A welcome sight

At last! On Friday workers were removing the temporary barriers from the Patawalonga marina lock. The lock has been out of action for six weeks while they have been doing major maintenance on the lock gates. Maybe a day's sailing will be in order this week!

Back in the Marina

I took this shot yesterday when I returned to the Holdfast Shores Marina after yet another great day of winter sailing; a steady 10-15 knot off-shore breeze on an 18C day.

Adelphi Waters

Adelphi Waters is a complex of 23 three level luxury houses being built on land that overlooks the marina at Glenelg.

Holdfast Shores - outer marina

Click on the photo to enlarge

Tonight there will plenty of New Year's Eve partying here; on the boats and in the cafes and restaurants. Nearing midnight many of the boats will head out to sea to view a fireworks display at the end of the jetty. Crowds of other people will line the shore to watch the spectacle.

Today has been sweltering, 42C maximum, so I suspect tonight there could be record numbers at the beach trying to cool off. Usually I would be part of the action here, but tonight for a change Bev and I are going to a party at a friend's house in the hills. Let's hope there are no FIREworks there; unfortunately bushfires are a real threat at this time of the year.

Happy New Year!

Boat on slip

The joys of boating! Most of the time sailing is fun, but there is always the inevitable day each year one must pay attention below the water line. This means slipping the boat, cleaning off the slime and growth and applying new anti-fouling. Today was the day!

Photo by Matt

Patawalonga weir

The Patawalonga Basin was successfully created with the building of this weir and a lock in 1960. In the redevelopment several years ago, the basin was dredged to create the fine marina we have now. A new larger lock was built to accommodate larger vessels. I took this photo this morning; we do have some beautiful weather at this time of the year!

Australian fur seal

Like a fish out of water, this seal has found a "rock" in the marina so that he can bask in the sun. (I am not really sure whether this is a fur seal or a sea lion; both are similar. It is unusual to see these mammals near Adelaide as their colonies are further south. It is certainly rare to see one in the marina.)

Holdfast Shores Marina

My second home! I spend quite a lot of time here, maintaining my yacht or preparing for a sail. This is the inner Holdfast Shores marina in the Pat (Patawalonga). To go out to sea we need to go through a lock, which is operated with a remote controller; a bit like a garage roller door.