FISH 'n' CHIP run to PATONGA

Six H16s and 1 H18 set out in the annual Fish and Chip run to Patonga which always looked like being a very light wind affair - so much so that several boats elected to carry a paddle. This was shown to be a prudent move when the wind died just off the point at Patonga. In life there are always the "haves" and the "have-nots" - the latter being the poor souls with only "people power" to propel them in to the soft sands of Patonga, lured in by the smell of hot fat and greasy fish & chips emanating from the shore. The "haves" were already up at the shop waiting in the queue to place their order and gain 5 minutes on the rest. The wait was interminable (at least 1 hour!) but the quality of the fish and chips was not disappointing and eating them on the warm sand on a beautiful autumn afternoon was worth it. "Huey" had promised more wind for the afternoon (anything over 0 I guess qualifies as more!) and we all pushed off the beach to head for home at about 3.30 The ride out of Patonga and up the Hawkesbury was looking promising (about 4kts) but soon petered out and out came the paddles. We paddled to Barrenjoey Head and a few were planning to beach the boats and walk back for the car but just then a zephyr wafted thru the fleet and it looked like we might make it after all. It was only teasing and ran out again before the sea plane landing area which meant we were already committed to paddling the rest of the way home. Arriving back at Sand Point we had just enough daylight to pack up but loading boats onto trailers was done in the dark. David Lawrence and Sophie Tebutt on the 18 were not fooled by that fickle breeze and did in fact beach their boat at Barrenjoey, walk back to Sand Point, fetch the car and trailer and probably beat us all home!

ADDENDUM from David Lawrence : I just read your story and I had an interesting experience when I went to walk/jog back to get the car and trailer. a car pulled up along side and the driver asked me what had happened...the sailing gear gave it away.I explained. then I asked if there was any chance of a lift and he said yes, if I could answer a question.what is causing the mist that had suddenly appeared.I told him it was sea mist caused by a temperature inversion.he was satisfied and so I bundled myself into the back of his BMW. he and his girl friend were young and very good looking, and he looked vaguely familiar, during the trip she commented to him that he had done some shooting around here.they took me all the way to my car and I was very grateful.. When I got home I related this story to my daughter Naomi and she said I wonder if the driver was one of the cast from Home & Away.so she brought up a picture of Chris Hemsworth and sure enough it was him.apparently a real heart throb.not that these things mean anything to me, I was just glad for the ride! Cheers, David