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Reflection 7

There, sailing the sea, we play every part of life: control, direction, effort, fate; and there can we test ourselves and know our state. All that which concerns the sea is profound and final. The sea provides visions, darknesses, revelations. The sea puts ever before us those twin faces of reality: greatness and certitude; greatness stretched almost to the edge of infinity (greatness in extent, greatness in changes not to be numbered),  and the certitude of a level remaining for ever and standing upon the deeps. The sea has taken me to itself whenever I sought it and has given me relief from men. It has rendered remote the cares and the wastes of land; for of all creatures that move and breathe upon the earth we of mankind are the fullest of sorrow. But the sea shall comfort us, and perpetually show us new things and assure us. It is the common sacrament of the world. May it be to others what it has been to me.

Hillaire Belloc: from The Cruise of the Nona

The Chanty of the Nona

I spotted this tiny book in a Treloars catalogue, and knew it must be secured, whatever the price. The price was $35, for a publication of two pages in pamphlet form. An indulgence, maybe – but as it happens, I had a license to indulge (a book voucher)….and there are some actions that need to be taken, however irrational they might seem from afar. The Chanty of the Nona, by Hillaire Belloc, now enjoys its rightful place in the Boatshed library. It is, indeed, a slender volume: the Treloars staff took at least a week to locate it – hidden amidst all the priceless tomes.  The poem is fair to middling, and likewise the setting….but even so, I  am glad the Chanty has found its home.

 

Reflection 6

To face the elements is, to be sure, no light matter when the sea is in its grandest mood. You must then know the sea, and know that you know it, and not forget that is was meant to be sailed over.

Joshua Slocum: from Sailing alone around the world

Across the River 2

Nora Heysen (1911 – 2003)
Across the River
Oil on Board

Sam has taken a new photo, which I think better represents the original. Light floods in; the colours warm up – and we can now see a lively texture. As for provenance: I am awaiting word from the curators at Nora Heysen Foundation, The Cedars, Hahndorf.

 

Western wall

After five or so years, the western wall of the Boatshed was looking a bit the worse for wear: it receives the full brunt of winter gales and summer sun. I recently sanded the cladding, as you can see – and will soon try out a newly-discovered product: Whittles Sun Protection Exterior Oil. I am hoping it will preserve the beautiful honey colour of native cypress for a year or so. Of course, wooden boatsheds and wooden boats require maintenance; that is part of the joy and ritual of ownership.

Rigging

Sam and I recently drove down to Port Adelaide to purchase new rigging for Shearwater. We visited an old-time chandlery (at the far end of Vincent Street), which evidently caters for the lower end of town:  ancient mariners, neo-luddites, and low-tech devotees.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s, Dad used to purchase galvanized turnbuckles and such-like – and in due course immerse the rusted versions in his special drum of recycled sump oil. There, more often than not, they remained forever in rehab mode.

After much thought, and little discussion, we have chosen to depart from the family tradition by purchasing stainless steel turnbuckles. They will last for as long as we last, and well beyond. We also rescued a hank of manila rope, beautifully spliced at both ends. It looked lonely hanging there, all by itself – and at any rate, Dad would most certainly have grabbed it, so we did likewise. It clearly belongs in the Boatshed – and will eventually find its home on the deck of our Tancook Whaler: as yet, a castle in the air.

Castle in the air – but at least we have the relevant construction plans….and the rope.