Living Contentedly

Discussing arrangements for viewing my (hopefully) new NIS18 sharpie sailboat, I tentatively asked the seller if I could boat camp on the lake tomorrow night. I was checking if there were any regulations prohibiting overnighting, he was a bit taken aback by the prospect. The upshot was that I could and as I realised this my heart skipped a beat with anticipation. The regulations were for outboard motors, he suggested I tie alongside the yacht club wharf, I saw myself lazing at anchor on a quiet cove by a treelined park.  It has been so long since I had a boat handy enough for  camping on. All my recent boats have been too pokey, not sheltered enough, too much of a liability or too far from home, you get the idea. But a night of simple pleasure will be an ideal way to get the feel of my new boat.   The prospect of lazing in the cockpit sipping coffee &  watching people in our nation's capital hustling to work, tickles my fancy. I mean its no Lake ...

Well, this boat! Yes, but this photo could bec10 years!_I wonder what condition is she in today? What I do know :- *Built in 2009 by Robert Ayliffe, boatbuilder.  * Described as "very well built, above other home builds". * First ketch rigged NIS18 - plans for this rig change were made in collaboration with US designer Bruce Kirby. * Mizzen "does clutter the cockpit". * Sailed & regularly raced so "rigging ... and boat are well sorted". * "Professionally made" cushions & trailer. *Centreboard "winch intrudes cockpit". * Serviced outboard & trailer.  I don't want to see : * Mould, mildew & filth on the boat, esp decks. * Waterlogged deck, lockers.  * Sails faded in poor repair. * Rust on trailer, fittings * Flaking paint, hull or deck repairs. Good Vibes : * The owner John had her since new.  * She has featured in magazines & socials some time ago, but remains well regarded by third parties. * Seller J...

After changing spark plugs and fuel filter, there is no appreciable improvement in performance. a new fuel pump is ordered, the old one removed is clearly shorter and thicker than the one purchased. Grrr. I take it to Maitland bike shop where the mechanic announces it fit for use after the briefest test. He goes on to describe how modern fuels, if left static in the engine for three weeks or longer, will congeal or make condensation. He recommends bypassing the pump (operating pressure is only 6lb), draining carbs and checking fuel cock. I think these are easy fixes.  not a Honda. Imagine this will sidecar! 

Many years ago I followed an interest in the works of c g Jung and i went to places few do. On this journey, quest for knowledge, I came across krishnamurti.  K having been selected as a child to lead a certain religious movement, later shunned worship and all forms of religious and political dogma. He instead urged people to pursue self realisation via self exploration and proper thought. He often captures an amount of knowledge in one sentence that exceeds what many people will witness in their entire life.  At present I am revisiting K, through his lectures On Fear .  I understand that fear is the single most drive within us that leads to poor mental health; hatred, jealousy and aggression. That as individuals we accumulate memories that cause feelings of fear that go unexamined, but that by stripping these away and learning to live with fear we can be happy and healthy.  Two incidents on recent days have me reflecting on the truth here. The first is a tragic sho...

"When there is full attention there is no fear. ...inattention breeds fear, fear arises when there is an avoidance of fact, a flight; then the very escape itself is fear".                           J. Krishnamurti Much of my early life was spent playing hard, so that by the time I reached Maximum Testerone I was surfing big waves, sailing the ocean, working  underground, riding fast motorcycles, drinking to excess and sometimes driving home and having sex. Perhaps the sexy thing was not so risky. I realise all this is de rigueur or it was in the eighties, but I've long been aware of the Scared Little Me that sits inside and tries to avoid being hurt.  The person that impacted me above.and beyond lecturers and professors at university was a young student, Nanette. Nanette, was an undergraduate studying visual arts and psychology. She studied Psych101 because she wanted to be an Art Therapist, but her superpower wa...

