Lazz, the Swansea channel is ok at present then ?

Something fishy

It is blue mackerel season (saba) here in Japan. And the best is Kinka saba. These are the fish caught off Kinkasan island, which is about 20 miles N.E of my home port.
Every year a few sailboats in my harbor have a unique race. We race out to the fishing grounds, catch as many saba as we can and run back home.
Five boats went out today 2 Benis and 2 Jennis and me. I am the smallest, slowest and oldest (boat that is), so I headed out 90 minutes or so before the others.
Of course they catch up with and pass me. We head straight east to meet the fish heading north. Usually, look for the diving sea birds. The fish can be between 8 to 15 miles out.

The day gives us a chance to take photos of each other. Unfortunately, they flew past me today, so just a couple of blurries. I only hooked 3(fat and juicy) and had to head back while the others pulled em in. The winner got 23. Dinner was deep fried saba wrapped in Japanese basil leaves (shiso) with pickled turnips , Korean kim chi and tofu soup with cockles, grated burdock roots and ginger.

garymalmgren said..
Dinner was deep fried saba wrapped in Japanese basil leaves (shiso) with pickled turnips , Korean kim chi and tofu soup with cockles, grated burdock roots and ginger.

mmm, shiso, natsukashi, cannot get here.
sounds like a fun day.

Azure305 said..
Sailed up early last week and currently cruising the Cowan Ck system.
Saw this beauty at Cottage Pt and chatted with the owner -

1974 Tasman Seabird "Response"
The last one built. (Qld)
37' loa, 27' lwl
Previously owned by Alan Payne, who sold it to the current owner because " It's too nice for me!".

Nice way to isolate mate. I hope to do the same later this year

Azure305 said..
Sailed up early last week and currently cruising the Cowan Ck system.
Saw this beauty at Cottage Pt and chatted with the owner -

1974 Tasman Seabird "Response"
The last one built. (Qld)
37' loa, 27' lwl
Previously owned by Alan Payne, who sold it to the current owner because " It's too nice for me!".

interesting how all the seabirds differ slightly response has a very fine stern looks optimized for windward ability


apparently alan payne redrew the stern sections for every boat my line drawings have 5 other sets of offsetts attached

Ramona said..
Jock Sturrocks Waterwitch from 1962 on the local slips a few years ago. Beautiful fit-out and surprisingly roomy inside.

they are amazing boats go to windward with a modern fin keeler ,shoal draft at 4'10"comfortable at sea makes you wonder why we changed cruising boat design so drastically


joanne brodie pagan and gip racing last weekend at qcyc winter series

Ramona said..

boty said..

Ramona said..
Jock Sturrocks Waterwitch from 1962 on the local slips a few years ago. Beautiful fit-out and surprisingly roomy inside.

they are amazing boats go to windward with a modern fin keeler ,shoal draft at 4'10"comfortable at sea makes you wonder why we changed cruising boat design so drastically


joanne brodie pagan and gip racing last weekend at qcyc winter series

Low aspect rigs as well.

'Response ' is still being competitively raced at SAYC, and involved with the Classic scene. Owner said she has very good sails, and with a 160% genoa and the low aspect main, she "just flies upwind in a light breeze"

Do you ever have one of those days. Went down to boat this morning to do a couple of things. First mistake was running my hand along the inside of the transom through an inspection port to check if I had fixed a leak only to send a sliver of fibreglass up my fingernail.
Pulled it out with pliers and decided stuff it a sail would be better .Better still I will practice gybing the assy solo in the light morning wind without raising the main.
Set it up to hoist out of the cabin hatch. No worries hoisted , took a couple of photos , wind picked up a bit ,fantastic. Went to do first gybe .na. Can you see whats wrong ( hint ,route of lazy sheet). I am also going to chuck the soft shackle
idea as I discovered I could not just untie the guilty sheet and reroute .

tarquin1 said..
I still yell "check sheet leads" before every tack and gybe when racing. When you say standing by to gybe or tack a good bowman will check the sheets and yell sheets clear, every time.
A good mental habit to get into.
Only because I've messed it up so many times!
Unclip the halyard is normally easier than taking the sheet of an A sail.
Maybe a strop to tie the headsail halyard down so you don't have to take it off the sail.
Maybe you know but heating it up and powering up the A sail before the gybe is one of the secrets to a good light air gybe. Then smoke the sheet whilst its powered up to help it fly around the front.
If you watch a vid of a modern race boat gybing in light air the A sail is gybed well before the main.

