It was meant to be good sailing weather today, moderate to fresh winds, so I did the only sensible thing and went sailing. It was already looking a bit more like fresh to strong when I got there but finding that I needed to test the boat out in sub prime conditions I got ready and headed out. It was blowing a north westerly and pretty fresh when I got out there and with one reef in the main I headed downwind to enjoy the most marvelous run down the coast. Rushing past the coast at 7 knots is pretty good for a 30 year old 18 foot keel boat! The sail back was more treacherous. Beating into the wind in 30 knots with a heavy swell was hard work. My poor girl does not go that well to windward in those conditions, I´m afraid. She kept broaching in the gusts and without the jib she was not pointing very well. Eventually I cracked on the motor and plowed back into the wind. As is was blowing directly from where I was going I motored about half the way back. Once we got back I was wet through and quite tired. I have in fact decided to put on hold my ideas of sailing her over to Tasmania, for now anyhow.
