Day Sail to Garden Island

 On Saturday 20 March 2021 a group of us sailed to Garden Island and hooked up at a Fremantle Sailing Club mooring from which we jumped overboard and swam to the shore to spend time on the beach for several hours of swimming and relaxation.  It was a day of "firsts" for me and Pachuca: (1) I had never before sailed with a total of 8 persons on board, (2) I had never sailed with two young children on board, (3) I had never made a night entry into Pachuca's pen.

On board besides myself was Brenda, her nephew Donald and Niece Heather, Donald's children Ryla (6yo) and Dallan (3yo), and Heather's boyfriend Dan.

Father and Daughter at the Bow

Donald, Children, and Heather

Making their Way to the Beach

 

It was a great day for it with a sunny sky, moderate temperature, and calm sea.  We arrived to find another boat on our mooring so we hooked up to a free one on the understanding that if the owner of our "borrowed" mooring arrived we would have to move to the mooring assigned to us.  Fortunately neither of us were forced to move our boats.

 Young Dallan was at first very reluctant to climb down the ladder and get into the water but when he saw everyone else in the water he simply jumped over the side to join us.

Brenda and Children, Pachuca in Background at Right

The boys were keen to do some brisk sailing and we found the opportunity after clearing the Parmelia Bank on our return to FSC and setting course for the sailing club, which resulted in a moderate breeze off our starboard beam. I  gave the  OK to hoist all sail and soon we were hiking along at a respectable 6-7 knots with a nice heel.  

Pig Trough Anchorage, Pachuca 3rd boat from the right

We  made our entrance after sunset and the boys searched for Pachuca's pen from the bow using a strong spotlight.  Fortunately reflective tapes that I had glued on the pylon fenders years earlier proved to still be reflective enough to clearly show us the entrance to the pen.  I had shown  Donald, Heather and Dan the mooring rope layout before departing and with that inexperienced crew with more than a few drinks under their belts and in the darkness of night we made the best entrance into the pen that I can recall. 

For me it was a successful and enjoyable day that encouraged me to do more of this social sailing in the future.