A Sparkling Day!
12 September 2011 | Albany WA
Sue Watt
As the moon rose over Mount Clarence , the setting sun was casting golden, red and pink shadows over Princess Royal Harbour. It was the perfect location to be sipping chardonnay and snacking on Brie and wafer-thin crackers. It had really been a beautiful day – sunny, warm, with light North Westerly winds that wanted to dance with us rather than power us, but still a beautiful day to sail!
We had been expecting a lovely day, looking forward hopefully as we followed weather reports throughout the week pointing to a lovely warm Sunday and when we woke in the morning we were not disappointed. It didn’t take long to decide to set sail. It takes about forty minutes for us to get ready - secure what can fall, prepare the sails, organise snacks and drinks, untie the lines that hold us. Once the engine was started to motor us out of the marina and harbour and into the open water our sense of excitement grew – you never know what to expect when sailing – it’s not something you can plan and control – I think that’s one of the things that draws me to it – the sense of being taken and not having to controlling everything.
Peter wanted to try out a sail we haven’t used yet – one of the flying sails – one you would only use in light winds. We had never seen it used and all we had to go on, to figure out how to set it, was a photo of Argos under full sail. Well we got it so wrong! We ended up with the sail going up the mast side-ways – which wouldn’t have been a big deal if it had come back down again – but as luck would have it, it refused to budge! So there we were, sailing along with this silly looking thing hung up on top of the mast! At first, much to his consternation, Peter thought we would have to wait until we got back into the marina to be able to pull it down, but with a bit of thinking and talking we figured out that if we pulled down the sail beneath it, it might come with it. We were happy when it was down, and decided not to try and hoist it the way we now thought was right in case we were still wrong – concluding that it might be better to have a second go while in the marina!
Later we found out that we were being spied upon during this less-than-satisfactory display! Wouldn’t that just be the way! Yes, binoculars afforded friends a very clear view of our amusing mistake!
After the sail debacle we spent a lovely day sailing, tacking and enjoying the water.
There are moments out on the water that are breathtakingly beautiful . As the sun pours down its rays the ocean becomes a dazzling spectacle – it’s as if an immense hand has waved across it, scattering diamonds in a perfect arc, like a moving carpet of gems, rising and falling with the swell. It can hold you spellbound, watching the twinkling and sparkling in the opalescent blue. That’s why we sail. Well that’s why I sail!
Moored just across from us on the marina is a magnificent catamaran. After our gorgeous day on Argos we had been invited to a twilight cruise on Mirragen. One of the highlights of our time in Albany has been the new friends we have made. It was a delightful way to finish a lovely day, to sail out on this magnificent yacht, watching the moon as it rose in its full splendour over the harbour while enjoying the evening and the company. As darkness fell the clear crisp night allowed the moon to paint a sublime portrait on the shimmering water, providing us with even more breathtaking moments.
As we sailed around there was plenty of chatting, sausages and onions sizzling on the BBQ, glasses of red and white wine clinking along with glasses of coke for the children - who could not have enjoyed the balmy early spring evening!
Mirragen is a fabulous yacht. Finished to such a high standard. The children have decided that they need to do everything they can to help me get published so that we can ‘upgrade’ to a yacht of this standard! Not that we don’t all love Argos – but who couldn’t admire the sheer beauty of a million dollar yacht! At the end of the day we skipped back around the marina to our home – not sad that it’s not as grand as the catamaran, rather feeling the thrill that this new life we are living gives us all of these amazing opportunities and moments!