Redcliffe
Began the day with a breakfast function put on for us by the Redcliffe City Council, we were officially welcomed to Redcliffe by the Mayor, Cr Alan Boulton and the city plaque presented to the ship. The plaque shows a square rigged sailing ship - the Amity, which I believe brought the first settlers to this area, settled before Brisbane. A number of other official guests attended and were all very interested in the ship, Federal member Teresa Gambara, Local member Ray Hollis, Cr Ralph Ruiter who was instumental in arranging to get the ship here, Caboolture Mayor Joy Leisheman, who has also assisted in support of our visit here and quite a few of the other councillers. All the crew of course enjoyed the breakfast and showed the guests over the ship. Later in the morning was the first of our rescheduled day sails and thankfully just about everyone that had booked had been able to make the new times. e departed at 1030 and once clear of the breakwater (departure was much easier than arrival!) we got her under courses and topsails and stood off and on the coast. A fine sail, all the day crew most appreciative of the ship and participating fully in the handling of the vessel as we tacked a number of times. The wind was a fresh ESE'ly which made for good sailing but tricky berthing as we came in at 1330. The turn in to the berth was wider than I had planned, the breeze setting her down the leeward and we really stirred up the sand as we worked up to the berth. A happy ships complement disembarked, with one new crew member signing on immediately for the next leg to the Gold Coast. I am glad we did change the times of the sail today, the wind freshened all through the afternoon until by early evening it was blowing gale force from the SE. Cape Moreton was reporting 40 knots of breeze and we did not have much less than that, we struck the course and mizzen yards to reduce windage, ran in the sprits'l yard and doubled up all the moorings. We were heeling over in the gusts and surging around somewhat as the seas broke over the breakwater and I was a little doubtful about tomorrows sail. A short lived blow though, by the early hours of the morning it was all over and we were lying peacefully as if nothing had happened. Gary Wilson Master
Gary Wilson
Master
