Ozzie is retiring as Sea Dog

[@sailingseriously2035]

I’ve had the honour and pleasure of meeting the great Ozzie. In fact it was prior to meeting you Gary, Ozzie came up to me first. 😅❤

[@garyhardy3810]

🙂 As well as being a great shipmate, he is an excellent judge of character. Thanks Ian!

[@khiemtran6272]

A spectacular career, braving storms, dolphins and dodgy fish at the boat ramp! I think he deserves a promotion...

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks Khiem. He has put up with a lot alright. Two capsizes, more thunderstorms than any dog should have to encounter, and lots of boring splashing along. He has been elevated to Head of Home Security. This role involves lots of sleeping, eating and barking. Oz has stepped up without missing a beat.

[@pauldavison7265]

Lovely! I wish I had such a crew member❤

[@garyhardy3810]

@@pauldavison7265Thanks Paul! Once #623 is on the water it might be time to recruit some 4 legged crew?

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

A great video about your special crew. Enjoy your retirement Oz, well earned I’m sure. Josh

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks Josh. Oz is using his retirement to pursue his other interests, mostly eating and sleeping. Good to see you getting Trim out, having a "swell" time. That boat really handles the conditions extremely well. See you in Hobart in February.

[@angelicamoreno5857]

Ozzie you’re amazing and the best sailor the seas have seen

[@garyhardy3810]

I told Ozzie what you wrote. He totally agrees. Thankyou 🙂

[@okuboheavyindustries5758]

Best wishes to Ozzie for a long and healthy retirement!

[@garyhardy3810]

Thankyou Darren. Fingers crossed, he seems in pretty good shape, apart from a crusty nose, which hopefully will clear up soon.

[@romandybala]

Gary, what beautiful music to retire your sailing buddy.

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks Roman. Things change. I sold my Cat Ketch as well. You are now the only cat ketch of Altona Bay!

[@williamhardy6176]

Best thing i've seen in ages, so inspirational that the dog has been with you the whole way.

[@garyhardy3810]

Thankyou William! Oz is enjoying his retirement. I suspect he prefers snoozing to sailing. He is probably not alone in that one. 🙂

[@afloatinawoodenboat]

Oh, we are so sad for Oz! We love seeing him on the water 😢

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks Holley. I don't think he minds too much, he gets to stay home and snooze and get spoiled by my wife while I am out sailing. I miss him though.

[@robhosailor]

Great dog! ❤️

[@garyhardy3810]

You bet. We are really glad he came to live with us.

[@robhosailor]

@@garyhardy3810 Yes, it's great and you know - we also sail with our dog (Misiek - you can see him on my KZbin channel, in the video where we sail GIS) and he is also great! Greetings from Poland

[@collowood]

The best Captain you ever had keep us all in touch how is handling his retirement. 💔🙏

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks, will do. I think he is quite happy to stay home snoozing.

[@olivei2484]

MAybe some night sails on sheltered waters? Anyways, a very touching video, and nice tribute to the Captn Doggo.

[@garyhardy3810]

Thankyou, an interesting suggestion. I might try a twilight sail and see how we go.

[@olivei2484]

@@garyhardy3810 Night sails are a lot of fun, we go out on full moons, but we are also on a lake, so land isnt too far off.

[@garyhardy3810]

@@olivei2484 Funny how much creatures of habit we are. I am in a "on the water by 10" groove, the thought of launching at dusk is radical! But tempting! I will watch out for a full moon reasonable weather night and give it a go. Thankyou!

[@robkunzig5795]

Best Crew? Gary, he had his Skipper rating for at least 18 seconds! Great clips of Ozzie and as "notsolucky" said below, please keep us informed as to how he is doing

[@garyhardy3810]

Lol. Thanks Rob. He doesn't seem too unhappy about staying home when I go out. He just hangs out with my wife, getting treats, or snoozing. I hope you are getting "Liberte" out for some sailing.

[@robkunzig5795]

@@garyhardy3810 that is good to read - Ozzie enjoying good times with the Mrs.! With regard to Liberte' - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZrIfIKGlLSbsJo -- Kelly Green stands out ... this was a very GOOD Time even though we had some motoring time fighting strong currents and light winds. 48 hours of never stepping on land and zero complaints by me! Stay well and wishing you great weather

[@garyhardy3810]

@@robkunzig5795 Thanks Rob. That looks like a great trip. What a beautiful place to sail! Lucky you. I like the look of Liberte's boom tent. An impressive fleet. Motors are handy things sometimes. As are nice straight transomes like the Ilur has. I am scratching my head trying to figure out a moderately elegant way to add my Torqeedo to the Skerry, double enders have some challenges in that department.

[@peterbarnes8737]

dogs are tops, especially good ones. you'll miss him Gary.

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks Peter. Yes, it's not the same. I have lost my star performer, and that 22 kilos of moveable ballast helped too.

[@peterbarnes8737]

@@garyhardy3810 interesting you mention him being movable ballast. I had a staffy that used to come with me on my Hobie Outback Kayak which I used for catching waves just inside our river bar (entrance). There is a shallow area at the northern side where good rollers and sometimes breaks would roll in. He (Kovu) sat in the area just behind me that was hollowed out for a decent sized Esky and he was just enough weight to keep the nose from digging in resulting a capsize. Each time at the end of a good wave he would give me a lick on my ear as much as to say 'that was good Dad'!! He also loved the Hobie 14 and could run from side to side to observe each passing boat, once again if he saw something interesting to him he would give me a lick of appreciation. Loved that dog and it was a very sad day when we took him for his one way trip to the vet--------

[@chrisstockman904]

It will be different without Ozzie helping out but I'm sure his retirement will be long and happy.

[@garyhardy3810]

Thanks Chris. Yes, it's not the same without him. He doesn't seem too unhappy about the new arrangements, the barking at I get when I come home is distinctly half hearted.

[@chrisstockman904]

Haha, you might need a drum of water for ballast up forward in the skerrie!