Thursday, 26 December 2013
Boxing day sailing, or not. 26th December 2013
Sadly, although I had the opportunity to sail today, there was a distinct lack of wind. So, once around the reservoir on foot and home.
Here are some photographs to illustrate the calm conditions;
Footnote: The decision to abandon hope of sailing was justified by the weather record of the day - nothing recorded above 4 knots for most of the afternoon.
Here are some photographs to illustrate the calm conditions;
Footnote: The decision to abandon hope of sailing was justified by the weather record of the day - nothing recorded above 4 knots for most of the afternoon.
Monday, 23 December 2013
Winter sailing
Sad to say, that sailing in the second half of the year has been disappointing.
It is only recently that sailing at my home venue, Cheddar Reservoir, has resumed.
I had been cursing Bristol water for leaving the water level too low for easy launching - or in my case - impossible to launch solo. The muddy finger of the 'hard' was just too soft for my obvious beast of a boat!
Apparently, it was due to an bloom of algae, and the water was deliberatly lowered to try to kill it off.
Can't say I saw anything promulgated to that effect until the temperature dropped and the water level was starting to rise. But, there you go.
So, it has been very frustrating to not be able to get on the water.
The first week I was able to get out on the boat, late November; we had sun, we had water, we had wind. What we didn't have, was a full complement of duty personnel to man the safety boat.
It really isn't good enough for people to not to bother to turn up for duty, or even to let the OOD know.
Having turned up and prepped the boat, I hung around a bit, washed the boat down, and put it away again.
I composed, in my head, a stinging email to the Commodore several times before coming to the conclusion I'd be wasting my time.
The next week was more successful. Not so much wind, but enough to get going. The wind did subside to almost nothing, necessitating a bit of paddling at the end of the day, to get back in.
Next sailing is scheduled for Boxing day - fingers crossed.
It is only recently that sailing at my home venue, Cheddar Reservoir, has resumed.
I had been cursing Bristol water for leaving the water level too low for easy launching - or in my case - impossible to launch solo. The muddy finger of the 'hard' was just too soft for my obvious beast of a boat!
Apparently, it was due to an bloom of algae, and the water was deliberatly lowered to try to kill it off.
Can't say I saw anything promulgated to that effect until the temperature dropped and the water level was starting to rise. But, there you go.
So, it has been very frustrating to not be able to get on the water.
The first week I was able to get out on the boat, late November; we had sun, we had water, we had wind. What we didn't have, was a full complement of duty personnel to man the safety boat.
It really isn't good enough for people to not to bother to turn up for duty, or even to let the OOD know.
Having turned up and prepped the boat, I hung around a bit, washed the boat down, and put it away again.
I composed, in my head, a stinging email to the Commodore several times before coming to the conclusion I'd be wasting my time.
The next week was more successful. Not so much wind, but enough to get going. The wind did subside to almost nothing, necessitating a bit of paddling at the end of the day, to get back in.
Next sailing is scheduled for Boxing day - fingers crossed.
Sunday, 7 April 2013
A momentary lapse of Winter.... 6th April 2013
After, what seems like forever, I finally get to launch in the res'.
It seems a long time since I was last able to sail; work and weather putting paid to launching.
I was blown out, almost literally, over Easter. I had planned to sail on the Saturday and again on the Wednesday - the first weekday sail of the season.
However, just a little too much in the way of wind for me. Well, the gusts really. 18kts, gusting up to 30+. More excitement than I was looking for.
So, as the week progressed, it seemed more and more likely that Saturday would be a goer.
Not a lot of wind forecast and as the day dawned this was pretty much the case. Some rustling in the undergowth evident in the garden was encouraging.
So, I duly arrived at 10:40, scooped the ice out of the bilges and prepped the dinghy for launch.
I've done it quicker, but having not assembled it all for close to two months, it pays to be thorough.
I needed to equalise the air pressure in my mast floats - not the most exciting of tasks but can't be having collapsed floats up the mast.
Unusually, I was beaten into the water by a young lad in a Topper. And I was followed fairly closely by an RS Feva.
After an hour though, I had the water to myself - along with my two safety boat shadows.
Come 1pm, the junior sailing club hit the water in five RS Feva's.
I'm used to being fairly lonesome on the water, but there were nine of us on the water simultaneously mid-afternoon.
Wind conditions were on the soft side. A couple of times I was completely becalmed, but overall, there was enough to bet going. I was a little amused by a crew of three girls , in an RS 2000 dinghy, with a reefed main sail. Squealing at not very much. They made me feel righeously confident.
I did get to hike out and the top speed achieved was around 5.something kts.
The wind was interesting in its' direction. Several times I'd be happily cruising along, only for the wind to shift by 90 degrees or more; in the wrong direction. I was nearly caught out once. Sailing by the lee is for others to practice.
All in all, a good sail in good weather. Even came home with a rosy glow.
