Today's task was to sail, but not to hike out. On the water by 11:30. I was, again, approached by a couple of club members in the car/boat park, asking about the boat. One enquiry was from a couple who had an Enterprise but found it a bit 'tippy' and not really sailable - by them anyway - solo. Maybe a Gull convert?
Around the bouys, tacking and gybing as you do. Heaved to, for lunch, sail on until 3:30pm.
A comparatively busy day today. Four other dinghys and a dozen or so windsurfers on a course.
Oh yes, as I started off by saying, I had decided to avoid hiking out today. It was something the other half said, and it got me thinking about cruise sailing. I'm thinking that sailing around Plymouth Sound probably shouldn't be done at max speed - 'cus thats when you capsize; apparently. It may be better to sail within your own limitations and stay upright and not in the way of a large ship in a narrow channel. Just a thought.
So flat it was then. Still enjoyable though - well I was on the water, what's not to like.
There was a small hiccup on one occasion when gybing, which gave the drysuit another test - doesn't do to try to hang on and climb over the side - especially when it was a bit of an afterthought. But, although the boat did start to invert, it stopped short of being fully inverted and came up easily - I think the mast floats are working. Note to self; if you are going to try to be flash, don't think about it for too long - do or do not, to paraphrase Yoda.
The wind, although a reasonable strength, was a bit shifty and by 3pm was starting to drop, so rather than incur the wrath of the duty crew, I headed in. There were a couple of boats behind me, but not for very long.
As I was de-rigging the boat in the car park, I glanced over to a sound of splashing in the reservoir. Two people, one child and one adult, swimming toward the shore from about 20 metres or so, and, behind them a Mirror dinghy sailing serenly off towards the centre of the res' - all on its' own.
Oh for a camera a couple of minutes earlier! Could have been worth something.
Anyway, an enjoyable day.
Apart from , that is, having been shunted from behind on the way home. At a narrow section of the road through Banwell - a notoriously crap road, I stopped for a car coming up the hill, just a few seconds earlier than the car behind who saved his brake pads and used my car to come to a halt. As it's a lease car, I'm remarkably relaxed - probably shouldn't be. Let's see what hits the fan on Monday!
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Saturday, 10 March 2012
10th March 2012 : Flip up rudder and more compliments.
I've posted in this blog and elsewhere, about how I dislike faffing about with the rudder when launching and recovering.
So, there I was messing about in the garage, giving the outboard a test run, when it occurred to me that I may have the making of a flip up rudder.
Taking some of the length of shock cord that I bought a bucket load of a while ago, and a couple of screw eye bolts, I came up with a D.I.Y. self raising rudder.
The rudder came with a locking rope to keep the rudder down anyway. It needed, in my opinion, a guide of some sort, to stop the rope slipping sideways and getting jammed. Having used one eye bolt to try to achieve this, I positioned another on the other side of the rudder blade. Attached to that a small shackle. On the rudder stock there is a horizontal bar which looked promising. Positioning the rudder in an raised position, I wound the shock cord around the rudder stock bar and shackle bar.
A couple of test runs later and I appear to have a winner. In the garage anyway.
Saturday dawns, with the promised wind and off we go to Cheddar reservoir.
Ready to launch at 11:30; after checking with the Officer Of The Day, that I wasn't jumping the gun again.
Looking aft after the obligatory thrust away from the slip comes the moment of truth. A good tug on the locking rope and down goes the rudder - remarkably just as intended - result. No hanging over the transom fiddling with the tension screw.
So, around the buoys, tacking and gybing like a good un'.
As seems to be the way at the moment; it's just me and the safety boat crew. Can't last, surely?
Talking of which. The safety boat crew made a trip out to me, just to find out what it was I was sailing. I've had a number of positive and appreciative comments about the boat - which is nice.
Lunch taken; hove to. Meandering upwind at one knot-ish. Thanks to Chris Abela for mentioning the technique on the forum.
Fastest boat speed, from the Garmin Etrex GPS, at 5.5 knots in the morning. I find it quite exciting at that speed. Requiring full hiking out action - solo anyway.
My collection of speed landmarks, so far includes; 1 knot to keep the boom on the right side, 3.5 knots to require leaning out inside the boat, 4 knots to sit out on the gunwale and 4.5+ knots, toes under the hiking strap and get out as far as you can. It's all irrelevant of course, but it keeps me interested; there's probably an -ism to cover it.
