The day of our first BCYC duty finally dawned.
We understood that as the sailing club was self sufficient, there would be duty days a few days of the year that we would be required to fulfil; no problem with that. Fingers cross for safety boat then - no such luck.
For reasons only guessed at, but logical I guess, my wife and I were down for galley duty this Sunday - with me head chef.
Now, my egg on toast may be legendary in my own lunchtime, but chef I aint'.
But I am game to give it a go.
Provisions, as per instructions bought, arrived at the clubhouse at a little after 09:00. To be greeted by Wilma - known as Willa - who was to be a third set of hands, and as luck would have it, an experienced galley hand.
Various preparations commenced, with me cooking chicken tikka for twenty. Potato's into the oven in plenty of time to bake and stuff cut up and put out.
Luckily for us, we had not only the usual crowd for lunch but there was also an Enterprise Open meeting to partake in our culinary efforts - and more importantly for us to cope with.
There was a mad hour or so as we made like a restaurant and eventually just about everyone was fed; either with the baked potato plus filling or some of our filled rolls - lucky, lucky people!
So, relax.
On the sailing front;
During the morning, the weather had been a bit dire, well wet, but there were no significant problems on the water.
In the afternoon, however, the wind picked up again and about 14:30 a call came from the OOD / Race Officer for a volunteer to man another safety boat, as there were too many capsizes for the two already out.
Well, as I've said, I'm game.
About 15 minutes later I'm on the water, as crew initially. Just as we get out to the windward mark - three Enterprises collapse. Commence circulating like a nautical vulture. Everyone gets themselves up, so no problem. For the next hour, half as helm on the RIB, we gad about, descending on likely victims, but on the whole everyone sorted themselves out; and there was plenty of capsize recovery going on.
Wind speed got up close to thirty knots and near one metre waves - which for an enclosed reservoir can't be bad? One crew did take a long while to get back upright, but considering it was getting to the end of their third race and the conditions were far from good, maybe thats understandable and as it was only the one crew, maybe BZ'z all round for everyone else.
Brilliant fun tearing around the water on the RIB - but very grateful I brought the dry suit. I got wetter than most days sailing.
About 15:45 the last of the boats were leaving the water and derigging. Most surely crews had more than enough fun for one day!
RIBs out of the water and back into the galley for me, to finish off the day around 16:45.
Overall then, an enjoyable and varied day - given that I'm not sure I would have ventured out on my own in the weather, just about as good a day off the water and could have been got on it.
I hadn't really noticed the tendency before for windsurfers to go back and forward across the reservoir on a beam reach. Just that, back and forward; appearing to use the far side of the reservoir to stop and turn around (surely not?) There was clearly one guy on the reservoir edge walking about on the concrete fiddling with his board - well it is his board I suppose. Don't they do courses - doesn't going back and forward get boring. True, they were going at a fair speed, which must be enjoyable. Can't see me doing the back and forward thing for too long; give me a route around the buoys anytime - clearly I need a purpose not just exhilaration; I wonder what that says about me?
(Note to self; need more photo's)
Monday, 23 April 2012
Sailing between the showers : Saturday 21st April 2012.
Off to the reservoir Saturday morning - weather not too promising. But, as I have a dry suit, I don't have much of an excuse, or want one really.
Boat prepared for launch - with sailing due to start at 11:30. Right on cue, skies darken and it chucks it down at 11:25 prompt - with serious attitude. Retire to car for about ten minutes while it blows itself out, to a tolerable level anyway.
Onto the water, with little wind. It does pick up pretty soon after launch fortunately.
Todays' aim was to try to sort out my gybe. I'm probably not quite getting the timing right, but occasionally it rounds up coming out of the gybe and comes close to loss of control/capsize. So, downwind we, or rather I, go - the better half still not quite up for sailing just yet, but soon apparently - gybing like a good 'un. One instance of near loss of control but on the whole OK. Still not that confident to be honest.
My initial plan, with weather in mind, was to sail for about an hour and a half and then then go in, as there was a ridge of heavy rain and possible thunder storms coming.
I was tempted to stay out longer, but as 13:00 approached, the clouds duly rolled in and the wind picked up significantly. Discretion being the better part of valour, I headed in and got the boat out of the water. Just as I got into the boat yard, the heavens opened and the wind got up to about 25+ knots. Lumpy water and white horses, nice to look at but gybing could have been interesting - no guts!
Short but sweet really.
Tomorrow we have galley duty! I hope they are ready for us.
Boat prepared for launch - with sailing due to start at 11:30. Right on cue, skies darken and it chucks it down at 11:25 prompt - with serious attitude. Retire to car for about ten minutes while it blows itself out, to a tolerable level anyway.
Onto the water, with little wind. It does pick up pretty soon after launch fortunately.
Todays' aim was to try to sort out my gybe. I'm probably not quite getting the timing right, but occasionally it rounds up coming out of the gybe and comes close to loss of control/capsize. So, downwind we, or rather I, go - the better half still not quite up for sailing just yet, but soon apparently - gybing like a good 'un. One instance of near loss of control but on the whole OK. Still not that confident to be honest.