On the mundane side, I moved the dinghy and trailer along the line in the boatyard. My previous position was such that the mast was being interfered with by the branches of a tree.
Not now though. Just waiting for the phone call from the storage member to tell me to move.
Sod's law dictates that if a tree were now to topple in a freak wind, it will be the one now closer to the boat. C'est la vie.
Back to looking for the next weekends weather forecast.
It seems a long time since I was last able to sail; work and weather putting paid to launching.
I was blown out, almost literally, over Easter. I had planned to sail on the Saturday and again on the Wednesday - the first weekday sail of the season.
However, just a little too much in the way of wind for me. Well, the gusts really. 18kts, gusting up to 30+. More excitement than I was looking for.
So, as the week progressed, it seemed more and more likely that Saturday would be a goer.
Not a lot of wind forecast and as the day dawned this was pretty much the case. Some rustling in the undergowth evident in the garden was encouraging.
So, I duly arrived at 10:40, scooped the ice out of the bilges and prepped the dinghy for launch.
I've done it quicker, but having not assembled it all for close to two months, it pays to be thorough.
I needed to equalise the air pressure in my mast floats - not the most exciting of tasks but can't be having collapsed floats up the mast.
Unusually, I was beaten into the water by a young lad in a Topper. And I was followed fairly closely by an RS Feva.
After an hour though, I had the water to myself - along with my two safety boat shadows.
Come 1pm, the junior sailing club hit the water in five RS Feva's.
I'm used to being fairly lonesome on the water, but there were nine of us on the water simultaneously mid-afternoon.
Wind conditions were on the soft side. A couple of times I was completely becalmed, but overall, there was enough to bet going. I was a little amused by a crew of three girls , in an RS 2000 dinghy, with a reefed main sail. Squealing at not very much. They made me feel righeously confident.
I did get to hike out and the top speed achieved was around 5.something kts.
The wind was interesting in its' direction. Several times I'd be happily cruising along, only for the wind to shift by 90 degrees or more; in the wrong direction. I was nearly caught out once. Sailing by the lee is for others to practice.
All in all, a good sail in good weather. Even came home with a rosy glow.
On the mundane side, I moved the dinghy and trailer along the line in the boatyard. My previous position was such that the mast was being interfered with by the branches of a tree.
Not now though. Just waiting for the phone call from the storage member to tell me to move.
Sod's law dictates that if a tree were now to topple in a freak wind, it will be the one now closer to the boat. C'est la vie.
Back to looking for the next weekends weather forecast.
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Hello old friend!
So, after a combination of poor weather (to say the least), work and family calamities, we get to go back on the water this weekend.
Not a lot of water in the dinghy and a distinct lack of insects as well - which was nice.
Good grief, did I feel rusty. The gusty wind didn't help to inspire confidence but as I pretty much had the reservoir to myself, at least no one got to witness my hamfisted efforts to circulate the buoys.
I did at least stay dry.
No video's this time, due to my killing the memory card on my camera up a mountain in Italy.
Whoever would have thought that SD cards don't like -20C.
Slightly easier to recover the boat due to the water level being about three feet lower than previously; can get a bit of a run up the slipway. That would be the nicely slime free slipway.
Not a lot of water in the dinghy and a distinct lack of insects as well - which was nice.
Good grief, did I feel rusty. The gusty wind didn't help to inspire confidence but as I pretty much had the reservoir to myself, at least no one got to witness my hamfisted efforts to circulate the buoys.
I did at least stay dry.
No video's this time, due to my killing the memory card on my camera up a mountain in Italy.
Whoever would have thought that SD cards don't like -20C.
Slightly easier to recover the boat due to the water level being about three feet lower than previously; can get a bit of a run up the slipway. That would be the nicely slime free slipway.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Finally......
Since the last post I have managed to get onto the water twice. Today, I enjoyed a day of limited wind and some rain and occasional sun, on Cheddar reservoir.
My first time in a really heavy shower - odd really. Once I'd decided that there wasn't any lightening about, I just got on with it. With a dry suit, only the face getting peppered with stinging rain was a minor irriation. That, and getting the sails wet.
I even took part in the afternoon race. More by accident than anything else. As the PM race was lining up, the driver of a safety boat that I had chatted to in the changing room asked as he passed - " are you going to race then", so I thought, why not.
I'd like to say how brilliantly I had done, but sadly it's not the case. I lost time trying to keep out of the way of the Enterprise boys who went off first. Which resulted in my effectively doing a penalty turn to get around the windward buoy.
I just couldn't get the boat going in the very light wind. Consequently, I'll gloss over where I came in the fleet.
Still, four hours plus in the boat can't be sneezed at.
Small chuckle at one of the skiffs who managed to capsize and invert in near zero wind; quite and achievement - of sorts.
And we get to enjoy sunsets.
My first time in a really heavy shower - odd really. Once I'd decided that there wasn't any lightening about, I just got on with it. With a dry suit, only the face getting peppered with stinging rain was a minor irriation. That, and getting the sails wet.
