Concerto
Well-known member
Would you believe it, I never unfurled my genoa today.
Slightly lazy start today as I had to pay the harbourmaster - only £22. Then I walked into Stonehaven along the Broadwalk and was surprised to find some lovely stainless steel sculptures.
I also discovered what Stonehaven was famous for, see the photo later. The local butchers had a wide selection of pies and I tried the the Scotch steak pie, thoroughly recommended.
After returning to Concerto and stowing a few supplies, I prepared to leave. Slipped out at 10.15 and started to motor into deeper water, the log picked up some weed and stopped working. Had to lift a sole board and reverse the paddlewheel to clear it, and then return it the correct way round. Once in some clean air, I raised the main. The wind was forecast as S to SW 2 to 4. It was definitely a 4 and SSW. It was almost a dead run just on port tack. Just under main I was already doing 5½ knots. Decision made, rig for spinnaker. Up it went and then it decided to do a wrap around the forestay. Grr. A couple of minutes later it was out and setting well and the speed went up to just over 6½ knots.
To answer an earlier question, I use single sheets and just end to end the pole. Keep things as simple as possible is my mantra.
Everything was going fine but the wind did not play ball, it decided to back a little. Changing course slightly closer to the shore corrected the problem, but it kept backing. Then the main gybed and thought I would now gybe the spinnaker. As I was in a rush I failed to ease the sheets, and the pole downhaul, going back to correct this resulted in another wrap, even worse than before. Grrrr, grrrr. Ended having to gybe the main back to assist clearing the wrap and then gybing correctly.
Then the unexpected happened the downhaul span on the pole came undone. A quick fix was made using a line with a bowline over the guy (see photo) and led forward to the fairlead and back to the midship cleat for easy control.
It was still almost a dead run, but the wind started increasing and so the log started reading higher, 6 ¾ to 7 knots, but in some gusts as high as 7.6 knots. In the stronger winds I hand steered for great speed than the autopilot as I could sense the small rollers coming from the SE on the starboard quarter. Great fun. Slowly the wind eased and backed a little more to SE. This enabled me to edge back towards the shore and the course I should be sailing. It was still cold on the water and I was still wearing full oil skins.
Although I was sailing fast, the tide was against me - I should have left a lot earlier. As I passed Aberdeen there was about 2 knots of tide I was punching, but I was not worried as I was sailing. After just over 4 hours under spinnaker, the wind eased to the force 2 forecast. There was nothing else to do but drop the spinnaker and turn on the engine. It was less than 10 miles to go, but the sea had turned glassy on the waves. The sun started working its magic and it warmed up, even though it was half five. It was also the first time on this trip I could get rid of the oil skins. So liberating.
After speaking to the marina by phone I rigged for starboard to berthing on E pontoon. After calling port control, they advised a vessel was due to leave and if I could speed up to enter before the vessel departs. After hitting the throttle to full revs, the speed increased to 6½ knots, from my usual 5 knots, in the sloppy sea. Once in the harbour I called the marina, but got no reply, they were going to show me which berth, so I just selected one. After tying up at 17.15, the chap from the marina arrived and said the berth was fine. Just come and see him in the office before he finished at 7. Have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by how much I had to pay - just £18 and that includes electricity.
So, now you know what Stonehaven is famous for.
The actual distance is only 33 miles, but I expect I sailed closer to 50 miles. This took me 7 hours.
Slightly lazy start today as I had to pay the harbourmaster - only £22. Then I walked into Stonehaven along the Broadwalk and was surprised to find some lovely stainless steel sculptures.
I also discovered what Stonehaven was famous for, see the photo later. The local butchers had a wide selection of pies and I tried the the Scotch steak pie, thoroughly recommended.
After returning to Concerto and stowing a few supplies, I prepared to leave. Slipped out at 10.15 and started to motor into deeper water, the log picked up some weed and stopped working. Had to lift a sole board and reverse the paddlewheel to clear it, and then return it the correct way round. Once in some clean air, I raised the main. The wind was forecast as S to SW 2 to 4. It was definitely a 4 and SSW. It was almost a dead run just on port tack. Just under main I was already doing 5½ knots. Decision made, rig for spinnaker. Up it went and then it decided to do a wrap around the forestay. Grr. A couple of minutes later it was out and setting well and the speed went up to just over 6½ knots.
To answer an earlier question, I use single sheets and just end to end the pole. Keep things as simple as possible is my mantra.
Everything was going fine but the wind did not play ball, it decided to back a little. Changing course slightly closer to the shore corrected the problem, but it kept backing. Then the main gybed and thought I would now gybe the spinnaker. As I was in a rush I failed to ease the sheets, and the pole downhaul, going back to correct this resulted in another wrap, even worse than before. Grrrr, grrrr. Ended having to gybe the main back to assist clearing the wrap and then gybing correctly.
Then the unexpected happened the downhaul span on the pole came undone. A quick fix was made using a line with a bowline over the guy (see photo) and led forward to the fairlead and back to the midship cleat for easy control.
It was still almost a dead run, but the wind started increasing and so the log started reading higher, 6 ¾ to 7 knots, but in some gusts as high as 7.6 knots. In the stronger winds I hand steered for great speed than the autopilot as I could sense the small rollers coming from the SE on the starboard quarter. Great fun. Slowly the wind eased and backed a little more to SE. This enabled me to edge back towards the shore and the course I should be sailing. It was still cold on the water and I was still wearing full oil skins.
Although I was sailing fast, the tide was against me - I should have left a lot earlier. As I passed Aberdeen there was about 2 knots of tide I was punching, but I was not worried as I was sailing. After just over 4 hours under spinnaker, the wind eased to the force 2 forecast. There was nothing else to do but drop the spinnaker and turn on the engine. It was less than 10 miles to go, but the sea had turned glassy on the waves. The sun started working its magic and it warmed up, even though it was half five. It was also the first time on this trip I could get rid of the oil skins. So liberating.
After speaking to the marina by phone I rigged for starboard to berthing on E pontoon. After calling port control, they advised a vessel was due to leave and if I could speed up to enter before the vessel departs. After hitting the throttle to full revs, the speed increased to 6½ knots, from my usual 5 knots, in the sloppy sea. Once in the harbour I called the marina, but got no reply, they were going to show me which berth, so I just selected one. After tying up at 17.15, the chap from the marina arrived and said the berth was fine. Just come and see him in the office before he finished at 7. Have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by how much I had to pay - just £18 and that includes electricity.
So, now you know what Stonehaven is famous for.
The actual distance is only 33 miles, but I expect I sailed closer to 50 miles. This took me 7 hours.
