Volvo Round the World Racing Yachts
After the long sail from Cape Town
Powering down wind,
Surfing across the Southern Ocean
Resting now in the calm waters of Docklands, Melbourne.
Round the world stopover Melbourne
Category: Sailing
Summer storm brewing
Summer storm brewing
On a late spring day
Summer is in the air
Heat
Humidity
The rumble of the thunder
Sounding the distant message
Of summers advance
Waning Moon – Night Sailing
Alone
at night
the sky full of the milky way
clear in the darkness
The sea black
the phosphorescence sparkling in the wake of my boat
as she cuts her way through the sea
the light autumn breeze providing her power
silence and darkness
The full moon of Easter has passed
in the last hours of darkness she arises
the waning moon
she sucks the sparkle from the sea
turning it into her own week ribbon of light
Our moods are joined as one
this my last night at sea
the waning of my adventure
dawn will bring my home port and another voyage finished
But like the waning moon
its a phase
in a little while a new cycle will begin
as with the heavens life is a series of cycles
some more spectacular than others
but cycles of the rhythm of life.
I conceived this poem sailing back from Hobart to Melbourne a few years past. It was a magnificent night and I was off Cape Shank heading west along the Victorian coast when the waning moon rose in the east behind me. The morning would see me clear The Rip and head for home.
London was calling
On the train from the midlands to London. I listened to The Clash, London Calling.
Its both a distopian and resilient view of London. It seemed fitting as a bombing in the tube had set a sombre tone.
But London is London no matter.
Despite the confrontation London open day was in full swing as was Thames week.
And it gave a little sometime for mariner like me.
These 10 Thames barges had sailed up the river.
And were using their motors against the ebb tide to hold formation still in the water. Such seamanship.
And really there is something special about the English is their way with the sea and boats.
Be it Drake’s Golden Hind
Or the uniquely English narrow boats that carried goods and produce from the midlands to London prior to rail
And now provide floating pleasure.
So I did go to London!
Tassie (Tasmania)
I’ve looked at Tassie from both sides now
from in and out
and still somehow
Its Tassie’s illusion I recall
I really don’t know Tassie at all
(will apologies to Joni Mitchell)
I’m going to Tassie again
I place I can always go back to
find something new and beautiful
In Australian smallest State
An island State, part of an island nation.
Looking out across the blue clear waters that surround Tassie.
Looking in from coastal anchorages at
At storms rolling past
At the play of the light on the rocky shoreline
Looking in to tight harbour entrances
Sitting safe in historic ports
Travelling through beautiful wilderness
And a quirkiness that is only Tassie
Next month I’m going back to Tassie again
Taking the mighty Breva down for her second trip
I hope the sun never sets on my Tasmania adventures.
