Antipodean Boats Connection

[The Bigfella]

First car or first registered vehicle? My first registered vehicle was a Maicoletta 250cc scooter, an excellent bit of engineering.

The Matchy was my first registered vehicle... I had an unregistered Vespa before that.

[WX]

The Matchy was my first registered vehicle... I had an unregistered Vespa before that.

So did I, use to ride it around a dry swamp in Summer. The running boards tended to get in the way if you cornered at too much of an angle.

[The Bigfella]

Yeah, we used to belt around the tracks down behind the cemetery on it.... I've still got a pretty impressive scar on my arse from where my brother ran me down at full tilt and I landed on someone's discarded vertebrae. We also had a cutdown old Renault 750 that did good service on those tracks.

[Portland]

Well , got a few hours sailing in on HS, and tried out the piece I made to hold out the staysail when goosewinging , it works well , although we only had a very light breeze.
I also demonstrated sailing without using the tiller , just using our body position in the cockpit.
Rob J.

[rufustr]

"I landed on someone's discarded vertebrae."

Dangerous those discarded vertebrae.

[Larks]

A shed fell on It?

To be more precise a 20ish" plus dia' log that spanned the top of a large machinery shed (tractors, harvesters etc) landed on it when the shed blew down in a storm.

[Portland]

Well , that was close http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-a...783726745.html .
A km or so down the road .
The local brigade got to it very quickly , but not before a shearing shed and hay etc was burnt , now the other brigades are mopping up.
Feels strange , not being involved , but I'm in the CG/CFA brigade.
Rob J.

[Portland]

Holy Jeez , a Police Pursuit Car just went past at Mach 2 , was it barking ! , I've not heard a V8 sound like that outside a racetrack !.
Anyway , I'm looking out the window right at the fire , and it looks to be pretty well out.
Rob J.

[The Bigfella]

Holy Jeez , a Police Pursuit Car just went past at Mach 2 , was it barking ! , I've not heard a V8 sound like that outside a racetrack !.
Anyway , I'm looking out the window right at the fire , and it looks to be pretty well out.
Rob J.

Probably trying to get there before the TV cameras get packed away.

[Portland]

It sounded like it had a straight out exhaust !.
But the local boys have the fire under control , and I guess they will leave it to the big tanker from Portland to mop up.
I was looking out the window when it flared up .
I started my "fire action plan" before Christmas.
Rob J.

[skuthorp]

Us too, bags permanently packed and special clothing hanging in the shed just in case I need them.
I have to update my fire water signage though. Just thought of it.

[Portland]

Well , we aren't going anywhere !.
But yes , we both have firefighting overalls , boots and helmets and gloves ready.
And I keep the acres around the house and shed as green and wet as possible.
We have a sprinkler system fed from a bore , if the power fails we have heaps of tank water , and a fire pump to feed the sprinkler system.
Regards Rob J.

[Portland]

Jeez , we have had the heat wave and fire , now we are told to expect storms and flash flooding !.
Send 'er down Huey !.
Rob J.

[Portland]

My eastern boundary is the Fitzroy River.
Every year in early January , the locals organise a charity walk from the Fitzroy mouth along the (usually deserted) beach to the Surry at Narrawong.
I don't like the idea of a walk , but i thought I could sail it.
The forecast for Sunday has never looked good , but this morning was very offputting.
It was for 35 knot winds , and 7&1/2 METRE seas !.
Unless it changes again , I think I'll be missing that one.
Rob J.

[Portland]

We haven't seen this storm that was forecast , still windy , and good fire conditions http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-a...ents/index.htm .
The fire here yesterday was off , but then ran in to an irrigated paddock (this is dairy country). It was then just a matter of mopping up the edges.
A shearing shed was lost though.
Regards Rob J.

[skuthorp]

Blowing hard here, the occasional light shower but two bouts of heavy rain early this morning but only 3ml. Sun's out now.
I'm supposed to be working but I got subverted by the cricket.

[PeterSibley]

I spent the day down the workshop making a ladder / steep steep steps for the children to climb up to their sleeping loft .The old ladder was somewhat shoddy so I'm taking the opportunity to do it "properly" . I'm using some old growth flooded gum I pulled out of a demolition job years ago . A nice mid red with a few too many nail holes now with plugs fitted !

