life, so I'll be out of sight for a while.
SwanSong will stay here for now, till I move her further up the coast.
Cheers for now, keep in touch,
John Swannie.
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 20 June 2006 : 2:05:11 PM
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Dont' worry John, just stiring the pot. We had a very bumpy ride up the coast on the Friday night and abandoned coming home again on the Monday because of the weather. Rod & Andy have been sailing up and down the coast for may years and have done a fair bit of offshore racing. And they like to leave things to the last minute. I would have about the same time in offshore as you.
Have a good winter in Victoria and keep in touch. Hope to see you at the October Regatta at Drummoyne. Will you be selling the Swannie? I know some people who are interested in her.
Regards, Chris. |
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JohnSwan
F'ore'ard Hand
Australia
18 Posts |
Posted - 20 June 2006 : 3:38:07 PM
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No sale at this time, Chris.
We'll see what happens by October.
Cheers, John S.
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 10 July 2006 : 5:12:56 PM
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On Saturday morning last, while Rod & I were returning up harbour from spying upon another E30 werounded Bradleys Head and found a marvalous site of a big square rigger entering the Harbour.
At first we thought it might be the James Craige, however as she approached us we could see that it was white hulled and a foreigner. She was motoring and covered with flags & bunting.
It turned out to be the Cuauhtemoc, a barque out of Mexico. She was a magnificent sight and as I had the good high res camera, managed to get some nice shots.
I will try and resize and past a few to this sight. Only trouble is that I cannot get them to attach for some reason. I was able to last year but the site is a bit like a woman, yes and her too!
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 28 July 2006 : 8:23:33 PM
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CATCHING KITTY
Have just read the Bird Mess postings I was musing on people who have pets aboard their yachts. One of the new chums at our club is a machine crane opperator and has a 24 footer something. He has a very nice female blue heeler who is his current forard hand. Another chap in North Harbour has a pet black cockatoo and there are others with their dogs as well as some cats all of whom are experienced mariners.
On the subject cats, I'm reminded of a character from the Sydney Markets, where I've worked for 32 years. Now John is a great practical jocker and is forever thinking up angles and stunts to scare of infuriate people. Recently he found a device which fits in his mouth and without any mouth movement can make a cat cry. Johns' a salesman and specialises is sucking in women, well he was standing out in frount of his stand looking into the drain as a woman buyer for one of the Chain Stores walked by he was making a pittyfull cat cry and the women asks, what has happened, is there a cat in the drain? John has her interested and now he hooks her and convinces her that there is a cat caught in the roadway drain. She is on the line and running with the story. She says, Oh dear! what can we do? John says, when they wash the road the kitten will most likely drown. Oh..No! she exclaims. And off she goes and drags back the senior Market Authority Officer. But the cat is gone, or has it died?
THe next morning john is waiting for her again, with a hessian bag and some fruit inside for bulk. He says to her, we caught it, as wild as they come. She asks him, what will you do with it, John replys, dont' know, best to drown it.
By this time, all the wags and malingerers in the know have gather around and are supporting John with the right words & body lanuage. However, theres' one in every crowd. Out comes one of the lads with a cricket bat and with John holding up the bag, with his catch within, making all the right cat distress calls and shaking the bag for effect. The cricketer gives the bagged kitty a few powerfull wacks. John, of course, rises to the occasion with the correct cat sounds and with the support of his fellow conspiritors rebukes the kitty killer. The female buyer is mortified and races off crying with heart-felt tears and abusing the terrible market men.
Another successful day at the office of life for John.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 31 July 2006 : 1:03:51 PM
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On Saturday afternoon, after returning from mooring the Hagar we returned to the NHSC for a few quenching coldies and were joined by a few yachties, including Captain Bruce Hinchman who had also been working on his yacht, the Pacific Breeze inside us on the marina.
We fed old Bruce a beer and got him talking about the James Craige aboard which he is a volunteer Captain. He told some interesting stories. We are attempting to organise a day out aboard the James Craige for the members of our Club. And so if any of you old salts would like to have a day out with us, then please let me know and if we manage to put a day trip together we should have enough room for more. I will advise if anything comes of it. It will cost and I belive that you must be 12 years of age.
Chris. |
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Splinter
Helmsman
Australia
500 Posts |
Posted - 31 July 2006 : 7:15:22 PM
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Chris, I would say my family would live it. Just let us know and how much. Sounds great.
cheers,
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"Splinter" |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 31 July 2006 : 7:34:25 PM
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No problems Kevin will notify if anthing comes of it. Old Pete from our Club has been for a cruise aboard the James Craige and endorses going out on her. He said that it is a great day out and the ship is facinating.
Enjoyed the golfers wife email today, most enjoyable.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 15 August 2006 : 8:26:28 PM
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This coming Saturday afternoon is the AGM for our Sailing Club at North Harbour. There is a lot of interest and, from people who are wishing to race with us this year. No doubt the old guard will be re-elected, however we might get some new blood, we hope, in the committee.
Anyone who is interested in sailing in the North Harbour area is welcome to come along and can contact me on my mobile on 0416 108 639.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 25 September 2006 : 7:16:33 PM
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Dealing with Stingray Stings.
When we heard of the untimely death of the Queensland Wildlife Warrior and Crocodile Hunter, Steve Erwin I was reminded of the treatment which we administered to a fellow member of the North Harbour Sailing Club many years ago.
The story goes that Griffo, a fellow 14 foot skiff sailor had unwitingly leapt out of of his skiff while coming into the beach at North Harbour Sailing Club and landed, barefooted upon a live stingray.
The brute whipped about and stabbed its barb into the top of Griffos' foot.
Griffo let our a blood curdling yell and leapt ashore to collapse upon the beach. Now most of us were in the process of unrigging our skiffs as well as partaking in the blood purification & replenishment ritual, in consuming as much beer in the shortest possible time.
We picked up Griffo off the beach and deposited him upon the club ramp. Griffo was in a state of shock, and we were all in a state of half anebriation.
We hosed Griffo dawn and had a beer. We examined Griffos foot and, had another beer. Griffo was adament to, "take the bloody barb out"! I volunteered with my trusty set of multigrips. Griffo was willing, we gave him a slug of scotch to ease the pain. I then got the boys to hold him down and latched onto the one inch of broken off bone barb with the multis'and tore it out of his foot. He gave a big yell and we immeadiatly administered more scotch to him.
A discussion was then entered into upon the likelihood of blood poisoning and again it fell to me to suck out the poison. Applying mouth suction to Griffos' foot, resulting in him giving another yell and I spat out the poison, rinced out my mouth with scotch as well as to the open wound, then had another beer.
The operation was declared a success by all and we retuned to the resumption of replenishing essential bodily fluids.
Later in the proceedings, after both the patient as well as his supporters had replenished essention bodily fluids to the max, we staggered off with Griffo off the toe, so to speak to the Manly Hospitals' Casualty.
The Nursing staff were somewhat bemused by our appearance and condition, but took Giffos' wound as well as the presented three inch bone barb quite seriously, as well as our first aid administered. They imeadiatly placed his foot into a witches brew and we left him in their and his now arrived SWMBODs'
Chris. |
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What E30 Crews get up to?