My initial plan, with weather in mind, was to sail for about an hour and a half and then then go in, as there was a ridge of heavy rain and possible thunder storms coming.
I was tempted to stay out longer, but as 13:00 approached, the clouds duly rolled in and the wind picked up significantly. Discretion being the better part of valour, I headed in and got the boat out of the water. Just as I got into the boat yard, the heavens opened and the wind got up to about 25+ knots. Lumpy water and white horses, nice to look at but gybing could have been interesting - no guts!
Short but sweet really.
Tomorrow we have galley duty! I hope they are ready for us.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Safety Boat Training : 7th April 2012
As the club provides its' own safety boat crews - probably like most other clubs - we get to mess about with boats on the reservoir for a day.
Can't fault the day at all. Starting with intro from Bob, The Commodore, onto Alan, the Membership Secretary, to give us a tour of the various bits and pieces we need to know the location of, and onto the boats.
Big ribs, small ribs and fibreglass Dory dragged out, prepared and pushed into the water and off we go; S's, U's and circles, forwards and backwards around buoys - great fun.
Lunch in the wet room while Bob goes over radio procedure and then back onto the water.
Recovering M.O.B.'s, righting dinghys, with and without shrouds, and of course, the tired windsurfer.
Boats dragged out of the water - some more keen to help than others - and into the clubhouse for 4:30.
A tiring but very enjoyable day. Thanks to Bob, Alan, Karen and Peter for giving up their time.
So, any unmanned boats or plastic barrels in trouble in our reservoir will be in safe hands come my safety boat duty! I'm sure that waving an RYA Level 1 |Powerboat certificate will do the job.
Can't fault the day at all. Starting with intro from Bob, The Commodore, onto Alan, the Membership Secretary, to give us a tour of the various bits and pieces we need to know the location of, and onto the boats.
Big ribs, small ribs and fibreglass Dory dragged out, prepared and pushed into the water and off we go; S's, U's and circles, forwards and backwards around buoys - great fun.
Lunch in the wet room while Bob goes over radio procedure and then back onto the water.
Recovering M.O.B.'s, righting dinghys, with and without shrouds, and of course, the tired windsurfer.
Boats dragged out of the water - some more keen to help than others - and into the clubhouse for 4:30.
A tiring but very enjoyable day. Thanks to Bob, Alan, Karen and Peter for giving up their time.
So, any unmanned boats or plastic barrels in trouble in our reservoir will be in safe hands come my safety boat duty! I'm sure that waving an RYA Level 1 |Powerboat certificate will do the job.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Staying flat, but not flat out
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!
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, 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.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Always have a plan B
So, last weekend I had work committments that ruled out being on the water, what could we do this weekend?
As predicted, a high pressure system arrived UK, and as before, it brought 'not a lot of wind'.
Conditions were almost ideal; sun, reasonable temperature, etc, just no wind.
I did go and have a polish of the Gull's hull, around a couple of scratches I noticed. Which gave me a chance to loiter around the sailing club for a while. I did have to finally accept that it just wasn't going to happen. There were some fingers of wind to be seen on the water, but in fairness to the duty crew, I decided to give it a miss - didn't stop some troublemaker with a windsurfer getting his kit out though.
So, what else can you do on a Saturday afternoon with otherwise good weather?
Riding my Triumph Bonneville around Somerset for a couple of hours is a reasonable plan B.
Next Saturday, of course, there's the RYA Dinghy Show in London - fingers cross for Sunday's weather.
As predicted, a high pressure system arrived UK, and as before, it brought 'not a lot of wind'.
Conditions were almost ideal; sun, reasonable temperature, etc, just no wind.
I did go and have a polish of the Gull's hull, around a couple of scratches I noticed. Which gave me a chance to loiter around the sailing club for a while. I did have to finally accept that it just wasn't going to happen. There were some fingers of wind to be seen on the water, but in fairness to the duty crew, I decided to give it a miss - didn't stop some troublemaker with a windsurfer getting his kit out though.
So, what else can you do on a Saturday afternoon with otherwise good weather?
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| Triumph Bonneville 865cc |
Next Saturday, of course, there's the RYA Dinghy Show in London - fingers cross for Sunday's weather.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Bobbing around for a while.
So, Saturday arrives and with -4 degree C ambient temperature off to the reservoir at Cheddar for around 9am. It was noticeable that the promised wind hadn't bothered to turn up. Still, maybe later.
Took my time rigging the boat and donned my dry suit with multiple layers and down to the slipway.
Lots of water in the reservoir at the moment, virtually no slipway left above the water level.
I'm ready to go at about 10:30, when the OOD hails me (as they say), explaining I may have been a little too keen to get into the water. I thought sailing started at 10am, but apparently this is when the safety boat crew turn up and they needed to get their life sorted etc. After a friendly bit of banter, I agreed that if they were happy, I was happy to take responsibility for my own safety in the meantime. Given there was about zero knots of wind, this wasn't in fact that brave.
Paddle away from the slipway and out onto the reservoir. One of these weeks, I'll sail away - hopefully.
