A day at the river

I've been feeling a bit apologetic for all the social news on our blog for the past month, so I thought I'd revisit our old sailing club to represent our nautical theme.

Club house

Megan and I first started racing at Richmond River Sailing Club at Ballina, Northern NSW. This is a small but active club racing every Sunday on the river, where it enters the sea through a particularly difficult bar. So, current and tides and moving sand-bars create an interesting racing area.

Skiff fleet

The club has an active skiff fleet, a number of beach cats and a growing trailer sailer fleet. Tony, Ayla's new husband has just bought an older 16 square Nacra, a single hander, single sail and wire cat. This was the boat I was lucky enough to get to sail. It bought back many memories of Megan and I racing our 5.8m Nacra at the club.

Tony's 16 square Nacra

The river's estuarine environment is endlessly fascinating, there is so much bird and sea life around. 

A sandpiper

... about to dive for a fish

I particularly love the pelicans, who operate like bomber command on the river.

Close quarters fly-by

" Bomber to landing control ...

... requesting approach 

... taxying back to base ".

But the main attraction was the fast and furious racing by the small fleets on the river.

A 16 square flying a hull

Two on the wire of a racing F 15

Bombers patrolling the racing fleet

Light wind tactics

Battle of the kites

The narrow mouth of the river allowed some close-up shots to be taken from the shore.

A Tornado under full canvas

Somewhat more sedate craft

Tony on the wire

Making for the finish gate

Close quarter battles

This locale reminds me how blessed we are in Australia with natural beauty. People, sailing craft and wildlife all harmoniously sharing a wonderful natural resource.

A ubiquitous seagull

Priceless beauty