Laying up for the Winter

Friday 13th October during the low water I laid Elektra’s winter moorings which are made up by, 2x 20kg Bruce anchors to 20m of 8mm chain with lines attached for stern port and starboard and 2 port and starboard bow lines which are made off to trees or bars on the creek bank. The mud is deep beside the channel. I use waders to lay the anchors, if I stick to the steams running into the creek and the main channel the ground is fairly solid. I normally carry each anchor in turn to the main channel dragging its chain pick-up buoy and line. Then set each anchor in turn in the deep mud bank beside the main channel, then pulling line and chain towards the area where Elektra is to be moored. I make off lines for her bow and attach all four lines together using a 5th line. Then when we arrive with Elektra in the creek, just picking up one buoy we will have all her lines.

In the evening after the southwest gale had veered into the northwest, I motored Elektra from her seasonal swing mooring into St Anthony beach on the evening high water. I dropped Elektra’s keg anchor on her stern as I turned her towards the shore, Vicki had stayed ashore to take her bow line and make off fast to the tree. After making off lines for and aft, I locked up Elektra and went ashore in the dinghy.

The following morning at 1000hrs we were down to Elektra with my pick-up to off load all cruising gear and anything else we thought might get in the way during winter jobs. By 1300hrs we were back home with a full pick-up to unload into the hall and sort out.

In the evening just before high water we head back to Elektra at St Anthony, launch her dinghy, I ferry Vicki out to Elektra and go back ashore to release bow line. By now Elektra is nearly floating, I climb back aboard and coil up the bow line. Back in the cockpit she has starting making her own way astern. I started the engine and pulled in her stern line and keg anchor. Once anchor is aboard Vicki turns Elektra and we head for Carne Creek. In the past we have always gone in on a 5m tide but today we were early with the tide only being about 4.5m. As we weren’t in any hurry, having gone though the narrows (tide is strong in the narrows) we slowed her down to tick over and I tried to follow the channel using the sounder. Most of the way was 0.4-0.5m but at one bend went as low as 0.2m, I think if I had gone out of the channel Elektra would have grounded but we were OK, when I picked up the buoy the sounder was reading 0.0m. Having arrived a little to fast Elektra ended up pointing in the wrong way round but we had her lines and with a little use of engine and pulling of lines we turned her around. Once all lines were aboard and made off, I thought Elektra was a little close to “Pica” the next yacht but didn’t have the lines aboard needed to change. Once happy we left Elektra by dinghy and motored back to St Anthony, pulled out dinghy, took off motor and loaded all in and on to pick-up to drive home.

After this I was busy working for 3 days before forecasted rain was set to arrive for the rest of October.

On Wednesday the 18th of October at first light and high water I launched the dinghy and took 2 lines aboard to change Elektra’s position and give “Pica” more room. Laying up here in Carne Creek Elektra will only float on high water spring tides, many other sailors say to me, that means you can got sailing in the winter. But I say not really, only on a spring tide can she be moved in or out and also only in daylight. Anyway as soon as we get a dry day we will remove her sails for the winter. I added another line to both starboard lines, which allowed me to pull Elektra to port and away from “Pica”. A few days later I attached a 3rd line at her bow during low water by running though the stream duct under the road and make off to a tree.