31C in the shed so good fun ...at least it hasn't been too hot .

[Portland]

The Grampians is alight again , not easy to put out up there. http://au.news.yahoo.com/australian-...under-control/ .
Rob J.

[rufustr]

Moreton Island is burning.

Came within 80 metres of Cowan Village where I renovated a house last year.

Started by campers.

Very difficult to put out.

A large part of the northern end of the Island could be burnt out.

I have no doubt they will protect Bulwer, but it's a bloody shame some of these idiots camp in these places.

The place will take years to recover.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1226236738595

[rufustr]

In Mawson's Footsteps.

This should be worth following.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/news/in-mawsons-footsteps/

[Portland]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/australian-...ks-off-sydney/ .They lost the boat , but did all of the right things to survive the sinking.
Rob J.

[The Bigfella]

Yeah - just watched the story on it. There's four boats missing on the dam north of Orange... Lake Burrendong, after a mini tornado. I've been on it when the wind whipped up a bit and it gets a bit nasty. Hate to be there for a mini tornado

[purri]

In Mawson's Footsteps.

This should be worth following.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/news/in-mawsons-footsteps/

The burqua babe is hot!

[The Bigfella]

All boats on Burrendong now accounted for.

[Meli]

So who smuggled Corby out? Wont she be surprised when she gets there (:blink, blink)

[Larks]

So who smuggled Corby out? Wont she be surprised when she gets there (:blink, blink)

????????????? too obscure by far.......

[Portland]

If you have time to kill , check out these boats. http://www.traeskib.dk/fartoejsliste.htm Lots of classic beauties.
Rob J.

[WX]

Sanding and epoxying cockpit locker doors, levelling lead melter, cutting slot air holes in the steel air supply pipe for under the melter, working out how to stop the 25 litre portable diesel tank from sliding around in the SS cockpit locker, making a netting storage bag for the v berth...and most important, stocking the cutlery draw.

[skuthorp]

Gary, thought you'd like to know I got 90% of my Hobart pix back, thanks for the tip.

[WX]

Gary, thought you'd like to know I got 90% of my Hobart pix back, thanks for the tip.

My pleasure Jeff, I'm glad it worked.

[Larks]

Gary, thought you'd like to know I got 90% of my Hobart pix back, thanks for the tip.

That is great to hear Jeff,well done!

[Portland]

Yes , well done Jeff !.
A beautiful days sailing , but gee , I feel tired now.
The gaff I'm handling ok , just have to play the halyards/cleats a little , so that the throat doesn't jam , or the gaff get under the topping lift.
And the blocks are sometimes swivelling too , thats not making it any easier.
But anyway , I'm managing ok.
Now for some gardening.
Maybe I'll find a quiet little spot , and have a snooze.
Rob J.

[WX]

Yes , well done Jeff !.
A beautiful days sailing , but gee , I feel tired now.
The gaff I'm handling ok , just have to play the halyards/cleats a little , so that the throat doesn't jam , or the gaff get under the topping lift.
And the blocks are sometimes swivelling too , thats not making it any easier.
But anyway , I'm managing ok.
Now for some gardening.
Maybe I'll find a quiet little spot , and have a snooze.
Rob J.

We started the day with using Tonka (the 4x4 Hilux ute) to pull out some Lantana clumps taking over the fence line. In low range 1st gear Tonka is relentless, I've already used it to pull out ornamental Plums.
Then it was work on Redwing.
We've decided to do a few hours work around the place while it's cool in the morning then I get the rest of the day in the shed...I love a woman willing to compromise.

[purri]

And now for a downer. Was at our Harbour beach yesterday. A headless eviscerated Little Penguin washed up (very fresh kill). Appears to be a juvenile female from plumage. I suspect a seal as the rib cage was irregularly cut/crushed and the abdomen ripped laterally.