Powerpoints: no power from the outlet by the Smoking Room, only one of two has power on The Lounge.  I buy two fittings from the Chain Hardware store, wrapped in plastic I can't assess the rear face.  The replacement has a quite different wall profile, larger, so that when cut, the user cannot return to the mainstream PowerPoint supplier.  The new outlet does not work, because the fault lies upstream.  Used headlight: I attended the breakers to collect and overhear the woman telling a Subaru owner  there no headlights available ... hot potatoes etc.  The replacement is in very good condition, but its too late and rainy to fit this evening. I receive an RMS email; one of my motorcycles is unregistered as of midnight. It was Joe's Himmy, and he quickly gets it checked. I then get the payments made and it's passed in record time! I later compile the rego forms in order of expiry dates.   

All my life I've hated advertising. At TAFE I queried the morality of a psychology teacher working to develop advertising tactics; she didn't see my issue.  Lately, I've made a breakthrough by realising one of the main tactics is to be as annoying as possible to insert  a Brain Worm into viewers' heads.  For example: . Lotto: fat man with.s weirdaigh. Bupa: lady in odd floppy hat leading a cycle race.  KFC, a lot of Ppl cuddling eating  Powerball: man with handlebar moustache, pulling faces, exaggerated accent. If you don't get it answer this; how many times a day have you seen any of these?   

If there's one reason I'm a trailer sailor dude it would have to be gardening. Ive just spent an hour trimming back a white mulberry, chatoot. This has opened the canopy of the garden up for the winter and given the goats a good feed.  It has been a while since I've regularly gardened, but its there everyday for me to see, touch, smell and vibe with, right by my kitchen's door. A large window in the new gentleman's lounge is flooded with green light.  Large leaves in dappled sun are nourishing for my soul. I love being near the garden. Yes, of course the sea is beautiful and vast and rewarding for sailors, but I could not go too long without being grounded in the garden.  Perhaps when I do sail wide I can visit not gardens or pockets of rainforest? I already intend to visit old churches when I sail. Not the red brick churches of the post war era, the older ones, made from cool sandstone, fretting away in damp corners and covered in mosses. The ones where stainglass ...

19th April 2025: Prior to doubling Bass Strait in his self-built NIS23, Robert Ayliffe undertook necessary preparations. Robert is the agent for Bruce Kirby's Norwalk Islands Sharpie plans and kits, and had made several boats. His study of the design and build has brought him into regular contact with Bruce Kirby (dec) including various trips to America. So Robert's "the man" if you want to learn about Sharpies.  So I spoke to Robert today and here's what he told me:  * There are no structural needed NN:- Robert built  Clancy. * The masts on Clancy are the same as those on  Charlie Fisher . * Centreboard and rudder are also the same. * I will need to ensure all rumming rigging is led back to the cockpit to limit visits to the foredeck. charlie fisher nis23 Some Advice on Sailing the Sharpie: * A Tiller Tamer, or simple bungee system was used to steady the tiller and she sailed herself with wind forward of the beam.  *"Selfsteering when going dow...

My need to cease my brain from spinning in a mad world, sent me back to read the sailing masters.  Like many of his contemporaries, Hal Roth has that special blend of calmness born from miles & years of ocean sailing.  In "How to Sail Around The World" his first boat Whisper is discussed. Bought in 1960's when GRP was an inlnown, she had a full keel & narrow beam. Hal & wife extended the cabin, to reduce cockpit volume & grow space below & sailed her for tens of thousands of miles.  Hal reckons rhis boat is similar to a,handful of 35' US made production yachts of the era. In Australia, one boat slightly smaller is the Clansman 30, long a sweetheart of mine.  ref:sailboatdata

Even though it rained a lot yesterday, and was blustery from the east (NZ is copping cyclonic conditions just now), I feel like I got a lot done. Moved on the new mooring and arranged a price for the tackle, ordered car parts to do a proper job on my Subaru (it hit a large kangaroo coming back from Stray Dog Boatworks, South Australia), as well as a range of farm chores, but today feels sludgy by comparison.  With no news, except for one car part being available and given the wet weather, I will have to leave the car part pickup & cash drop for the mooring (by motorcycle), till tomorrow. Or suck it up, dress for the weather and get it done, mmm.  Its funny Googling NIS18 and seeing images of my future boat plastered everywhere. 

