Under Tow
Sharyn and Eric had been planning the job for a couple of weeks. The task at hand was to move an old 25 ft cabin cruiser out of her pen in the creek to make room for their new Nolex 30 and take it up to a temporary mooring at Sandringham. The trouble was that with an unreliable engine, the old vessel needed to be towed.
Eric figured that in the right conditions, the Nolex would be able to do the job. So with the forecast for good weather across the weekend it was decided to head off Saturday. Mark and Jenny aboard Silver Cloud were going along for the trip as well. And so should everything go off smoothly, after the drop off at Sandie both boats would continue on to Williamstown for an overnight stay.
The weather Saturday was OK but there was a reasonable swell from the west and therefore predictions from the "gathering" on the Island was that it'd be a long slow trip - if in fact they kept going ! Greg and Eric prepared a bridle and the tow line, readied the Nolex and about midday they set off down the creek. Peter buzzed about in his run about while Mark & Jenny set their sails up for the long day ahead.
Greg was allocated the task of setting things up on the old cruiser and once out of the creek and clear of the pier, he lengthened the tow line and then abandoned ship with the aid of Peter. On board the Nolex, Eric and Sharyn soon had a jib up and were making a good 4 knots into the swell. A little later on the main sail was added and with a steady westerly and moderating seas they were soon doing upward of 5 knots and were well under way. They were going to make it.
A couple more club boats joined in the first leg of the journey down to Rickett's Point where the two Nolex's were left to complete the trip on their own. By all reports things did go off as planned and a pleasant night was had by the no doubt tired crews in Williamstown.
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