IRC/ORCi stability, weighing and measure

RW has been in Newcastle Yacht Club marina for the week so she could be measured and weighed for IRC and ORCi. John the measurer fronted early on the 24th armed with his tools of the trade. No laptop or high tech gear as the forecast was for rain so he used his tried and trusted manual manometer for the stability test. The test involves inclining the yacht one degree by placing water weights at the end of two spinnaker poles rigged athwartships at amidships. Even the specific gravity of the marina was tested to ensure the salinity was normal. Reason being if the basin has a low salinity due to a lot of rain, then my freeboard would be lower thereby impacting on the data set used to calculate the hull stability index.

After the stability test, the hull and rigging where measured. Daz dropped in around midday so we could get all the lifting slings in place ready for the crane lift at 1230h............we were ready, damn 80T crane was late and then there was a lot of faffing about getting the crane rig setup. A second truck arrived with more weights and I could see the zeros getting tacked onto the bill. Not exactly an organised crew. Once I was happy the crane block wasn't going to take out my masthead gear we lifted in no time flat. John took a few shaft and prop measurements and then back in the water. We now needed to weigh all the lifting gear and deduct that from the total lifted weight......and the final figure was 6253kg for ORCi and 6201 kg for IRC (TBC).

The sail back today was a blast....I mean a BLAST....and most of it was a beam or broad reach. Daz joined me as crew for some extreme sailing as he wanted some offshore footage.....well RW certainly delivered!

We departed NCYC around 0800h with double reefed main and a rag of headsail up until 28-30 knots. RW was overpowered and would round up every now and then so the headsail was quickly dispatched. Really could have used my storm sails today as it was a great day for both the jib and trisail.  The main with double reef (only has 2) was flat as a breadboard. The seas were very short and confused which made for challenging sailing. We surfed along at max speeds in the 10-11s and averaged 7-8 knots. We were a tad over-canvassed on the main so the boom spent all its time sheeted out until just clear of the shrouds. Rounding Port Stephens light at 1200h I knew we would have a difficult slog up the bay. The wind funnelling down the valley hits Tomaree Head and does all sorts of weird things. The surf was up and flowing out of the bay......sort of like a reverse bar entry! Sure enough the wind had whipped up a good 2m swell inside the bay so we made for the protection of Nelson Bay Marina and slotted RW into a berth for the night. Always a worrying time when the wind is howling over 30 knots as you enter a marina filled with million dollar plastics boats! By 1400 h we were safely tied up and drying out. What a great day......no injuries or breakages!