Summer has come and gone, and it’s been a beauty! We’ve had a lot of fun with our fleet of boats, and our newest addition Sula has been well and truly put through her paces. We’ve enjoyed sailing her in all sorts of conditions, from almost nothing, to slightly terrifying, and she handles it all so well. The other boats have been out quite a bit too, with Button Swan getting a surge of action lately.
Ragna was in need of some attention, and got her mast re-varnished, after getting a coat of epoxy to toughen up the most vulnerable sections. New leather on the gaff jaws will help as well. The hull needed minor repair where she had made contact with the piling frame – note to the boat users – we need to be sure to use the spring line to keep her away from that nasty steel! Other than that, all she needed was interior touch-ups, a coat of paint on the seats, fresh bottom paint, and now she’s back in service.
Last Sunday we held the 8th annual Heritage Harbour Classic, the sailing race in which all the boats in the harbour are invited to participate. Once again we were back to light winds (except for before and after the race). During the race, the wind was very light and inconsistent, and it mixed things up a lot. The small boats (and some of the bigger boats) got stuck for a while behind the anchored yacht that we chose as our turning mark, but eventually everyone made it back to the dock for a BBQ put on by the Maritime Museum. It was a fun day, and there’s talk of doing a Spring Classic as well – something to look forward to! It’s so great seeing all the boats out together.
We are delighted to welcome The Blue Cabin (an artist residency) to the harbour! We’re looking forward to seeing what’s in store in their floating studio.
Now, we’re talking about what’s next in our shop – we’ve got a few ideas that we’re considering. The workbenches and whiteboard are cleared, and ready for action!
Oarlock & Sail Wooden Boat Club 