Commence bobbing about a bit. There was the occasional bit of pressure, but the fastest my GPS registered was 2.1 kts, but this may have been under paddle power. Typically, I was lucky to get up to 1.5 kts under sail, even then, only occasionally.
With the sun out, it's pleasent enough just being on the water; not exactly exhilerating but what the heck!
I got a visit from the safety boat after about an hour and a half - apparently to check that I was OK; with maybe a little undercurrent of 'what are you doing out here you idiot'.
Whether it was a hint or not, I did start to meander at 0.5 to 1 knot, toward the slipway. The forecast was supposed to be some light wind early on and dropping off after lunch. I don't think the 'light wind' actually arrived and we went straight to 'not a lot of wind'.
So, out of the water and derigged by 1:30pm. Quick hike around the reservoir, coffee and chocolate and homeward bound - with a bit of a sailing tan.
I had posted a question on the Gull forum about sailing in low temperatures. The biggest problem I had today was getting the centreboard down; it was frozen in place. Managed to free it up by pouring water over it from the reservoir. There was a little frozen water in the boat, as might be expected from the small amount of water that found its' way under the cover. No problem with that, other than the sponge I keep in the boat had frozen into it. Pouring water over it eventually freed it up enough to be able to use it - although there was ice on it when I came out. Personally, I was warm in my dry suit. Hands warm enough in my 5mm neoprene gloves. I did start off with a wooly hat, but swapped it for a peaked cap - just for the low sun. So, no problem with the temperature.
Some wind would have been nice!
Took my time rigging the boat and donned my dry suit with multiple layers and down to the slipway.
Lots of water in the reservoir at the moment, virtually no slipway left above the water level.
I'm ready to go at about 10:30, when the OOD hails me (as they say), explaining I may have been a little too keen to get into the water. I thought sailing started at 10am, but apparently this is when the safety boat crew turn up and they needed to get their life sorted etc. After a friendly bit of banter, I agreed that if they were happy, I was happy to take responsibility for my own safety in the meantime. Given there was about zero knots of wind, this wasn't in fact that brave.
Paddle away from the slipway and out onto the reservoir. One of these weeks, I'll sail away - hopefully.
Commence bobbing about a bit. There was the occasional bit of pressure, but the fastest my GPS registered was 2.1 kts, but this may have been under paddle power. Typically, I was lucky to get up to 1.5 kts under sail, even then, only occasionally.
With the sun out, it's pleasent enough just being on the water; not exactly exhilerating but what the heck!
I got a visit from the safety boat after about an hour and a half - apparently to check that I was OK; with maybe a little undercurrent of 'what are you doing out here you idiot'.
Whether it was a hint or not, I did start to meander at 0.5 to 1 knot, toward the slipway. The forecast was supposed to be some light wind early on and dropping off after lunch. I don't think the 'light wind' actually arrived and we went straight to 'not a lot of wind'.
So, out of the water and derigged by 1:30pm. Quick hike around the reservoir, coffee and chocolate and homeward bound - with a bit of a sailing tan.
I had posted a question on the Gull forum about sailing in low temperatures. The biggest problem I had today was getting the centreboard down; it was frozen in place. Managed to free it up by pouring water over it from the reservoir. There was a little frozen water in the boat, as might be expected from the small amount of water that found its' way under the cover. No problem with that, other than the sponge I keep in the boat had frozen into it. Pouring water over it eventually freed it up enough to be able to use it - although there was ice on it when I came out. Personally, I was warm in my dry suit. Hands warm enough in my 5mm neoprene gloves. I did start off with a wooly hat, but swapped it for a peaked cap - just for the low sun. So, no problem with the temperature.
Some wind would have been nice!
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Fingers crossed; again.
So, back to studying the weather charts.
By Saturday, it looks like we will be in the influence of a high pressure system, and I'm promised; cloud, 8 - 10 MPH winds and 5 degree C temperature.
Time to finish off the new tiller extension I think.
(I've mentioned before that the tiller is, in my opinion, too long and probably not meant for my dinghy. I believe, rightly or wrongly, that Hartley's put a Wayfarer or Wanderer size tiller on my dinghy. Consequently, not only is the tiller too long, the tiller extension is also too long - it snags on the main sheet at the transom occasionally.
So, I'm trying to recycle an old 4-iron shaft and making one out of that. It's just the universal joint that is currently giving me a problem. But I can try out my latest idea on Saturday - hopefully.
By Saturday, it looks like we will be in the influence of a high pressure system, and I'm promised; cloud, 8 - 10 MPH winds and 5 degree C temperature.
Time to finish off the new tiller extension I think.
(I've mentioned before that the tiller is, in my opinion, too long and probably not meant for my dinghy. I believe, rightly or wrongly, that Hartley's put a Wayfarer or Wanderer size tiller on my dinghy. Consequently, not only is the tiller too long, the tiller extension is also too long - it snags on the main sheet at the transom occasionally.
So, I'm trying to recycle an old 4-iron shaft and making one out of that. It's just the universal joint that is currently giving me a problem. But I can try out my latest idea on Saturday - hopefully.
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