I MUST SAY FROM THE OUTSET; I am a fringe dweller, although, I have an association with the wonderful reaches, of the PITTWATER. I HAVE FISHED, SAILED, ROWED AND ENJOYED THE EXPANSES OF THE PITTWATER. I have had c$lients, friends, high society, low society, basic associations with the PITTWATER reaches... That is not bad for a bloke from WOOLLOOMOOLOO, THEREFORE, H.MA.S. PENGUIN... Any body remember the NAVEL TORPEDO BASE at TAYLORS POINT, via CLAREVILLE BEACH? From the launching wharf test torpedos were fired from a commpressed air tube. Most times they sped accuretly through the three 'targets' and were recovered  intact, but not this day. CLAREVILLE BEACH and the "Bloody Torpedo". © john d farley 2008 Out back of Avalon NSW lives a pretty Pittwater Beach, Clareville, that's her name. On a peaceful day the beach was pillaged, for some time, lovely Clareville Beach would never be the same. Our Navy were our friends, and they protected us down under, but this day an 'untervasser machinen' thing went mad, well folks they made a blunder. Must stop, re-late, go back to get attention, Milk run and Pancho, Mrs. Selley, Mrs.Taubman and Mr. Fox, well, they must rate a mention. Adrian me mate, he fits in with the go, he had a "Cat" moored in Clareville Bay. No surf on Avalon, not a problem, rig the cat and sailen' down the Pittwater, well, what more is there to say. The ‘Targets", were there three of them? Like bastions, that's my story. ‘Borrow' a rowboat of the beach, ‘cause there was a fish that lingered underneath, a name... something just like Dory. For many years the base existed nestling in foreshores oh so pretty, to denigrate such a place was, well, was a bureaucratic pity. Just before the air was blown, sending "Big Fish" down the bay. Crash boats raced, hither and yon, we're Navy blokes, and we jest you not, ‘cause we have the final say. I think my story ‘bout the base is fundamentally just a small diversion, you see this yarn, its JohnFarls story, of mine it's just a version. Mores' the pity, this navel base, became the place of dread, adjacent to the place Mrs. Selley races; "John, JFK is dead". Hang on, we digress, the "bloody torpedo", what went asunder, oh I remember, off she goes on a nor' be nor' the targets she go's under. Some chaotic trivial malfunction hits the fan, "the fish" has a minor glitch and its ‘bloody' rudder bumbles. Now it heads east be east, boats and Clareville Beach, watch out blokes the things gone mad, up the beach she rumbles. Now, damage, there was none, all the floating stuff was spared but what a bloody show, only damage; Aussie Navy, "the bloody torpedo" and their Navy ego. You live at Clareville Beach in liven' times, you think this yarn's a scam, trust me people you heard it first, it came from me and Pancho, I was your Avalon Milkman. John d Farley 2008, ©