17/4/2026: This is where I hope to moor my new boat!  Yes I know, so many failed " nearly bought a boat " experiences lately, and I havent even seen my next boat,...  But im just goibg full on positive and trust she's in good condition (and floats).  Well anyway, allocation of a  mooring site at Taylors Beach  is what I've been waiting for over three years. Yee ha; a gold sand beach, good weather protection,  a nearby ramp, wharf, toilet and shower block and even a hardware store under 2k away.  From here the Tasman Sea is two hour's downwind sail, so getting out to sea would mean an early start or even the evening before. But whilr im getting to know Clancy there are dozens of private anchorages, good sailing, swimming and fishing and the attached river and lake systems could swallow up many months of shanty boating. But first there are a few loose ends to tie up before its in the bag.   ........................................

After wintering on Fire Island in 1882, with great physical hardship, self  provisioning with local game  & participating con various sea rescues, the hardened author writes: "Love of the sea & boats was no less strong, but respect for the strength of the sea in its dark moods drove out any lingering trace of "yachtish" or amateurish notions about boats ... " from The Commodore's Story by Ralph Middleton Munroe.  I'm guessing that one of my great regrets is never having familiarised myself with fisherman's shacks & boatsheds huddled together along the various shores during my earlier years. They've mostly disappeared now, government authorities, whether conservation of development have seem to that. Mostly the inhabitants were a hangover from the Depression or postwar era. Technically they were squatters I suppose, & with them the remotest foreshores became more sterile & alien, whether overlaiden with millionaires rows or nation...

Photo is not Clancy, drawing below shows ketch rig. * photos of building, and possible handover ceremony from professional builder Robert Ayliffe of Straydog  Boatworks to the current  owner John of Canberra in 2009. * An 1880 report by the U.S. Census Bureau characterized the sharpie as "so good a fishing boat and so fast a yacht that it has been adopted in a great many other localities throughout the United States * Clancy  is the first ever ketch rigged NIS18 in Australia, has attended several wooden boat festivals, raced successfully at the large Marlay Point overnight fixture and locally on Lake Burley Griffin where she has also cruised. 

Ten lessons fron paddling the onside passage by Susan Marie Conrad. My comments follow.  Lesson #1 : The sea will teach you patience . Yep, I suppose in a large luxury vessel less so but on little boat on a big water it takes time. No willing it over will help, just work away at the miles.  Lesson #2 : There are no mistakes, only lessons . A positive spin in some ways, but really if a thing works out poorly you learn from it and do better next time.  Lesson #3 : Acceptance and trust. If the sea throws up a bit of weather, a challenge, don't wish it away, take it head on and trust its "my lot". Lesson #4 : There is no better “there” than my “here . There's no use ruminating about an imaginary better place, you're here not there. Lesson #5 : Focus on one day at a time.  Some sailors, when crossing entire oceans, set smaller goals; one thousand miles, one quarter of the way there. Lesson #6 : The best lessons are learned in solitude . I'm a solo guy, whether it...

After changing his name from Abram to Abraham the Lord told the 99 year old that he would sire whole nations and never die.  Later as the people listened to Jesus proclaiming eternal life for his flowers the following happened. In response to  the people accusing him of self praise, Jesus denied this saying he did not " glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad .” So in deflecting criticisms of self praise, Jesus asserted that it was the Great Almighty that sang his praises. You don't know him, but I do and he's forever going on about my greatness. That's my take on it, some say the bible should not be taken literally, but this to me sounds like mental illness or extreme egotism...