I even took part in the afternoon race. More by accident than anything else. As the PM race was lining up, the driver of a safety boat that I had chatted to in the changing room asked as he passed - " are you going to race then", so I thought, why not.
I'd like to say how brilliantly I had done, but sadly it's not the case. I lost time trying to keep out of the way of the Enterprise boys who went off first. Which resulted in my effectively doing a penalty turn to get around the windward buoy.
I just couldn't get the boat going in the very light wind. Consequently, I'll gloss over where I came in the fleet.
Still, four hours plus in the boat can't be sneezed at.
Small chuckle at one of the skiffs who managed to capsize and invert in near zero wind; quite and achievement - of sorts.
And we get to enjoy sunsets.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Long time - no sail.
Nothing much to say, sadly.
Trying very hard not to swear, but the recent weather has been more than a little disappointing.
Haven't been able to get on the water for weeks.
Not a happy bunny.
Trying very hard not to swear, but the recent weather has been more than a little disappointing.
Haven't been able to get on the water for weeks.
Not a happy bunny.
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Near perfect Sunday sailing - 9th September 2012
As there was no wind forecast on Saturday, I changed my whole routine for Sunday and went sailing instead. Who wants to spend three hours in the gym anyway!
Pretty much perfect sailing condition; well, maybe the wind was a little soft, but steady breeze 8 - 10 kts - when I launched anyway.
Had a new toy to play with. A waterproof video camera. I mounted this on the tiller, which is a little low. So, will need to find a better place.
Still, at least it works. Too much in the knee department possibly; certainly in the other segments.
Having launched at 10:30 I found myself cruising past the slipway around 14:30. When to be frank, the wind had all but disappeared. So, the decision was made to call it a day; only slightly early really.
Any, even though I was smeared in factor 50 sun screen, I still managed to obtain a healthy glow - or pink colour to my face. The good news was that my knees didn't burn this time.
Pretty much perfect sailing condition; well, maybe the wind was a little soft, but steady breeze 8 - 10 kts - when I launched anyway.
Had a new toy to play with. A waterproof video camera. I mounted this on the tiller, which is a little low. So, will need to find a better place.
Still, at least it works. Too much in the knee department possibly; certainly in the other segments.
Having launched at 10:30 I found myself cruising past the slipway around 14:30. When to be frank, the wind had all but disappeared. So, the decision was made to call it a day; only slightly early really.
Any, even though I was smeared in factor 50 sun screen, I still managed to obtain a healthy glow - or pink colour to my face. The good news was that my knees didn't burn this time.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Half a Day Skipper certified - 7th September 2012.
Handed in my second and last final assessment for the Day Skipper Theory Course on Thursday morning.
Today, this arrived in the post.
Well chuffed - as they say.
Celebrated with a ride down to Watchet Marina for lunch.
Today, this arrived in the post.
Celebrated with a ride down to Watchet Marina for lunch.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Sailing - On a Wednesday! - 5th Sept 2012
I took the week off to study and take my final RYA Day Skipper assessments. But, as I had completed them a lot earlier than I had anticipated, I was able to take advantage of the final Wednesday evening sailing at the sailing club at Cheddar.
I got to the boat park at about 4:30 pm and was in the water for 5:30 pm. Winds were light but worthwhile when I got afloat. So., off I went tacking and gybing at a relatively modest rate.
About six o'clock Sue came down and I worked my way back to the pontoon so she could get in with the minimum of water following her. I suspect the gathered sailors outside the clubhouse were hoping for a complete horlicks of an approach. But apart from a couple of admitedly quick tacks to line up with the pontoon, I avoided anything remotely entertaining - phew!
As is generally the case. As the time progressed, so the wind dropped. Which made the final race of the season rather a sedate affair.
By 7 pm the wind was virtually nothing. So, having decided to go in - maybe ahead of the race fleet - we slowly, as in painfully slowly, made our way back to the slipway. The Praddel coming in very handy.
Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday afternoon / evening anyway.
I got to the boat park at about 4:30 pm and was in the water for 5:30 pm. Winds were light but worthwhile when I got afloat. So., off I went tacking and gybing at a relatively modest rate.
About six o'clock Sue came down and I worked my way back to the pontoon so she could get in with the minimum of water following her. I suspect the gathered sailors outside the clubhouse were hoping for a complete horlicks of an approach. But apart from a couple of admitedly quick tacks to line up with the pontoon, I avoided anything remotely entertaining - phew!
As is generally the case. As the time progressed, so the wind dropped. Which made the final race of the season rather a sedate affair.
By 7 pm the wind was virtually nothing. So, having decided to go in - maybe ahead of the race fleet - we slowly, as in painfully slowly, made our way back to the slipway. The Praddel coming in very handy.
Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday afternoon / evening anyway.
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| The Race Fleet - Cheddar Gorge in background. |
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| Sunset at Cheddar Reservoir - looking toward Crook Peak |
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