Some readers may recall the incident at Pt Jerningham about 15 years ago when Esprit, a Beale 9m which admittedly tended to sail bow down, decided to bury her nose into a wave, and well, just keep on going. For a moment there all that could be seen above water was the mast as water poured through the forehatch. Luckily there was enough reserve buoyancy for her to come back up with no loss of life or limb. This incident is one of many in an area which gives me the creeps. Here’s why:
Many years ago, on a northerly course coming adjacent to the Pt Jerningham start box, I luffed up my Davidson 28 to go about, stalled monetarily in irons, and lay back on the same tack.
Irritating, especially as you have to try pretty hard to miss a tack with a D28, but nothing to worry about. We gathered some breeze, and had at it again. Same result. Feeling somewhat vexed, and increasingly alarmed by the fast-approaching sea wall, we had a third go and made it with not much to spare, probably with the help of a little backwash. With one hand on the tiller, I could have reached out and given the sea wall a high five.
Some years later, this time on Shemara, the same thing happened. The northerly was blowing quite hard, and after two failed attempts at a tack, I decided to gybe out – and a bouncy old gybe it was. My mate Jim said it was the first panic gybe he’d seen.
We’ve all heard of the Bermuda triangle. Well, this little area is on the western edge of Evans Bay, extending from Pt Jerningham to the region of Balaena Bay. Lots of other little things have happened over the years and the area fair gives me the jitters.
It’s very tempting at times to work the current along that side of the bay during racing – especially when the finish is outside the Club house. When you do, my advice is watch out!
If you come to grief on the bricks here you won’t be the first, as the pictures here will attest.
**I actually have another name for this area, but it is unprintable.
