Off season activities

Photos below show Brenton Galpin's new boat Buckley's Luck, Scallywag leaving Wallaroo for her voyage to Port Pirie and at home on her mooring and Two peas in a Pod in Fisherman's Creek

Also read Brenton's account of hi trip North with Peter Major

Dazzy Bobler and Buckley’s Luck Northern Cruise

October 2011

Peter Major suggested a few days on the water for yet another 4 day cruise and suggested we head north to Port Patterson, I immediately knew I had to get some time off as this is one of our favourite ‘spots’ and in 4 days it is too rushed to enjoy the scenery, so to speak. So I arranged a weeks leave and we departed Pirie on the 4^th October.

We motored/sailed until Mangrove Point heading for Third Creek but the wind and tide were against us so we decided to anchor Pirie side of Werroona Island in a small channel that gives flotation for our 1 foot draught boats at .8 metre tide, also a good anchorage in all points of wind. Wind that night was 15 knots from SW. Slept well and woke early as we seem to do when on the water for some reason, no need for alarm clocks as 5:30 seems to be the time the seabirds give you a call.

Wednesday morning saw the wind from the north at around 10 knots and the tide to cross Ward Spit (eastern end) was around 10:00 am and as north was the general direction we had to sail the distance was doubled due to having to tack into the wind. So an early departure from the anchorage was taken. A good sail was had and we crossed Ward Spit shallows with plenty under us. Once across we anchored and had a light lunch while we wet some bait. Then we head across the gulf to Fitzsgerald Bay, a great sail with just a starboard tack but we were pinching somewhat. We anchored in the far western corner in very shallow water over sand and we wet some more bait while we cooked tea.

Thursday, woke early again and after breakfast we motored off anchorage and set sail while motoring after about a mile with a 10 knot SW breeze picking up. We had a slow run up the gulf to Chinamans Creek with no interest shown in the lures we dragged behind us all the way. We averaged 3.5 knots and again Dazzy Bobler showed me the way (slippery little bugger). Once anchored we rafted up and I cooked a curry sausage pasta that Peter and I enjoyed over some great conversation (we solve the problems of the world on these trips). Wet the bait once again!

Chinamans Creek is a great achorage in any weather and good holding, the bird life is wonderful with many migratory birds nesting in the mangroves from September to February, mainly from New Zealand and South Africa but some travel from the northern hemisphere as well.

Friday mornings breakfast was the remaining pasta that Peter didn’t eat, on toast, then motored out of the creek (south west into a SW wind) until I got into deep water, about a 4 nautical mile journey against the tide. Peter however, being the miserly old sea salt, sailed over the flats in a NE direction and saved himself a few litres of petrol. He didn’t get under 4 feet on his sounder and I could have saved the fuel I used if I had his confidence, but he always has to have the upper hand and rub the proverbial soap into my wounds when his diversions see me with a red face.

We had a great sail up the gulf detouring through the Little Flinders Channel to the wonderful Port Patterson. Again we dragged the snook lures and its starting to look like a good idea that we packed some fresh food before we left Pirie.

We sailed right into the Port Patterson anchorage, normally we have to motor through the mouth but there was good water all the way. We ‘wet some bait’ until the tide turned then we beached the boats and walked inland for about a mile and we walked amongst mangroves all the way. The tide must get massive (and does) up this end of the gulf, we were many metres above the boats but mangroves and some small flowering sea shrubs is all we saw. There were also some black sea birds with white markings on their cheeks with yellow and red bills that I havn’t seen before and a beautiful song they sang, I heard it all the while in Patterson and never tired of it. That night we once again ‘wet some bait’. Oh, by the way, did I mention the slippery little bugger reached the entrance half an hour before I got there, I’m beginning to think that Cole 23’s are slow boats.

Saturday morning we woke to a nice NW/W breeze so we motored out and hoisted sails only to find that the higher the sails were hoisted the breeze equally but opposite died out. The iron sail deplored and once again the snook lures were put over the stern. The wind picked up and dropped all morning so we sailed then motored then repeated the excersise many times and enjoyed a drifting lunch outside Blanche Harbour along the way. By the way, I’m beginning to think there are no bloody fish in this gulf!

We entered Mount Gullet creek, a creek Peter found on Google Earth, and it’s my second favourite anchorage in Spencer Gulf. A deep creek with shallow water on both sides, very open to the elements but very sheltered due to the shallow water either side. It certainly would get lumpy on a high tide with a S/SW blowing but good holding in solid sand. Peter caught 4 salmon for tea, I caught a toady and a stingray so I ate the last of the fresh food that remained, sausages with onion in bread.

Sunday morning saw a sad departure from a great anchorage and the wind was fickle once again. We were heading for the northern anchorage at Ward Spit and as we got closer the wind picked up so we finished up with some good sailing conditions that saw some good boat speed. And to top it off, success, I caught 3 snook along the way. What made it all the more pleasurable was Peter only got a salmon. To beat him is most satisfying, I loved it.

We rafted up once anchored and smoked the snook for tea, so nice.

Monday morning we motored between the ‘bird lumps’ in 2.3 metre tide with nothing under 3 feet on the sounders. Had a good sail to the cross stick and once again I sailed less distance than the Farr 5 of Peters but we arrived at the same time, did I mention that I think Cole 23’s are a caravan on the water. Peter headed for Third Creek and I went into Pirie to replenish with ice and some supplies, then sailed out to Third Creek Monday afternoon with 20 knots coming from the creek I was heading!

Tuesday morning we motored out to ‘wet some bait’ for the last time then sail back to Pirie. The wind was again fickle but from the right direction and made us concentrate to get maximum boat speed. We anchored just south of the island to again ‘wet some bloody bait’ and to tidy the boats up before heading in to tie up on the yacht club pontoon.

In all we had another fantastic trip, great scenery, good anchorages, good company, interesting bird life, not good fishing (but I beat him on one day), learnt more about our wonderful little yachts and appreciated being alive again.

Brenton Galpin