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.

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.

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.

  

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Race Fleet - Cheddar Gorge in background.

 

 

Sunset at Cheddar Reservoir - looking toward Crook Peak

A bit 'blowy' for some- Saturday 1st September 2012.

Saturday morning chores completed, off to the Sailing club.

I find myself wondering if everyone else's boat is a haven for insect life, as much as mine is.

I don't mind spiders that much - unlike the missus' - so clearing away spider or two isn't an issue. But the size of the blighters! I swear one had the body the size of my thumb nail.

Anyway, the wind was up to 18 kts as I got the Gull ready - as per my little Chinese anemometer anyway. However you measured it, damp finger or posh weather station - you know when it's on the edge of manageable; for my pitiful sailing skills anyway.

Back and forwards for a bit. It was when the water was consistently coming over the gunwales that I really wished I had reefed prior. It's also at times like these, you really wish the Calypso variant had some sort of self bailer.

So after a couple of hours in the water, I thought lunch ashore with reefs being applied was in order.

Lunch consumed, it became clear to me that the water wasn't as crowded as I remembered. Quite a few club members clearly deciding it was just a little too much of a challenge.

The wind had got up over a period and I couldn't quite summon up the courage or bloody mindedness to go out again.

I did give the boat a darn good rinsing down to get rid of various insect related stains and marks - so at least the dinghy looks presentable again - until next the time it's uncovered.

Packed away and slunk off home. Planning to cut the lawn, well grass, as a penance.

Shame, the grass was still wet.

So, books out and continue revising for the Day Skipper assessments coming up.

August catch-up.

I'd like to be saying how much I was/had been enjoying the Gull dinghy sailors outing to Rutland water this August Bank Holiday. However, due to being unable to get out of my galley duty at the sailing club, it was not to be.

If I didn't have quite such a positive attitude to doing club duties, I might mention that the sailing conditions were nigh  on perfect on the reservoir; sunny, good winds and not too many racing boats to avoid - although, having done a couple of races on holiday, it looked fun, damn it! Hopefully, Rutland Water was similarly blessed but this year it was not to be. Next year, I will make sure August Bank Holiday and maybe other BH's are booked off.

I've been sailing a couple of times this month. On the 5th there was certainly plenty of wind.

I sailed about in a fairly stiff breeze from midday to 2, when Sue joined me. I wasn't too sure if she was coming over, as she had important shopping to get done - as females do. Not to mention the cavity wall insulation survey I had neglected to mention to her (oops!).

Anyway, it was a bit touch and go if we went out, as the wind had picked up from the already plentiful amount I had enjoyed the in morning.

We clearly need to get a bit more practice launching with two. As, with Sue on board (not keen to helm), I prepared to jump on board, when a gust pulled the dinghy out of my hand, and Sue left the shore on her lonesome. Unfortunately, Sue isn't too confident on her own at the moment - maybe she should be, having done up to RYA level 2 already, but she doesn't go out much. Anyway, after a moment or two of panic both afloat and ashore, she managed to take control and edge into shore, close enough for me to grab a hold and leap majestically, or at least scramble, aboard.

Keeping to a beam reach, back and forth for a while. Discretion dictated we left it at that and we came in after about an hour. Not unenjoyable, but I wish it had been better weather, I need to encourage her as much a possible to get her up to speed in the boat. Otherwise, hopes of sailing offshore are going to be dashed.

Better weather on the 19th. In the water around midday and out about 4pm. Nice sail. Enough wind to be interesting and this time I tried to go as fast as I could in the prevailing wind. I measured  6+ knots on the GPS; fully hiked out and still not near anything level sailing. Good fun, but could probably do with more mass in the boat to keep level.


Currently, I am trying to complete my RYA Day Skipper Theory distance learning course.

I'm trying to return the mock assessment by the end of the week and get the final assessment done in September. It's becoming a bit time critical as I need to complete it all by early October.

Plenty of swotting to look forward to in the next couple of weeks.

21st July 2012 - Sailing in Plymouth Sound

Again, not strictly referring to Gull dinghy sailing, but sailing nonetheless.

We had the chance to spend a day on the The Helen Mary R, a 57ft two master, which is the training yacht run by the Morvargh Sailing Project , sailing around Plymouth Sound.

Onboard by 09:30, safety briefing and familiarisation, let slip around 10:30,through the lock gates of Sutton Marina and into an unfortunately foggy Plymouth Sound. Sailing was a fairly sedate affair, ending up in time for lunch at anchor close to Cawsand, on the Cornish side of the sound.

The sun appeared as we finished up lunch and, anchors aweigh, the sailing could begin proper.

I didn't generally hold back when there was hallyards to be hauled or fenders to be manned and had a whale of a time. And, so as not to waste the opportunity, spent all too short a time taking the helm tacking back and forward along the breakwater from Cawsand toward the Mewstone.

There was a bit of queue getting back into Sutton Marina, due to the regatta finishing as we headed home.

A very enjoyable day on the water, even if I didn't get the sun screen on soon enough and came home the colour of a strawberry - not necessarily a good look.