The weather forecast said light North Westerlies, but in Manly Cove, it forgot to do more than waft around at about 2 knots, every so often rising to 4. So sailing was a hard slog, but paddling was generally the go. Once out past the ferry lane, though, the wind picked up and it was possible to move our sailors around a little.
Our wonderful team of volunteers arrived quite early to put the boats out, with the guidance of David W, Helen, Lyn, David W and David G, Amin, Jim Q, Juliette, Jim G, Denis, John W, Jay, Josh, Cathy, Peter, Crosbie, Kevin managed to get all the boats out, rigged and on the water before our first participants arrived, which was excellent management, because once they started, they just kept coming.
Megan arrived with her album of photos from Mexico, with her playing around with the dolphins, and went for a very slow paddle.
Peter and Juliette rowed over to Charlie’s Chariot to start the Support System, and we were ready to go. Our excellent Pontoon Manager, Kevin, needed to be on his toes to direct traffic, with 7 303’s exchanging every 30 minutes or so, and Philip’s 2.3 waiting for a moment when the pontoon was clearer.
Sailors (or paddlers as the case may be, and was) were Ivan, Jim G, Michael, Josh, Cathy, David W, Crosbie, John W, until a changeover later on, when Helene, and David G took over. Jackie came down in spite of her terrible cough to help on the deck and pontoon, and between us, the morning just slid by.
A brand new sailor and Duke of Edinburgh student came down with his Mum. Patrick is going to learn to sail in a 303 so that he can end up solo in one of the 2.3’s. He is very keen to try new things. Laura and Kali, whose Nana won a sailing prize at a function a few months ago had a lot of fun on the water, and experiencing the Sailability atmosphere. Laura is quite keen to come down as a volunteer sometime in future. Laurie arrived for his sail, having caught the bus from Chatswood. This is a big step towards independence for him. He was the first participant to arrive, and the last to leave, having been on Charlie’s Chariot as well as having a sail, and chatting to people on the deck, so it was a good day for him. Next to arrive were our Washington House team….Anna, Ashley and Kerrie, then Ollie with his Mum.
Our Rap’n’Rave group arrived next with the smiling Danyelle in the lead, and Shaun, Jordan, Bart, Rodney and Mark following. Catherine arrived with Daniel, then our team of BIRDS with Gaynor: May, Stuart, Brad, Robert, Roger, Steve. They all had a nice chat up on the deck while waiting for the boats to come back.
Philip arrived with his Mum, then Luca, Vanessa and Matt.
For inveterate counters, it was 50 people on the water today, with about 10 carers, cooks, Mums and Dads, making it a very busy day, with the work made light by the number of hands that were available to help. Highlights of the morning were Patrick learning to use the joystick driving the boat in the right direction, Kevin diving in to help Michael whose boat had drifted into the mooring ropes, Rodney’s smiling face in the dinghy before he was allowed to go on Charlie’s Chariot. All agreed that it was an extremely successful morning.
