Concerto
Well-known member
Today has been a day of winds that were nothing like the forecast, 10 to 12 knots from the SW and veering to W to WNW.
After slipping out of my berth at 9.40 using a loop of a line from the midship cleat to a pontoon cleat about 1½m in front. As Concerto was head to wind the loop was only over the windward side of the cleat so as I motored foward it slipped off. After leaving Rathlin harbour, I tidied the fenders and warp away. Just after the Drake buoy I was able to turn into wind and raise the full mainsail before making a course to pass by the Rue Lighthouse. Full genoa was then unfurled. The wind was about 10 knots and I was on a broad reach on starboard. The whole day was spent on the same tack.
As I passed the lighthouse, the change of course to clear Fairhead meant the wind came on the beam. At this point, I entered a section of turbulent water and this knocked the speed through the water back massively, but the tidal push was about 5 knots, so it did not matter that much. Once clear of this area the boat speed increased and at one time it reached 11.3 knots over the ground. After rounding Torr Head, the course made the wind more of a close reach. Heading along the coast the wind increased, so a reef was put in the main. 20 minutes later a reef was needed in the genoa. For the next couple of hours, the reef in the genoa was in and out like a yoyo and the direction kept fluctuating by about 40 degrees. Oh, there were also some rain showers to crown it all.
Once I passed Larne, the wind increased and it became close hauled. The autopilot was under a lot of pressure so I decided to hand steer and frequently required full rudder as she was over canvased and several times the speed hit 8.68 knots. Easing the main sheet allowed me to use the autopilot whilst I dropped a second reef in the main. This was still not sufficient reduction in canvas so I put a second reef in the headsail. So much for the wind forecast of 10 to 12 knots, this was definitely a force 6 to 7. As I was in the lee of cliffs, the water was quite calm, so Concerto charged along nicely doing 7½ to 8 knots as the wind had veered making it a close reach again.
After passing Blackhead Lighthouse, the course changed slightly and I had to harden the sheets in. Then poof, the wind dropped and changed direction to N making it into a run. I shook out a reef in the main and one in the headsail, and then started goosewinging by sheeting the genoa round. Boat speed dropped as the water had become choppy again. After about ¾ hour, the speed was only 3 knots, so I rolled the genoa away and rounded up into wind to drop the mainsail. An engine is always refered to as an auxiliary and it was needed to head to Bangor Marina. Shortly after locating the berth and mooring iat 16.20, I stripped off the wet weather gear and sweatshirt as it felt very warm and humid. Before I had a chance to connect the electrics, it rained heavily.
After the shower had passed I connected the electric cable and noticed on a diagonal berth from mine were my friends on Rococco. I helped Richard fill his water tank and when Alison returned from the laundry we had some tea and biscuits, chatting about the strange weather and the places they had visited since we last met 5 days ago, We first met in Lowestoft and again in Wells, Hartlepool and Ballycastle, but they used the Caledonian Canal. Their plans will mean we shall not meet again on this trip, but we shall meet up at the Southampton Boat Show.
Approaching Rue Lighthouse
Rue Lighthouse abeam
Rathlin Island falling astern
Fairhead looks impressive and has a similar geological make up to the Giant's Causeway
I did not capture the 11.3 knots, but this was close.
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
After slipping out of my berth at 9.40 using a loop of a line from the midship cleat to a pontoon cleat about 1½m in front. As Concerto was head to wind the loop was only over the windward side of the cleat so as I motored foward it slipped off. After leaving Rathlin harbour, I tidied the fenders and warp away. Just after the Drake buoy I was able to turn into wind and raise the full mainsail before making a course to pass by the Rue Lighthouse. Full genoa was then unfurled. The wind was about 10 knots and I was on a broad reach on starboard. The whole day was spent on the same tack.
As I passed the lighthouse, the change of course to clear Fairhead meant the wind came on the beam. At this point, I entered a section of turbulent water and this knocked the speed through the water back massively, but the tidal push was about 5 knots, so it did not matter that much. Once clear of this area the boat speed increased and at one time it reached 11.3 knots over the ground. After rounding Torr Head, the course made the wind more of a close reach. Heading along the coast the wind increased, so a reef was put in the main. 20 minutes later a reef was needed in the genoa. For the next couple of hours, the reef in the genoa was in and out like a yoyo and the direction kept fluctuating by about 40 degrees. Oh, there were also some rain showers to crown it all.
Once I passed Larne, the wind increased and it became close hauled. The autopilot was under a lot of pressure so I decided to hand steer and frequently required full rudder as she was over canvased and several times the speed hit 8.68 knots. Easing the main sheet allowed me to use the autopilot whilst I dropped a second reef in the main. This was still not sufficient reduction in canvas so I put a second reef in the headsail. So much for the wind forecast of 10 to 12 knots, this was definitely a force 6 to 7. As I was in the lee of cliffs, the water was quite calm, so Concerto charged along nicely doing 7½ to 8 knots as the wind had veered making it a close reach again.
After passing Blackhead Lighthouse, the course changed slightly and I had to harden the sheets in. Then poof, the wind dropped and changed direction to N making it into a run. I shook out a reef in the main and one in the headsail, and then started goosewinging by sheeting the genoa round. Boat speed dropped as the water had become choppy again. After about ¾ hour, the speed was only 3 knots, so I rolled the genoa away and rounded up into wind to drop the mainsail. An engine is always refered to as an auxiliary and it was needed to head to Bangor Marina. Shortly after locating the berth and mooring iat 16.20, I stripped off the wet weather gear and sweatshirt as it felt very warm and humid. Before I had a chance to connect the electrics, it rained heavily.
After the shower had passed I connected the electric cable and noticed on a diagonal berth from mine were my friends on Rococco. I helped Richard fill his water tank and when Alison returned from the laundry we had some tea and biscuits, chatting about the strange weather and the places they had visited since we last met 5 days ago, We first met in Lowestoft and again in Wells, Hartlepool and Ballycastle, but they used the Caledonian Canal. Their plans will mean we shall not meet again on this trip, but we shall meet up at the Southampton Boat Show.
Approaching Rue Lighthouse
Rue Lighthouse abeam
Rathlin Island falling astern
Fairhead looks impressive and has a similar geological make up to the Giant's Causeway
I did not capture the 11.3 knots, but this was close.
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
