Nearly Midnight

[antscan]

Nearly Midnight

Lake Macquarie



Thanks,

Anthony

[Mystique R333]

This Forum hosting solution doesn't have the capacity to load photos, but you can link to any web published photo by using the internet address of that photo.

I use Picasa Web Albums for placing photos and you can either open your own free account or send to me and I'll post for you. picasaweb.google.com/Holland25Yacht

Once a photo is safely published, it is then easy to link to it as most sites provide a link to that photo for you to cut and past the address into the forum.

Best of luck. Colin

[2359]

Hi Antscan,

You may be interested in the history of 2359.
I owned the boat from 1988 until 2002. Originally, it was registered as CIRCUS, being owned by a Mr Barnum, then MD of Time Magazine Australia. He kept the name and I had to choose a new one. Well, I had worked in the States with an african american who was so black, his nickname was 2359. Givwen the sail number - no brainer!

The boat was in reasonable condition when I bought it, complete with original Volvo engine and folding prop. On Australia day 1988, the boat being somewhat overloaded (!). the folding prop failed to open, both hands opening on one side! This caused severe vibration that ripped the original shaft bracket (stainless steel "T-piece" bolted to hull) and caused a severe inflow of Sydney Harbour! Luckily, I had installed a radio (GME cheapie) and called the Water police who arrived after a frantic 20 minutes baiuling with buckets! They towed us to a boatshed (can't remember which) just to the west of the harbour bridge and to the east of HMAS Waterhen.

Two weeks later, I had arranged for a new engine to be fitted by the "diesel expert" (Richard?) at Coal Point on Lake Macquarie - can't remember his name but he did a superb job.
Needless to say, the guy who I had paid to inspect the boat before purchase didn't want to know - I ended up suing and getting the cost of anew propellor, shaft and bracket - but not the engine!

Anyway, the sail up to Lake M was fun - the first attempt was windless. From Woodford Bay (entrace to Lane Cove River) on a Friday Evening to Sunday Morning - managed to (nearly!) reach Syndey Harbour Horth Head - remember no motor! The next weekend, I was on my own and t was blowing well from the DSouth. I had arranged to meet Richard on the seaward side of Lake Macquarie Bridge for the midday opening. I was tehre so quickly, I made the 0830h opening and sailed on through (no motor - I found out afterwards that this was not permitted!).
All went well and to schedule with the repair and I sailed back to Syd Harbour about two weeks later - however. alone and into a 25 - 30 knot southerly!
After that episode - we had many happy years cruising and racing both in and out of the harbour - the furthest was a race to Batemans bay - or maybe up to Bird Island I can't recall.

I lived in Newport and raced someone else boat most opf the time. I moored 2359 in wooodford Bay (Lane Cove River) and raced with teyhh Greenwich sailing Club and (by invitation of the former owner) with RSYS. I found the boat to be really responsive and could (usually) beat a J245 upwind - but not on a broad reach or downwind. We had many successes with races in both Sydney Harbour and Pitthingyer.

The only reason I sold the boat was that I moved to Victoria and semi-retired to a farm.
I later moved overseas and now have reverted to youth - I sail a 505! At my age, it is stupid but a lot of fun!

I still have the prop shaft bracket and (ex) folding propellor - polished and mounted - on display.

Sorry I don't have any photos immediately available - bt when I find them, I will post one or two

Best Reagrds

John

[sandra]

okay that is also a good description form......nearly midnight



sandra,
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