I got back to Darlington yesterday afternoon after two outstanding weeks of cruising around Geographe Bay with fellow members FSC and other yacht clubs. There must have been about 15 boats involved, but not all at the same time. The skies were consistently clear, days sunny, water blue, and winds generally a favourable NE, E, and SE.
The boat and its new equipment performed well. I was particularly pleased at how well the 45-lb Manson anchor set. There was not even a hint of dragging this year.
Attached are some photos.
Two of them are of the yachts at anchor off the beach at Meelup. In the more open photo of the two, with the lone tree at the side, you'll see Pachuca as the second boat from the right. (Pachuca is typically the boat anchored in deepest water.)
There is a photo of Pachuca at the Port Geographe marina.
The fourth photo is of a loaf of bread baked on board, hand kneaded the traditional way and baked in the gas oven. It may not look like anything special but two weeks out of New Zealand the entire crew will be staring at the oven salivating in anticipation.
Now it is back to the reality of boat maintenance: Pachuca comes out of the water on Thursday for routine antifouling and the fitting of a stainless steel bow protector.