After lunch, three other boats launch. An ever quirky Moth - for sailors who feel no shame about capsizing, an RS Vareo and another solo sailor in a dinghy with a sail insignia I'm not familiar with. Looked rather like a burgee shape. Can't find it on the web so far, but surely will. There was also a windsurfer who seemed a touch agoraphobic; never straying far from the clubhouse pontoons.
About 3 PM the wind strengthened significantly. Still couldn't get above the 5.5 knots boat speed. Can't say I wasn't trying though.
Then, during a gybe, we have the good news / bad news scenario. The good news is that the mast head buoyancy I knocked up seemed to be effective - saving an inversion, the bad news was, of course, I needed to capsize to find out. Still, also managed to confirm that my dry suit, in fact, is.
Also, the collapsible bucket I now carry proved effective as well; more good news. Takes about ten minutes to bale out on your own.
At about 3:55 PM I happened to glance across towards the clubhouse, and spied a safety boat heading my way, quite purposefully I reckoned. Sure enough, it approached and after courtesies were exchanged, it was suggested that about then would be a good time to pack up. Fair enough. After four and a half hours, my backside was just about ready to sit on something softer than a boat.
A pleasant way to spend a Saturday.
And as for the self raising rudder - it also worked a treat on recovery. Release the locking rope and up she pops. Brilliant.
So, there I was messing about in the garage, giving the outboard a test run, when it occurred to me that I may have the making of a flip up rudder.
Taking some of the length of shock cord that I bought a bucket load of a while ago, and a couple of screw eye bolts, I came up with a D.I.Y. self raising rudder.
The rudder came with a locking rope to keep the rudder down anyway. It needed, in my opinion, a guide of some sort, to stop the rope slipping sideways and getting jammed. Having used one eye bolt to try to achieve this, I positioned another on the other side of the rudder blade. Attached to that a small shackle. On the rudder stock there is a horizontal bar which looked promising. Positioning the rudder in an raised position, I wound the shock cord around the rudder stock bar and shackle bar.
A couple of test runs later and I appear to have a winner. In the garage anyway.
Saturday dawns, with the promised wind and off we go to Cheddar reservoir.
Ready to launch at 11:30; after checking with the Officer Of The Day, that I wasn't jumping the gun again.
Looking aft after the obligatory thrust away from the slip comes the moment of truth. A good tug on the locking rope and down goes the rudder - remarkably just as intended - result. No hanging over the transom fiddling with the tension screw.
So, around the buoys, tacking and gybing like a good un'.
As seems to be the way at the moment; it's just me and the safety boat crew. Can't last, surely?
Talking of which. The safety boat crew made a trip out to me, just to find out what it was I was sailing. I've had a number of positive and appreciative comments about the boat - which is nice.
Lunch taken; hove to. Meandering upwind at one knot-ish. Thanks to Chris Abela for mentioning the technique on the forum.
Fastest boat speed, from the Garmin Etrex GPS, at 5.5 knots in the morning. I find it quite exciting at that speed. Requiring full hiking out action - solo anyway.
My collection of speed landmarks, so far includes; 1 knot to keep the boom on the right side, 3.5 knots to require leaning out inside the boat, 4 knots to sit out on the gunwale and 4.5+ knots, toes under the hiking strap and get out as far as you can. It's all irrelevant of course, but it keeps me interested; there's probably an -ism to cover it.
After lunch, three other boats launch. An ever quirky Moth - for sailors who feel no shame about capsizing, an RS Vareo and another solo sailor in a dinghy with a sail insignia I'm not familiar with. Looked rather like a burgee shape. Can't find it on the web so far, but surely will. There was also a windsurfer who seemed a touch agoraphobic; never straying far from the clubhouse pontoons.
About 3 PM the wind strengthened significantly. Still couldn't get above the 5.5 knots boat speed. Can't say I wasn't trying though.
Then, during a gybe, we have the good news / bad news scenario. The good news is that the mast head buoyancy I knocked up seemed to be effective - saving an inversion, the bad news was, of course, I needed to capsize to find out. Still, also managed to confirm that my dry suit, in fact, is.
Also, the collapsible bucket I now carry proved effective as well; more good news. Takes about ten minutes to bale out on your own.
At about 3:55 PM I happened to glance across towards the clubhouse, and spied a safety boat heading my way, quite purposefully I reckoned. Sure enough, it approached and after courtesies were exchanged, it was suggested that about then would be a good time to pack up. Fair enough. After four and a half hours, my backside was just about ready to sit on something softer than a boat.