.been here before, I owned one as my first boat. Princess 18 . Twin lifting keel Built in buoyancy GRP production Australian Design Award Roomy and open below Responsive under sail Shoal draft Trailable, small car only, easy launch.  Influences for Project Yrvind ; re-rig with 3xwindsurfer masts or Storer drop in rig x  balanced lug sails (balanced, ease of handling),  reduce deck openings for waterproof ocean sailing,  buoyancy.  Shanty:  gunkholer, portable, cheapness lends itself to easy modifications & hard use, GRP durability.  Drop in Sailing Rig by Storer cheep, cheep 

Popping slugs on my Forester, with great success. Would like to have her boxed up for lunch including a ride into town to buy new slugs.  Then its, check the trailer time, load up for Peak Hill tomorrow. Cannot wait to hear and feel how good the little oiler runs with fresh lube.  Looking forward to seeing my daughter too :) 11:00hrs. I have the new bumper mostly fitted. Not to town for new slugs and a clip bracket that got lost in the collision. The nidge bar needs three arms, Joe celebrated hard last night, so it may not be fitted today :)  I challenge  anyone that says cars are like Meccano. They're more like origami fastened with paperclips! Good together, but once the shell is fractured, useless.

A little while ago, may be 48 hrs or so, a boat selling agent (Robert) called and backed up with an email, trying to sellan 18' sailboat. As happens a boat that he built.  But really I know little about the design, I'm learning, but its not  a design I've ever known.  And frankly its not a pretty boat, but it ticks boxes; small, seaworthy, trailable, shoalwater capable and can selfsteer a good deal of the time. And, another truth is I can't see the value, it could easily be $10-$15k cheaper.  Then I reflect on it being sea capable, of sailing through Asia ... may be beyond.  On hard news, my 22yo son Joe has been offered two jobs this week. He has not worked before, except with me, and they are both in his favored field of work, fire fighting, rescue and mitigation. I think seeing hom arching of to work will help my soul soar. . Today, I worked on my "new" car. I changed the engine oil, she sounds brilliant. I also changed the fender that was damag...

"Help us to be present for those who are hurting, even when we feel helpless." "May I be like Simon of Cyrene, walking beside those in need, sharing their burdens, and bringing them strength ." Two passages from today's mass. Simon was dragooned into helping Jesus carry the cross upon which he was crucified. The sermon asks us to be that support for others and to identify the "Simons" in our life.  The initial passage is helpful too guide me in supporting my daughter who entered a difficult period in her life some weeks ago. As a caring parent I struggled to find a way.to remove her pain, the passage suggests that being present and supportive is sufficient. Amen.  This passage probably helps to reset my family's tendency to go all in to "help" others. We'll be actively stressing our big hypertensive hearts to cook, clean and clearup. Sure this gives the burdened person a rest, but also takes their agency away. It would be better to, ...

A Robinson Crusoe moment followed, when to our complete surprise a very fit woman made her way down the cliff to our boat. Kate Johnstone introduced herself as one of two volunteer caretakers of the island, the other her partner, Damian Hope, and made us welcome, inviting us to a barbecue on the beach that evening. Thrilled at this turn of events, and happy that the boat was secure I went exploring along the coast, while lan explored inland. I experienced the interaction with the local wild life that Flinders reported, on first landing on Kangaroo Island. Bennetts Wallabies were so unused to predators that I could just walk up to them. lan: 'We received a forecast, from Sea Rescue Tamar for the following day of 10-15 kts east winds rising to 15kts to 20kts in the afternoon.' BrinWarrick. the volunteer at Sea Rescue Tamar was one of the angel's wings over us on our voyage, and we really respect the network of volunteers in this organisation and others such as Volunteer Coast...

