Recent content by Phil the Cowman

My take on cooking on small boats - feel free to ignore!! I've had sub 24ft boats for the last 25 years or so : a west Wight Potter, a Procter Pirate 17, and now a Cal t4 which is 24ft, and have cooked successfully on all of them. In fact, I lived on the Pirate for three months a little while...

While my Pirate has a fin keel ( as described by Little Sister above), the mast arrangements seem to be the same. I would concur with Little Sister's advice about raising the mast. The only thing not mentioned is that after connecting the shrouds, if you attach the foot of the mast to the...

Thought that some may find this video of my JBC 2019 entertaining. Not the the way to do it, but the way I did it!

Sorry! Messed up the video link! Hopefully this will work

Apologies for coming rather late to this thread. In answer to the basic premise of "how far"? For everyday weekending, being based in Poole, I found that in my 17 foot Procter Pirate it was fairly routine to either head to Weymouth or Cowes ( 26 and 32 miles respectively); it just took a bit...

Great news! Good for her! I become something of an obsessive during each race. Anyone know what generation the boat is? ( ie foiler either initially or retro fitted)

Well, I don't know about other people, but I took part in the race for the first time, and thoroughly enjoyed it! As a " purple flagger" we had the latest start, so were always rather up against it in the light conditions. My priorities were to to have a good days sailing (achieved),stay out of...

In answer to this post and the earlier one re small boat sailors. I did it a few years ago in a little boat driven primarily by pragmatism! - there was an opportunity in how my life was happening and I had a boat, so why not just get on and do it? Like so many other things, if you wait for...

I've owned my Pirate for about 15 years ( though haven't sailed her for a couple of years due to family commitments and also having another boat). Super little boat! Would fully endorse Little Sister's post, and would like to add a couple of other points. The cost of an outboard plus lifting...

Not sure I can see a problem. Great opportunity to get to know your new boat ( which sounds great! ). You posted a suggestion on the racing forum about offshore racing on a budget; well here's some relatively civilised offshore practice for you. You seem to have more than enough gear already...

Great stuff Steve!

+1 to the fulsome praise; brilliant effort!! Never done the Crinan, but done the cally twice; once in a Folkboat ( your aspirational size) and once in the Pirate. Much easier in the little boat! Staff really helpful; dreading it but no probs. One thing that hasn't been pointed out is , depending...

Do you mean something like this?(Apologies to those who've already seen it http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKQYR7AkhVc

Steve, speaking as a fellow small boat sailor ( 17 ft Pirate as you know) I would be very cautious of relying on any form of electronics as a primary data source ; one cheeky wave, or just the probable all pervading damp are liable to bugger it all up. Don't think it matters whether Admiralty or...

Glad you liked them. Spot on about the boat: needs a bit of wind to get her going, but with 50% ballast ratio and form stability as well she's tremendously stiff and powerful for her size. The dolphins were a bit of " moment ". As an illustration of the capriciousness of wild things a couple of...