New Year's Day, Clareville Beach

My day began with attending online rosary and mass, as it has for some weeks. After exercise I found two YouTube videos from my "Subscribed" list. Surprisingly, the bicycle touring video offered more than a sailing video. 

The Sailing Brothers posted a video of them and a local expert fitting lithium batteries. This was manna from heaven or from a Generous Benefactor, or something. So, the Brothers cheerfully talked about wiring in the batteries and, under guidance, seemed to fall into doing a very professional job. At the close of the video the Brothers excitedly said something about another Anonymous/Mysterious Benefactor who had opened up the possibility of the boat having Starlink. Up until now the Brothers had portrayed themselves as simple Welshmen stumbling their route cheerfully across the world. But now they are raised to cutting edge sailors as far as; navigation, communication, and the ability to post live video from anywhere in the world. I am perplexed as to the magical appearance of two Wealthy Benefactors providing this level of support for two apparently humble fellows. Confused at the sight of two cottage dwellers being elevated to waterfront condominium status I Commented that it was enough to make me return to "yuloh and kerosene lanterns". I wish them well, but no longer are they on the class of bumbling amateurs under sail. 

The second video exuded humility. Susanna Thornton riding her wee folding bicycle, isong ass transport to bridge open waters, rides from London to Sweden or northern Scandinavia. She takes wrong turns and encounters unseasonal headwinds that delay her progress, but along the way she enjoys the offerings of small bakeries, her coffee thermos and beautiful wild camps. She discloses that this trip, planned for the previous year, had been delayed due to cancer treatments. But now, she enjoys being out cycling. A very different attitude.

So, I drove to Clareville Beach. Highlights were the notorious Pittwater Popple and blocked cockpit drains which took me swimming to clear shell blockage under Sprat's stern quarters. Thankfully, the Sydney Beast was resting, whether due to hangovers or mizzly weather, so the day was peaceful and very enjoyable. 

mainsail slugs were measured to complete the storm trisail build.