A pleasant way to spend a Saturday.
And as for the self raising rudder - it also worked a treat on recovery. Release the locking rope and up she pops. Brilliant.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
4th of March - survival sailing?
My habit on a Sunday, is physical abuse for a couple of hours in the gym that I pay an arm and a leg for. But, having been inspired by yesterday's visit to the dinghy show, I just couldn't resist a Sunday afternoon on the water.
A bit breezy I thought, but what the hell.
I did get a little worried after chatting to a Laser driver who was coming in. The phrase, "it's not for me, more like survival sailing" did nothing to inspire confidence. But, no going back by that time.
Off I go. Got to do something with the rudder - seems a bit of a faff to get it down when under way. Too loose and it drags on the bottom as you prepare, too tight and you're hanging out the back fiddling with the tension screw. When I was learning to sail, we used an Omega with a nifty rudder arrangement - got to get one of them methinks!
Not entirely happy initially, couldn't work out why the boat wouldn't point too well, and tacking needed a good deal of boat speed, else I ended in irons, hmmm! Also, I had decided to give it a go with a reef on the main. Note to self. Don't tie the reef around the boom and the main sheet - doesn't help the movement of the sheet. Doh!
After a while I noticed the sheet was getting caught around the transom corners, so the sail wasn't often a really good shape. I may have noticed it earlier if I hadn't been in and out of boat, hiking, like the proverbial fiddlers elbow. My powers of concentration getting a good workout. And then I noticed that I had managed to fit the tiller incorrectly. Double Doh!
So, no problem. Back to the slipwayI thought, sort it out and back on the water.
However, the safety boat crew had other ideas. They had been 'sort of' buzzing me earlier. Which could have been just showing they care, or maybe something else - don't want to get all sensitive about it that's for sure.
Anyway, as I was sorting out the rudder, I noticed that the RIB was in the process of being hauled up the slipway.
So I wasn't going back out then.
Apart from the spray, I managed to stay dry, unlike some of my fellow club members who were practicing their recovery drills - which was nice; for me that is, not them necessarily. I do find those Moths impressive - when they are not on their side that is; which is often. Given the horlicks I made of setting the dinghy up, could be thought of as a result.
I'm not sure if it was a completely good idea to go out, I'd probably have to admit to a degree of wearyness; long day, short of sleep and a session in the gym, aren't generally ideal preparation, but no experience is a waste. Certainly learnt that I need to check more carefully before taking the plunge.
P.S. I learnt subsequently that the mean wind speed during the afternoon was around 25+ kts.
A bit breezy I thought, but what the hell.
I did get a little worried after chatting to a Laser driver who was coming in. The phrase, "it's not for me, more like survival sailing" did nothing to inspire confidence. But, no going back by that time.
Off I go. Got to do something with the rudder - seems a bit of a faff to get it down when under way. Too loose and it drags on the bottom as you prepare, too tight and you're hanging out the back fiddling with the tension screw. When I was learning to sail, we used an Omega with a nifty rudder arrangement - got to get one of them methinks!
Not entirely happy initially, couldn't work out why the boat wouldn't point too well, and tacking needed a good deal of boat speed, else I ended in irons, hmmm! Also, I had decided to give it a go with a reef on the main. Note to self. Don't tie the reef around the boom and the main sheet - doesn't help the movement of the sheet. Doh!
After a while I noticed the sheet was getting caught around the transom corners, so the sail wasn't often a really good shape. I may have noticed it earlier if I hadn't been in and out of boat, hiking, like the proverbial fiddlers elbow. My powers of concentration getting a good workout. And then I noticed that I had managed to fit the tiller incorrectly. Double Doh!
So, no problem. Back to the slipwayI thought, sort it out and back on the water.
However, the safety boat crew had other ideas. They had been 'sort of' buzzing me earlier. Which could have been just showing they care, or maybe something else - don't want to get all sensitive about it that's for sure.
Anyway, as I was sorting out the rudder, I noticed that the RIB was in the process of being hauled up the slipway.
So I wasn't going back out then.
Apart from the spray, I managed to stay dry, unlike some of my fellow club members who were practicing their recovery drills - which was nice; for me that is, not them necessarily. I do find those Moths impressive - when they are not on their side that is; which is often. Given the horlicks I made of setting the dinghy up, could be thought of as a result.