[Portland]

Just watching the regional news , and they had a piece on retrofitting of older fire trucks with new shields etc , meant to hopefully save lives in a burnover .
Interestingly they used the Macedon brigade truck for the TV article.
Jeez , I can remember going to a fire in '73 at the Black Forest Saw Mill out of Woodend in the petrol engined Austin , fair dinkum , I could have outrun it (then).
I see they even have Bushmaster type vehicles just over the border in SA, now thats getting fair dinkum !.
Rob J.

[Portland]

http://www.fire-engine-photos.com/pi...number4885.asp is the SA firetruck I saw , what a ripper !.
Regards Rob J.

[PeterSibley]

A serious bit of gear !

[RFNK]

And now for a downer. Was at our Harbour beach yesterday. A headless eviscerated Little Penguin washed up (very fresh kill). Appears to be a juvenile female from plumage. I suspect a seal as the rib cage was irregularly cut/crushed and the abdomen ripped laterally.

A seal in Sydney Harbour in January?
Rick

[RFNK]

Okay, I learnt two lessons today. Firstly, when fitting a new vice into a workbench, don't epoxy it in to fill gaps and make it all look pretty unless you've checked that it actually works first. Secondly, don't buy cheap Chinese vices even if they do have nice blue Record paint. Grrr.

By the way, if anyone sees a really big jointer for sale, please let me know. 3 phase okay.
Rick

[WX]

A seal in Sydney Harbour in January?
Rick

A tiger?! In Africa?
Sorry, I couldn't help it.

[purri]

A seal in Sydney Harbour in January?
Rick

I'm being presumptive based upon the injuries.

[Portland]

Seals are a real problem here , amply fed by the slickers tossing fish scraps to them , despite the notices not to.
There are penguins here too , but I've never seen the seals bother them , they don't need to.
But there are big seals here that could do some real damage if they wanted to.
In regard to the Fire truck , Victoria , from Horsham west has/had 4x4 firetrucks with big singles too , for work in the sand.
I got to know the men that organised it all , and the companies that supplied the wheels and tyres.
I had thought of putting big singles on my Canter 4x4 camper , but at the end of the day , it just wasn't worth it.
I was already running 8.25 x16 tyres , and they were new.
That bushmaster is an expensive bit of gear , but I bet they have no trouble finding crew for that one !.
Rob J.

[Portland]

I see Birdsville had a warm day today , 50C !.
That 43 C we had here the other day did some damage to trees , fruit and vegetables.
But today is much cooler , trying to rain , so an opportunity to go over the fire breaks along the road , and fence line.
My hands were cramping up (armstrong steering) , but I got the job done , very pleasing.
The SA fire is no longer a threat ,after 4 days , but not out yet.
Rob J.

[Meli]

I actually got my boat on the water today.
Using Duncan's set up for the jib makes things so much easier. A few technical hitches like the tiller extention twisty bit coming untwisted half way through a jibe and jib sheets way too long. But I didn't capsize or hit anything.
Oh, and I painted her name on the back

[RFNK]

Great day here today. A blistering nor'easter, just perfect. Such a contrast to yesterday's battle with Chinese vice!
Rick

[skuthorp]

Hot and dry here today but with a chance of some showers through the week. Downy mildew weather is not what I want this time of year.

[Portland]

SA is being hammered by a storm now , its supposed to hit Vic soon http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/austral...y-to-victoria/ .
I hope we see some wet stuff down here.
Rob J.

[Portland]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/australian-...d-strong-wind/ .
We got no rain here , not enough to measure anyway.
I won't be sailing for a few days either http://www.seabreeze.com.au/graphs/vic_west.asp . Eight metre seas are a bit much .
Rob J.

[m2c1Iw]

Rob,
We were out in the gulf last night on a 55' cat when the front hit. The wind guage showed 63 knots in the gusts but it didn't seem that strong because of the slight seas. I don't recall being in that sort of breeze before the horizontal rain and zero visablilty made for an interesting few minutes.

[Portland]

I suppose the cat was scooting along too !.
I really wanted to sail from the Fitzroy to the Surry today , just to annoy the walkers , but I can hear the surf booming in , we are now getting rain squalls , and its supposed to get a lot worse , so I'm staying home.
Nothing like 63 knots though !.
Regards Rob J.