The Weather Bureau Got It Right!

As predicted the wind swung round to the south and blasted over 30 knots pretty much right on time! Stronger than predicted though. In fact we saw gusts of 37 knots on our apparent wind gauge and Nic on Mercedes recorded gusts to 47 knots.



This graph is from www.seabreeze.com.au/graphs/nsw.asp after the event. If you click on it you can see it better without the black.

Dayna rang the weather number and reported a predicted 20-25 knot Southerly change at midday. So we reefed the main - one reef - and prepared to reef the jib as the wind picked up. At seconds after midday we slipped across the line with a gentle following wind of about 5 knots. I sensibly resisted the temptation to unreef the main and did not ask the crew (Julie, Terina and Dayna) to use the spinnaker pole to goose-wing the jib.

At ten past twelve, as we were about half way from Clark Island to Shark Island, the wind started to swing to the south and I got the crew to gybe the main. And then wham 25 knots of wind smacked us on starboard. No gradual increase, no time to get accustomed to increased wind strength. We started to reef the jib and then as the wind continued to gust higher and higher tried to hide behind Shark Island while the crew struggled to furl the jib completely and drop the main. Which they managed in record time bless them. And we beat a tactical retreat. It was a slow motor home. On the way we saw lots of waterways and police boats standing by to rescue people but there was surprisingly little carnage. Probably because most people were too sensible to go out in the first place. We were all wet from the waves washing over our port side - or half wet anyway - and we were glad to get to Balmain where the mooring was nice and protected from the worst of the wind..

We later heard that Mercedes did complete the course with very little sail up. But then she is 40 something feet long. Alcyone wasn't racing because Jenny is away.

As we rounded Yuralbin Point and into the relief of calmer waters we passed a double reefed yacht, 25 or so foot heading out towards the main harbour. It made me think of the C J Dennis poem The Traveller in A Book For kids:

As I rode homeward, full of doubt,
I met a stranger riding out:
A foolish man he seemed to me;
But, "Nay, I am yourself," said he,
"Just as you were when you rode out."
So I rode homeward, free of doubt.