Year 2 – 14 April 2025 -Gladstone Marina – Guest Blog

Been a funny old day. After breakfast, I visited the Volvo shop to discuss and intermittent alarm issue. I agreed to supply and supplied the requested engine information and hope they will revert with the diagnostic details. Yesterday I had missed placed a socket set piece to work on the cars. I found a mobile snap on tool dealer and got robbed for a replacement socket only to find the missing socket within a couple of minutes of returning to Stormbird. Nevertheless, the cars rollers were replaced.

I set about a bit more boat skill training with Paul. I ran through the Genoa and Stay sail operations and the how the 2 sets of cars worked. These control the sheet angle to the sail clew. I also demonstrated the tacking and gybing procedures with Paul. And then how to raise the anchor ball and how to use the tether, its clips and how to move around the boat when underway safely. Then Paul went off to find a local dentist as he has an aggravating tooth. To spoil the day the boarding ladder broke, despite using it as Nick instructed. I can see it has already historically been repaired. Another job to resolve before Nick returns.

 Our friendly neighbour knocked and said he was off to the local marine and diy store. I joined him and brought some more fishing tackle and some more Ant Rid (Nick we seem to be rid of them now). The Marine superstores here are amazing. In chatting to our neighbour, he offered and I agreed he would show us around adjacent islands and channels in our tender. And as he was a keen fisherman with local knowledge agreed we might fish as we explored. He kindly and unexpectantly turned up at about 17.00 to look at our fishing tackle setup and showed me how to rig a suitable fishing set up to use tomorrow when we set off in the dingy at about 1130am.

Paul and I thought it would be a good idea to try out the local community BBQ facilities. Here they provide free BBQ and seating areas. You simply turn up and use them. See photo of the day. Matt our neighbour knocked up a salad and joined us. It was a lovely evening.

 This afternoon and this evening the wind seems to have calmed. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

David & Paul