jwboatdesigns
09-12-2008, 01:59 PM
Open Boat Cruising? You Bet!
by
Designer, John Welsford, in further praise of open boat cruising
http://www.backyardboatbuilding.org.uk/forums/images/JW's Houdini in Awaawaroa Bay.jpgWe'd been looking forward to the four day long weekend for ages, but really foul autumn weather had made our Southern Hemisphere Easter break look unpromising for anything other than watching TV and sitting in the Jacuzzi trying to warm up. But by late Friday night the fast moving weather system was gone and we were looking at each other wondering “shall we go”?
We did, it took only half an hour to collect the perishable stores and fit them into a locker and get the car out on the driveway with the boat trailer hooked up. Although the forecast was for improving weather we drove for an hour to get to a section of coastline where the wind was offshore from the sheltered little harbour so we could launch into flat water and get organised before heading off.
We had an amazing sail that night, the full moon shining through dark clouds scudding past and swirling around the hills of the islands around us, the water like black velvet with a golden path lighting our way as we surfed a little on the following seas. Later, Denny wrapped up in a sleeping bag and slept peacefully, her head on my lap until just after 2am when our Houdini's bow crunched gently on the shingle of Awaawaroa Bay, the sheltered beach that was one of our favourite places. It took only minutes to get the tent and sleeping gear organised, and by the time I had the ship tidy and anchored out the kettle was boiling and a light meal of hot apple pie and cream ready .
We woke late, the sunshine and birdsong insistent that we come out to enjoy the day. Not a soul in sight, and the city where we spent most of our workdays felt as though it was a world away.
Open boat cruising? You bet.
John Welsford
Designer
Website: www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz (http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/)
E-mail : jwboatdesigns@xtra.co.nz (jwboatdesigns@xtra.co.nz)
by
Designer, John Welsford, in further praise of open boat cruising
http://www.backyardboatbuilding.org.uk/forums/images/JW's Houdini in Awaawaroa Bay.jpgWe'd been looking forward to the four day long weekend for ages, but really foul autumn weather had made our Southern Hemisphere Easter break look unpromising for anything other than watching TV and sitting in the Jacuzzi trying to warm up. But by late Friday night the fast moving weather system was gone and we were looking at each other wondering “shall we go”?
We did, it took only half an hour to collect the perishable stores and fit them into a locker and get the car out on the driveway with the boat trailer hooked up. Although the forecast was for improving weather we drove for an hour to get to a section of coastline where the wind was offshore from the sheltered little harbour so we could launch into flat water and get organised before heading off.
We had an amazing sail that night, the full moon shining through dark clouds scudding past and swirling around the hills of the islands around us, the water like black velvet with a golden path lighting our way as we surfed a little on the following seas. Later, Denny wrapped up in a sleeping bag and slept peacefully, her head on my lap until just after 2am when our Houdini's bow crunched gently on the shingle of Awaawaroa Bay, the sheltered beach that was one of our favourite places. It took only minutes to get the tent and sleeping gear organised, and by the time I had the ship tidy and anchored out the kettle was boiling and a light meal of hot apple pie and cream ready .
We woke late, the sunshine and birdsong insistent that we come out to enjoy the day. Not a soul in sight, and the city where we spent most of our workdays felt as though it was a world away.
Open boat cruising? You bet.
John Welsford
Designer
Website: www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz (http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/)
E-mail : jwboatdesigns@xtra.co.nz (jwboatdesigns@xtra.co.nz)