On the water with

By Shelley Wright

No matter how many years you have been sailing, there is always something to learn and skills to hone. On a blustery Thursday in March, eight WWSA members joined RYA instructor Annette Hesselmans aboard her beautiful Najad 490, Fika, on the stunning waterway of Port Stephens for a day of learning, fun, and friendship.

The morning began at Soldiers Point Marina, getting to know each other and catching up with old friends over home-made cake and coffee in Fika’s elegant saloon as the wind whistled through the rigging outside. The sun was shining though, and after coffee we spent time on deck practising knots, discussing reefing and preventers, and lassoing the dock cleats, before dropping the lines and heading out past Boondabah Island for a few hours of gybing and tacking practice in the fresh westerly wind.

Lunch was spent at anchor in the shelter of Wanda Head before we set off east again gybing our way towards the heads and each having a turn helming.

The wind eased and white caps disappeared as the shadows lengthened and we tacked west, back up the bay towards the marina again. All agreed it was an excellent day with a calm, experienced, and knowledgeable instructor.

If you’d like to find out more about Annette’s courses (including women’s sail training) go to www.papersailorsrock.com.au for more detail.