Sailing on Cheddar Reservoir 28th January 2012

Well, I watched a High Pressure system meander across the Atlantic and true to form, the weather was good for sailing. Maybe a bit on the light side, wind-wise, but mainly sunny - what's not to like.

So, after faffing to olympic standard getting the Gull into the water, around 11am. Back and forward, around the buoys - clockwise and anti-clockwise; until around 3:45 pm. Lunch afloat during a lull.
For some reason, the fact that I stayed out, basically all day, drew some comments in the boat park.
To my mind, even just bobbing about on the water is better than not; and go easy on the liquids.

I'm almost reluctant to mention the fact that I virtually had the entire reservoir to myself all day. There was a Laser 2000 sailor who joined me around 1pm for an hour and a half. Also, there was about half a dozen windsurfers - apparently doing some sort of course, but they didn't venture more than 30 metres or so from the clubhouse. So, yet again, I was free to bimble about without too much in the way of having to avoid anyone else. Having said that, the Laser and myself met up a couple of times and passed fairly close. Same tack, upwind gives way, port tack gives way, etc.

And the sunset wasn't bad either.

Company!

Sunset across the hard at Cheddar Reservoir.

Sunset over Cheddar with crescent moon.

DIY Weather Forecasting

Whilst kicking my heels in the hotel last week, due to there being too much snow, arriving far too quickly to venture out on the ski's, I completed several modules of the Day Skipper theory course I am currently working through.

One of these modules was Meteorology. A useful website was mentioned www.westwind.ch.

On the site there are weather charts; both actual observations and also predictions.

So, to get a feeling for the weather over the next few days I've been downloading analysis charts and predictions. UKMO 0-10 day predictions.

Analysis Chart for 23rd January 2012

It is also possible to register, for free, with Dundee Satellite Receiving Station to look at the satellite images. I'm particularly liking the Channel 3 infra-red. http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/


Infra-red Satellite image for Western Europe 23rd January 2012

Sailing solo at Cheddar reservoir - quite literally.

So, Saturday arrives and much as forecast, we have go for launch.

Arriving at the reservoir around 9:15 and into the water, after a fair amount of faffing about, at about 10:45 - I can faff for England.

First, take paddle and paddle away from the slipway. Because; a. I wanted to see if the paddles I have  recently varnished were around the right length. Solo paddling, the longer length works better I think, but with crew, shorter ones may be better - hmm!, and b. there wasn't really much in the way of wind initially.

A busy day at Cheddar reservoir

 I should feel a little guilty really, there's me, reservoir to myself and four duty bods for the sailing club, with two safety boats looking on. Still, my turn will come.

So, sticking with it, about 50 metres from shore a little breeze picks up and off we go.

The wind improved all day and when I finally go ashore there was enough to necessitate hiking out occasionally.

Cheddar gorge in the distance

Around 2 o'clock I was joined in the water by a wind surfer. Well, he spent a fair amount of time in the water, fortunately, I remained dry. But, we still have a safety boat each.As a  bonus, my wife and daughter arrive to watch me and I chase them around the reservoir until they get bored, well cold, apparently.

Around the buoys until around 15:15 and after a couple of final reaches, I thought it time to go in. Although the wind was still improving, the light wasn't good and was only going to worsen - it's as well to de-rig whilst it's still light I always find.

BCYC clubhouse in the background

So, a good day.

Weather watching.

Historically, the British are renowned for being obsessed with the weather - probably with good reason, as it's so changeable.

I'm finding that I am more and more interested in the weather these days, looking for the opportunity to get afloat.

This Saturday, for example, I have a window of opportunity to get out on the water; weather permitting. I haven't been out for a month and won't be able to get out for another two weeks otherwise.

So, everyday day - without fail, with fingers crossed, I find I am repeatedly using up to four different long range weather sites - hoping the more favourable one is more accurate, naturally.

Now, the opinion held of the accuracy of any forecast depends on your experience, and mine isn't that high with regard to the Met Office, but it's all we have to go with.

There is, apparently, a term for time wasted on messing about with computer user settings etc - the Futz Factor - I wonder what the sailing equivelent is for the time spent studying weather trends?

Anyway, Saturday is looking good - at the moment.

Gull Dinghy Class Association

Here's a link to the Gull Class Association website.

A bit more active than the 'official' Gulldingy.org website.

http://www.gullclassassociation.co.uk/home

BCYC New Years Day pursuit race.

Due to work commitments, I missed the Bristol Corinthian New Years Day putsuit race.

But, I did get back in time to see the finish of the race. Well, I say race, but with virtually no wind, it may be the slowest race of the year.

So, here is about ten minutes of dinghy's drifting past, heading towards the slipway.

And, yes it is an experiment to see what my old camcorder can do and what it's possible to knock up in a reasonably short period.

http://youtu.be/2AJQ3A0lzps