By comparison the very buoyant, lightweight Sharpie is not pitching and she is dry, just sailing easily over and on top of the water's surface. Her appendages below the surface are minimal, which means the turning effect of breaking water is reduced. In addition, with her theoretical 143° self-righting, her flared sides and the ability to withdraw rudder and centreboard, she will simply slide sideways in a breaking swell, should she get caught that wway. We had deliberately tested the theory at sea in the big blow coming down the coast; we could have put the kettle on! I was pleased to get to the lee of the top end of Freycinet Peninsula, at the entrance to the woodchip export and fishing port of Triabunna before darkness set in. I motored the last mile or so up the winding channel that leads to the town dock. Was delighted to see Doug and Sandra Williams on their boat Freycinet 2 already tied up and asked permission to raft up alongside. Doug and Sandra greeted me warmly, and aske...

FOUR hundred miles of what we now knew to be unpredictable open water, waited for us. This time, I had to do the Tasmanian east coast section, Hohart, Dunalley Canal. Marion Bar, Wine Glass Bay and the bar at St Helen's, on the top northeast corner solo because lan had other commitments in Tasmania till then. So, solo it was. I admit to some trepidation, sailing away from the comfort and kindnesses I had experienced as a guest of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. But my little ship felt good, with the clear Tasmanian water once more moving under her as we cleared the Royal Yacht Club Of Tasmania. I reflected on the wealth of the time and place that we are fortunate enough to inhabit, that makes such vanity possible. It is without precedent in the sweep of human history. It matters to know, in the middle of tilings, that we are so lucky. The cabin and cockpit lockers had been fully aired and cleaned from end to end, and all the provisions, charts and navigation equipment had been ch...

A big swell lifted us and we knew this was special. lan had said it's okay if you don't look back. Fifteen, 15,15.5 15 holy moley, 17.5 17.5: how are you handling this?! No problem, but I admit to trepidation, for the first and really only time on our voyage. We were to see 17.5 several more times, as we surged down that coast. Seventeen and a half is very fast, I have never seen such speeds in my little boat, in fact never in my sailing experience. I don't really know what the strains are and this is all new. Where will it end? We are 15 miles or so off shore. Helicopter, from here? Don't think so. Water. Cold, too. Someone said 40 minutes max. Then you go to sleep. It's called hypothermia. Not nice, I think. Imagination runs. Does the bow panel open up? Masts snap off? Are the pintle bolts strong enough? After about an hour of this glorious mayhem, lan stuck his head out. 'Never thought I'd hear myself saying this. This little boat is very competent!' ...

lan is a very experienced navigator, both in the two dimensions of sea and the third dimension as an experienced pilot of light aircraft. In addition he has since childhood been sailing on Bass Strait, albeit in much larger keel boats. This last experience has been invaluable, both in the careful planning and preparation that went on before this adventure and during it. I am only now starting to realise how much I have leamt from him. I picked lan up from Tullamarine and we trailed Charlie Fisher down to Port welshpool, to wait on a window of weather. We stayed at the Port Welshpool Caravan Park, using Charlie as our caravan. The park's owner Guss Kok was very generous to us, letting lan use his computer for forecasting, and also letting us leave the Nissan Patrol and trailer in his yard at no cost while at sea. His park is also very conveniently placed to the wharf area and town facilities, It quickly became obvious to me that the forecasting in this region was, in spite of all th...

by ROBERT AYLIFFE with IAN PHILLIPS THE Bruce Kirby designed Norwalk Islands Sharpies 23, Charlie Fisher has the seakeeping antecedents, and over the past 18 years, actual experience of open -water passage making in blows of up to 60kts+. No one should even consider attempting this passage without such experience and careful preparation. The dangerous, unpredictable reputation of this region was confirmed by our recent experiences. It has been the best sailing experience of my life, and stunning vindication of a Bruce Kirby's modern interpretation of an already legendary historical type. The working Sharpie of Long Island Sound. Sounds simple enough. Put the boat in the water at Port Welshpool, sail south south east along the string of islands that span the 200+ miles of strait, turn east around Flinders Island, catching the flow into Banks Strait and then south round Eddystone light and down the last 100 miles to Schouten Island, negotiating Marion Bar, running the tide in Dunalle...