Thanks for tips tarquin, I was in such a rush to get out before the wind picked up . naughty boy.
I had the assy. cut fairly flat with the idea I could run with it and just use the 3
on the wind instead of the genoa and being over canvassed.

garymalmgren said..
Something fishy

It is blue mackerel season (saba) here in Japan. And the best is Kinka saba. These are the fish caught off Kinkasan island, which is about 20 miles N.E of my home port.
Every year a few sailboats in my harbor have a unique race. We race out to the fishing grounds, catch as many saba as we can and run back home.
Five boats went out today 2 Benis and 2 Jennis and me. I am the smallest, slowest and oldest (boat that is), so I headed out 90 minutes or so before the others.
Of course they catch up with and pass me. We head straight east to meet the fish heading north. Usually, look for the diving sea birds. The fish can be between 8 to 15 miles out.

The day gives us a chance to take photos of each other. Unfortunately, they flew past me today, so just a couple of blurries. I only hooked 3(fat and juicy) and had to head back while the others pulled em in. The winner got 23. Dinner was deep fried saba wrapped in Japanese basil leaves (shiso) with pickled turnips , Korean kim chi and tofu soup with cockles, grated burdock roots and ginger.

Craig66 said..
"Where did I go today on my sailing boat today"
Absolutely nowhere.

But I believe sitting on the mooring and having the first beer or two enjoying the sunset moments before lock down on a new to me boat rates a mention.

Good to hear mate.
We are being hit by week after week of westerly.
Just waiting for them to end.

Craig66 said..
"Where did I go today on my sailing boat today"
Absolutely nowhere.

But I believe sitting on the mooring and having the first beer or two enjoying the sunset moments before lock down on a new to me boat rates a mention.

Excellent stuff mate!!!

I know you have been waiting over 10 years for this moment I really hoped you savoured it.

A couple of pics would have helped too - such a beautiful boat!!

Such a pity we went into lockdown the day after handover & you can't get to have a play.

I'll be keeping an eye out for you.

^^ some beautiful boats up qld way by the way.
Would be totally wasted though down our way, covered in shag **** before the week is up.

Is that main fully battened on Joanne? Must be sheep station on the line.

Can even do the sundowner beer thing with lockdown 6 underway.

Have you ever seen the lain?

The red spider lillies planted on the banks of the paddies are in bloom and the sheaves of rice are golden and heavy.
It is harvest time.


The harvest moon was yesterday the 21st, but we went out to greet the moonrise on Sunday. The sunset was 5:40 and the moonrise was 5:07.







All of the other boats had been out all day and headed back into the sunset while we were still heading east. We sailed into the moonlight until the last gloming had retreated and we could see the first bright northern stars then headed back in under the clear moonlight.

The blokes on the other boats were in full swing when we got back. Some African or Indonesian bamboo instrument, bongos, tiny electric piano and guitar sounded an awful version of Hoteru Carifornia. As I walked past, Ito san yelled out, " Hey Gary, COME HERE!!! NO GO HOME!!! COME HERE!!! DRINK!!! SLEEP ON BOAT!!!. I explained that my wife had already cooked dinner and if I didn't go home I would be castrated, ( My honorable manly parts would be removed). They all laughed and I escaped. Got to the car as CCR's "Have you ever seen the lain???" drifted across the harbor.

Nice day out at Moreton Island with two of my daughter's