Flipping the calender was easier than flipping bohemian from mooring attachment to a sailboat. But our coastal passage of over one hundred miles over three days gave me great confidence in the boat and my rekindled sailing skills. Only four months previously, a friend and his brother in-law had drowned while undertaking a similar challenge of bringing an old fibreglass yacht from Broken Bay to Port Stephens.
When one takes the time to wade through the truckloads of glossy sailing literature, the Folkboat design whether made in 'glass or timber, absolutely shines as a seagoing small boat. Although our achievement was modest, I can now attest firsthand to the Folkboat's sea-keeping ability. The ability to abandon the helm on any point of sail, to brew coffee or shorten sail, and have the boat hold course or round up and heave to steadily, is magical. Off Fingal light, pitch black except for a flash every few seconds, a NE5 blowing under full canvas, the tiller seemed to push my hand away in a manner saying "Ive got this". Left alone she continued sailing a steady course to windward while I made an "x" on the chart and grabbed some food. Old Slocum had a Sea Captain on the helm of Spray occasionally, and I felt a guiding hand then.
Amid the excited and fearful emotion that goes with singlehanded a "new" boat, with no engine on unfamiliar waters, I did not look after myself properly. For much of our time at sea, I was hungry, dehydrated and tired; not good for longer passages, but bohemian gave me confidence that she could handle bluewater cruises. To be able to contemplate these dreams while stepping ashore after four tiring days at sea is testament to the her magical design.
Further ... This was not in any way a remarkable voyage by other people's standards, but to, at age 54, after a 25 year break from bluewater sailing, to take to sea against a mountain of fear and to win and discover a new friend, has been one of my greatest achievements.
PHOTOS: A humpback whale off Moonee Beach 31/12/2015, & Yacaaba Head, entrance to Port Stephens 2/1/2016.
Written on Kindle = sorry;))
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