Marlins were the majority stakeholder today. Coming in a maiden blue, red and yellow two tone, a yellow tank, deep blue and plain purple these boats outnumbered all others. If the
forecast was true to form we could be in for a brisk sail from Raby Bay to Potts and hook decent a beam reach on the return leg.
Today was Sal's maiden voyage in her blue girl. The sailing leg to Potts via Coochie only blew enough for a shove, not enough to set up a skipping swell. Today was yet another day without coming across a turtle, in fact nothing at all - not even the remnants of cuttle fish for the neighbours Major Mitchells. Carol and
Brian peeled off to look for Scarla. Their paths did not cross as Scarla had left Victoria Point and was already over half way along the northern side of Coochie. We pulled into the eastern beach for morning tea and radioed in Brian and Carol before they made for Potts.
A banana cake with a rampant passionfruit icing was served up. The passionfruit had the last laugh and made a point of running everywhere, including off the cake. Nevermind, the sticky mess was soon dealt with good and proper. Those with sails continued to fly their colours across to Potts Point. Dean had a lunch that
needed the BBQ. The cool shade could not induce the rest of the crowd to leave their sunny perch on the beach. After mains Carol treated us with an equal share of her popular zucchini cake.
When the tide started to ebb sun screen was topped up and everyone gloved for an enjoyable push from the N - NW across the southern side of Coochie. Rounding the SW corner the work began. So much for swinging around to the W, this wind had more N
than anything else and it was straight into it. It blew the group
into a scatter of dots while Mark accompanied Scarla to the Victoria Point boat ramp. A radio call enabled a head count before it was into the grind. Being wind against tide at least it wasn't a flat grind. The group split three ways, three peeled off for Point O'Halloran, three went off in the distance while Dave,
George and I tagged up the rear.
The water was turbid and at times difficult to read, especially when it came to the reef off Cleveland Point. Turned out it was just choppy stuff in relatively shallow water, but still not deep enough to see or touch the bottom. Eventually we rounded
Cleveland Point giving the sails a chance to do something useful. If nothing else that return leg was one way to get the paddle fitness back in tune.
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