The Boat

I know it looks like it's a long way from the water, but this is the new (to me) boat rigged for the first time, largely, I have to admit, due to the assistance of a passerby called Trent who certainly knew a lot more than I could work out from the instructions. I got the boat already half-rigged, and now I can see that some of what's there is a bit creative. That appears to be the nature of boats, on my limited experience to date - a lot of improvisation, so long as they go.

I'm not actually planning to race it, so it probably won't matter. My current ambition is to sail it across Botany Bay and back. This is, despite its apparent modesty, NOT happening any time soon.

I don't have a picture of me sailing it, because I'm not actually confident enough to take the camera out in it yet (I'm pretty sure I can turn it upside down without thinking too hard), but Jakub (my sailing teacher and former language student) helped me take it out on its maiden voyage.

Sailing people are pretty friendly - this is near the Dobroyd Sailing Club on Rodd Point in Iron Cove - and about five people stopped to ask what it was, and another couple stopped to say they'd sailed them in the dim and distant past. Plus, of course, Trent. The Club has given me a list of times when their safety boat is out, and invited me to take comfort from its presence. I will.