I'm not sure if it was a completely good idea to go out, I'd probably have to admit to a degree of wearyness; long day, short of sleep and a session in the gym, aren't generally ideal preparation, but no experience is a waste. Certainly learnt that I need to check more carefully before taking the plunge.
P.S. I learnt subsequently that the mean wind speed during the afternoon was around 25+ kts.
RYA Dinghy Show 2012
Up at the 'crack of sparra's' Saturday, 6:24 train to London Paddington - off the the RYA Dinghy show.
British Rail, apart from new rolling stock are much the same as ever; but at least we were on time - which is the point I suppose. The tube is marginally better than my last trip to London village, I'd have to admit.
Meandered up the hill to Ally Pally for just after opening time at 10:00.
No idea where the time went. Fair play to the better half that she put up with me shuttling backwards and forwards from the Volvo Main Stage and the Coaching Area - with but a short break for lunch.
So, impressions;
My god, what a lot of dinghys - sailing porn really. Top of the pops would have to be the wooden dinghy's - beautiful, absolutely fantastic to look at. Not for me though. I'd be afraid to use them for fear of damage; it would break my heart to get one scuffed. And I still can't get to like the bouyancy bags; completely spoils the appearance - IMHO.
Impressed with Olly Rofix's presentation, pretty good for a non-professional speaker and very poignant in places. Good on him.
Not too impressed with Rob Gravett's hard sell of his training courses. I think most people were expecting more hints and tips on towing etc, but all we got was a 15 minute hard sell of his towing and driving courses, diluted at the end by a couple of questions posed by the stage host, who I suspect had caught the mood of the room.
Liked the coaching tips in the Coaching Area - could have done with a better area to present them in, only the front row really got the full benefit.
The RYA also took the route of the hard sell with the 'Rules' session on the main stage. All very dramatic ripping out most of the pages in a perfectly good book (presumably). And then gabbled through the rules - hardly a chance to catch your breath. Followed by the hard sell for the ebooks now available.
Is the RYA a sailing organisation or a selling organisation - I have the same issue with Sustrans, only they are cycling, not sailing. Same approach to shifting their merchandise.
...and then it was 5 pm and time to meander back again. Nearly got everything done I wanted to do.
Played platform hokey cokey at Bristol. On the way in it was platform two for the next train, so from platform 11 we set off, when we got there it had changed to platform 12. Still, good to have some exercise after a long day.
Home by 11 pm, cream crackered.
British Rail, apart from new rolling stock are much the same as ever; but at least we were on time - which is the point I suppose. The tube is marginally better than my last trip to London village, I'd have to admit.
Meandered up the hill to Ally Pally for just after opening time at 10:00.
No idea where the time went. Fair play to the better half that she put up with me shuttling backwards and forwards from the Volvo Main Stage and the Coaching Area - with but a short break for lunch.
So, impressions;
My god, what a lot of dinghys - sailing porn really. Top of the pops would have to be the wooden dinghy's - beautiful, absolutely fantastic to look at. Not for me though. I'd be afraid to use them for fear of damage; it would break my heart to get one scuffed. And I still can't get to like the bouyancy bags; completely spoils the appearance - IMHO.
Impressed with Olly Rofix's presentation, pretty good for a non-professional speaker and very poignant in places. Good on him.
Not too impressed with Rob Gravett's hard sell of his training courses. I think most people were expecting more hints and tips on towing etc, but all we got was a 15 minute hard sell of his towing and driving courses, diluted at the end by a couple of questions posed by the stage host, who I suspect had caught the mood of the room.
Liked the coaching tips in the Coaching Area - could have done with a better area to present them in, only the front row really got the full benefit.
The RYA also took the route of the hard sell with the 'Rules' session on the main stage. All very dramatic ripping out most of the pages in a perfectly good book (presumably). And then gabbled through the rules - hardly a chance to catch your breath. Followed by the hard sell for the ebooks now available.
Is the RYA a sailing organisation or a selling organisation - I have the same issue with Sustrans, only they are cycling, not sailing. Same approach to shifting their merchandise.
...and then it was 5 pm and time to meander back again. Nearly got everything done I wanted to do.
Played platform hokey cokey at Bristol. On the way in it was platform two for the next train, so from platform 11 we set off, when we got there it had changed to platform 12. Still, good to have some exercise after a long day.
Home by 11 pm, cream crackered.
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