[Paddlewise] Winter Blues - off to Manly for an Angel's Kiss

G'Day,
		Christmas and here in Oz its baking hot; a time of year when I sometimes
miss the midwinter snow and cold and long mysterious dusks of the UK! So in
the spirit of Wilky's post here's an antipodean trip report as a reminder,
for you Northeners, of warmer times.

A summer Sunday morning and the offshore forecast is for a 30knot north east
wind followed by a 30knot southerly buster. There's a clear blue sky, its 35
centigrade and dry as a bone. Out on the harbour is the best place to be.

Theres no swell so we paddle close to the cliffs between Grotto Point and
Dobroyd Head. Too rocky for other boats this is a secluded magical place in
the heart of Sydney. Nothing but wind and waves sounding against the cliffs
and the occasional stray shearwater skimming across the sea. Quite often
theres surf and a bombora, which can make this area challenging. A friend
caved in the deck of his kayak at Washaway Beach some months ago and its
here that Sydney's first boating tragedy occurred. But today is very calm.
The water slides and ripples refracting the weed and oyster coated boulders,
making them dance in the sun. After an hour of weaving our way around the
rock gardens its time to land at Manly Wharf. I've sworn off coffee for the
duration so take off to the Magpie for an Angel's Kiss*.

By the time we return, the wind and whitecaps have kicked in. Up go the
sails for a race home. I stay outside the Bombora trying to get more breeze
for my smaller sail. Jay** hugs the shore taking the shorter route. Until
Grotto Point I'm ahead but as we round the point he pulls away, easily
winning the race.

Running towards Balmoral beach two speed boats appear in the distance. They
too are racing and decide to split either side of me, but don't show any
sign of staying at a reasonable distance. Altering course doesn't seem to be
an option so I maintain a straight heading figuring that its predictable and
they don't want to damage their boats with a collision. Christmas seems to
bring out the best and worst in people as this kind of bad manners is not
common on Sydney Harbour. The boats shoot by at a distance of 3 or 4 meters
either side, leaving a hugely disorganised wake. Should I roll, hide under
the boat, pretend to be drowning and see if they come back? Realise its
irresponsible and not worth the effort.

Jay is way ahead of me next to some people swimming from a yacht - he calls
out that its as good a place as any to practice rolling. The water is clear
and cool and refreshing as the Angel's Kiss at Manly. It makes rolling
practice the most sensible and pleasant activity for the day. The kayaks
rock in the wash from passing boats but we're protected by a nearby reef.
The conditions are perfect to reinforce last weeks lessons.

As we practice, the two swimmers drift away from their yacht into a current,
which is taking them around the reef - one of them is learning to swim and
in a slightly exasperated voice says she is getting tired. Jay in his trusty
Greenlander "Beauseant" (named for the battle standard of the Knights
Templar) paddles over asking "Prithee fair maid, dost require assistance?"
she replies in a sweet but anxious tone "Kind sir I am taken by this current
and would find my way back to yonder craft". Jay, the sun glinting from his
titanium coated shirt offers her the stirrup at his bow and manfully strives
against the 20 cm waves and 2000 milliknot current until she regains the
boat and safety. We make farewell rolls; then they ask for an encore! The
younger woman is from France and wants to video the rolls for her friends.
We're gong to be famous in Paris!!:~)

A slow paddle along the beach going home - three small boys call out "hey
mister would you capsize your boat - pleeeease??" Seems its showtime on the
water this weekend and also its very hot so naturally I oblige, smile and
paddle on. Jay is several yards behind and as he passes the young fellers I
hear them call "Hey mister ..... !!"

I'm not sure what the moral of all this is - perhaps our best rolls are when
showing off!

Next week we will take off for points south so back at Skiffies its time to
'make and mend'. We clean the salt from our boats with damp cloths (its one
of the longest droughts on record over here). In the distance carollers are
singing at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. As we leave the boathouse, complex
gusts whirl the dust while the north and south winds strive for equilibrium.
Driving slowly home, soundless lightning flashes. Coming in through my
driveway the rain pours down.

All the best, PeterO

* An Angel's Kiss is an icy drink of coconut milk, fresh mango,
   rasberry and various secret spices - its much better than coffee:~)

** Names changed in this thoroughly reliable report - to protect the
innocent:~)


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