Helm's a'lee

The forecast was perfect. My plan was to sail all day, but the best laid plans ... I spent an hour in the mid morning working on the standing rigging. For ages the shrouds and forestay have been loose. Everyone is starting to comment and I couldn't think of any more excuses. I've been trying to think of a clever way to get some tension while I tighten up the somewhat primitive lacing that fastens the lower ends of the stays. Traditionally I should fasten the end of the line to the staysail purchase, or perhaps a handy-billy and heave away, then lash things in place until I can tie it off properly. Not having a staysail purchase, nor a handy-billy, I settled for a tie down strap. Using the strap to tension up the stays allowed me to get moderate tension into them. It was awkward attaching the strap to the stay without it slipping, and also the strap got in the way of the lacing, but it worked adequately.
Finally I could get out on the water. I started the engine, then noticed that the wind was blowing across Kangaroo Bay WSW. I could reach out of the bay on that. I've always wanted to try sailing off my mooring, but never had the nerve. This was the moment. So, with the engine ticking over, just in case, I hoisted the main and staysail. OK, think back over all I've read ... back the staysail, drop the mooring, bring the staysail across, get her moving.All going well so far. But she's far too keen to move, she wont bear away and we're heading straight for Drop Bear, an unfortunate motor cruiser that moors near me. As my bowsprit was getting perilously close to her, I reverse the engine hard, twice in fact. Now I was around far enough to clear Drop Bear's stern, and we were away. I think my heart was doing more revs per minute than the engine by this time.
I beat down the river in a couple of long legs, avoiding a container ship and a gas tanker, then turned and ran back to Kangaroo Bay. To complete the voyage I sailed back onto the mooring. Once again, the engine was ticking, just in case. No need, I dropped the peak, after taking down the jib and topsail and played the staysail like a dinghy keeping her down around 2 knots amongst the moorings, turned upwind and ran like mad to pick up the mooring. Once my heart slowed I felt very proud.