Farewell Tin Dragon

Savaad spent much of the two weeks before the Ides of March on major maintenance of Tin Dragon. She has been sitting patiently on my veranda for 2 years waiting for the leak to be fixed. Savaad found much more was needed than fixing a leak. By the time Tin Dragon reached Iluka for another International Tin Canoe Regatta she was in very fine order and pretty as a picture. We even won a new award as the "most visual" with our cheery red trim and pink sail.

Our thanks as usual to Rob and Rosie for all the work they put into keeping the event going year after year. However it won't continue many more years unless there is some new blood as several of the previous owners have got a bit old and creaky to continue.

Savaad ready for race 1

One wouldn't know from the photo above that it blew around 17 knots all day, gusting 24 to 26 knots. Far too much for me to tackle so it was over to Savaad and both he and Tin Dragon were champions in that they both ended up the day totally unscathed, although I should report a few adventures during the day.

Off Savaad went and round the marks. It would be mean to mention that much of the time the other 4 tin canoes were ahead of him. Azzo won (in the sense of coming in first) all of the 4 races. Competition was fierce between Rob Crosby and his brother Steve. Merrick sailed the 5th canoe and did well. It will not surprise you to know that each of the owner builders/skippers were really experienced sailors. Sadly The Shielas didn't make it this year.

I am not quite sure which race it was, maybe the start of the last lap of race 3, and it was really gusty. You guessed it, Savaad capsized. See above. Now see the two photos below. With great effort Savaad righted Tin Dragon, bailed her out and sailed on. I should add that most of the others also capsized.

The end of a long and rather exhausting day. The start of the pack up. Tin Dragon has moved to Ian's garage in Iluka and Savaad and I are waiting to see if someone else wants to sail her next year.