Starting February with a sail around Lion Island.

Since our last post, much has been happening in our family. First up, Karen our daughter and her husband Evan, welcomed their first child Nina Quinn, on the 6th February after an induction by her obstetrician, at North Shore Private Hospital,

Evan, Karen, first time Granny Annie and Nina.

Nina’s first bath – screaming blue murder!

We attended Graeme Smith’s 80th birthday party at the Middle Harbour 16ft  Skiff Club on the 15th February.

Stef and Cath Adelbert, Jenny and Graeme Smith, Annie and Dirk.

My two brothers Vanna and Peet, with Vanna’s wife Annemarie, arrived in Sydney on the 1st March for a two week visit. Despite the confused weather due to Hurricane Alfred, we managed to get out on Esprit to sail on the Pittwater

Vanna, Annemarie and Peet at the Basin.

Tour de Narrabeen lake.

We also managed some cycling trips and walks on the Northern Beaches. The twins brought along some photos of our sailing days in South Africa on our first Esprit in the mid 1970’s.

Esprit racing in the Minister’s Cup.

Good sail trim.

Nina had her first vaccinations at six weeks and she and Karen visited us for a sleepover while Evan was away in the Hunter Valley.

A smile for Ouma. (Afrikaans for Grandma)

On the 8th March RMYC held a charity event “Raft Up 4 Life” in Refuge Bay. Jim Parsons invited us to join him on his Bavaria 42, “Knot Again, which rafted up with 79 boats around “The Pearl” with two bands providing music. The largest event of its kind on the East Coast.

The Pearl – the centre of attraction.

The view from Jim’s boat.

We also had a visit from Derek and Nushin Lamb from London. We did a walk to Shelly Beach and had dinner at the Manly Skiff Club.

Derek, Dirk, Annie and Nushin.

Michelle came to visit Sydney for two weeks. She met her new niece Nina and then flew back to the Pacific islands.

Aunt Shelly and Nina.

Karen and Evan then went to Newcastle for a week to visit Evan’s family and catch up with some uni friends.

Doctors with babies: Emma with Paddy (12 weeks) and Karen with Nina (6 weeks)

We were planning to sail down to Sydney Harbour on Friday the 18th April for the Easter long weekend. I was officer of the day for the Sail Cruising Division until Monday the 21st April. However, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam located near New Zealand, generated powerful long-period swells that travelled across the Tasman Sea, reaching the Sydney coastline. Coinciding with the swells, king tides – exceptionally high tides – amplified the impact of the waves, leading to significant coastal damage. (At least eight people people drowned across New South Wales and Victoria).

The swells breaking on Sydney beaches (The Guardian)

Our group of sailors set out from the Basin at 10:00 on Friday the 18th, but then ran into massive swells off Barrenjoey Lighthouse. After discussing the conditions on channel 72, we did a quick turn around, surfed back into Broken Bay and sailed on to Refuge Bay, which we used as a base for a pleasant long weekend on the water. Apart from the festivities and music laid on for RMYC members on the “Pearl”, we visited Cottage Point and Akuna Bay. Some memorable dinners were held on the various boats over the four nights. All boats returned none the worse for wear to RMYC on Monday afternoon.

Paul, Annie, Robyn, Maureen, Ross, Dirk, Paul, Trish, Sandy and Bob at Akuna Bay.

Following ANZAC day on the 25th April, the Sail Cruising Division members attended the inaugural “Salty Cup Games” and Beach Party at Hallet’s Beach against the RMYC Cruiser Division (Motor vessels) for a fun day in the sun.

The Salty Cup athletes.

The games had two events: Finska and Boules. The Sail Cruising Division won both events, Annie clinching the Finska event by knocking out the no.11 pin to reach 50 points in the third and final game. The massive trophy was donated by the RMYC Cruiser Division – they have vowed to win it back next year.

Finska champ.

My birthday came around on the 28th April. Now 78, I am still the best-kept “body building” secret in Warriewood. Annie now has twice the man she married 38 years ago!  Attached are historic photos of my thinner and more hirsute days in the 1970’s. (It’s OK if you want to laugh out loud)

Stoker on South African Railways, early 1970’s.

1974: My 6th and final year B. Arch. at uni.

Finally, you may recall that when Annie and I crossed the Pacific Ocean on Esprit a few years ago, we had Bob McDavitt from New Zealand helping us with our weather routing from Panama to Australia. Fittingly, on my birthday today, I received Bob’s latest “Weathergram”. In the attached link below, he describes the difference between the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which we encountered between Panama and Tahiti, and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), which we encountered between Tahiti and Australia. Most informative and a must read for sailors interested in the weather.

With that, we have brought you up to date with our the news of the last three months.

With the sh*t flying as a result of Trump’s tariff wars, we are waiting to see if this madness will settle down, before booking our flights to the USA and Cuba for August. We’ll keep you posted.

Cheers, Annie and Dirk.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#all/FMfcgzQbdrRZnkzmfGkXcxqXmXZmwnfm