2019 TRIANGLE SAIL & MYSTERY BOX CHALLENGE

It was a Mystery all right!

A very convivial Sundowners was held on Coromandel on Friday night, joined by Bucket of Vyno, Silver Cloud and Another Storey.  Just in time everyone got back to their boats, before it literally bucketed down, complete with thunder and lightning.  The dinghies were so full on Saturday morning, it was extremely difficult to empty them out! Contents of the two Mystery boxes were distributed on Saturday morning, together with allocation of rafts for the evening meal.  The two rafts consisted of A - Bucket of Vyno, Kemara and Rendezvous and B -  Valhalla, Silver Cloud and Masquerade. 

The Sail
After a week of changeable weather, again, it was decided to tackle Lion Island for the triangle sail, given that the latest forecast available Saturday morning was a Norwester to start, with a work to commence in a clockwise direction. Followed by, perhaps a downwind run and hopefully then an East-South Easterly change would have kicked in. This would allow for a reach back south towards Barrenjoey o West Head.  
Nope! The wind was NE to kick us off, followed by nothing, at the western end of the island. Then a touch of NW, then nothing, then a hint of E, then nothing, then Southerly, then nothing, then a change was brewing, SSW which saw a gust of 28 knots before arrival at Refuge Bay.  
Variety, that's why we love to sail here. Kemara led the way, so well done Ken and Mary.  At least it was good to see 6 boats sailing in company, sort of!

Mystery Box Chefs Challenge
On arrival at Refuge, the two rafts reconnoitered to devise and prepare their 2 course mystery menu. Key ingredients were chicken tenders, fennel, chilli, pomegranate, lemon plus various herbs and salad ingredients.  Chefs could supplement their meal preparation with any ingredients found lurking in their boat pantries, hopefully without any critters attached.  Both rafts prepared delicious meals, enjoyed with suitable beverages and much laughter. 
At coffee on Sunday morning,  a diplomatic decision was made by the judges to award all the lady chefs a prize, consisting of home made items from Sue & Ken's garden.  Ken Wallace summed up the deliciousness of the meal very eloquently - "the flavours danced on the tongue, and made love in your mouth" or words to that effect!

Thanks to Valhalla, Silver Cloud, Masquerade, Bucket of Vyno, Kemara and Rendezvous for your enthusiastic participation of the weekend activities.

Sue & Ken Johnston,
Coromandel