Socialising in Sydney
08 September 2015 | At the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
What a beautiful city this Sydney is. Chugged over from Quarantine Beach to the CYCA on Friday and was made most welcome here in Rushcutters Bay. Traffic can be a problem on a Friday night so strolled up to Edgecliff Station and glided out to Sutherland Station where I was met by cousin Ian and had a lovely dinner with his wife Dawn and Graeme and his wife Lyn. Memories of childhood escapades abound. Talk about luxury - a feather bed , a shower AND a washing machine, all of which were thoroughly utilised. On the Saturday we three boys - yes it did feel like that - tracked down a couple of 100ah AGM batteries as the year old ones on the yacht, whilst still OK, just seemed to have lost the edge. Sunday September 6th. Fathers Day. And a real Father's Day it was having a picnic in the enchanting McKell park on Darling Point with Maurie and his daughter Meredith. Maurie an Olympic oarsman was the consummate pair oar partner and on and off over a span of forty years we enjoyed many a fine race. Monday afternoon tea at Aunt Margaret's Balmain waterfront home with cousins Wendy Robert and Suzanne. Pastries to die for. In the meantime replanning of the solo circumnavigation has proceeded apace. The new route is Sydney Heads, a transit between North Head Light and Hornby Light, the same four Capes and now Horta on the island of Faial in the Azores. This route is only slightly longer at 22,445 miles and has the WSSRC stamp of approval. Again, the expected distance using the Trades will be in excess of 28,000 miles. The Windpilot spares arrived on time and lots of little adjustments have been completed on the rig. Immigration and Border Protection officers will be here to re stamp the ships papers at 7:30 Thursday 10th September and I should restart within the hour. Tomorrow will be spent shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables and maybe some more cryovac Porterhouse steaks!