drewstwos
Well-Known Member
Man aspires. the Gods conspire, and the result is a FUBAR. Know what that is; No well it’s Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition. Of course the F can be altered to suit your own mindset, but I was brought up proper.
Part the first......
SWMBO works. but I am long retired. She works a shift pattern that is 3 on early, 3 on late and 3 off, This does create a problem when applied to boating here on the Isle of Man. Getting the three things. 1 time off, 2 tides right, and 3 weather to coincide takes a small miracle if we contemplate going other than out for a jolly. A trip to Aredglass. Hah! you smirk;30 miles. A mere Nothing,you may say as you smile tolerantly and nod sagely. Yes, been there, done that many times. True enough, I have read tales of voyages many times that length here on the Forum, and done many in my earlier years but now Tempus has Fugited.
What’s that mean you ask, OK “The years have fled”
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SWMBO is a lot younger but being a gentleman I cannot divulge a ladies age, but she was born 1000 miles from the sea, and had never done small boats on a rough sea. Big cruise liners..yes so She did get a real hard introduction to this sort of boating, but still came up smiling.
So when the Weather Man said that there were at least three days of settled high pressure coming up I was tempted, (Oh foolish man) to believe him. Then it happened.
The boat was fuelled and spare fuel in 25 litre barrels stowed away.I can hear you laughing. Spare fuel, whatever next. Patience dear reader, and all will be revealed. Freebird is a small boat with a very small fuel tank. 15 gallons, and since I re-engined her with a larger engine she has become thirsty. This means that unless I let the fuel level drop to nearly empty, I would have to do a pit stop during the crossing. I dont have a fuel gauge, so time is important. Some time back a kind person on here told me of a 12 volt fuel transfer pump that fits through the neck of said barrels and works a treat.
Enough of the history, “This is where the story really starts”
I had been to the boat and made sure that everything was in place. locked up and gone home. The weather was just right. Time to go was 11.30 am as that was when she would float. The plan. down to the Calf Sound. hang a left and head out to Ireland. Arrive Ardglass early afternoon, have all the next day there and head back the morning of the third day in time for SWMBO to get her beauty sleep for an early start the next day. I may add that an early is at work at 6 am. so rise and shine at 4 25 am.
Arrived at the harbour, launched the dinghy
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and as I was rowing out a voice from a nearby yacht called. “Did you know you left a light on all night”
“Oh sheeeit” I growled. But what the heck , one little light, that’s no problem.
How wrong can you be. I climbed on board, unlocked the door, went in and saw said light in the wheelhouse deckhead gleaming, glowering, gloating at me, Still bright and baleful. Turned the engine start key.... no voltage. Flat.....Flat.....Effin’ Flat.
Now how can one little light, a tiny florescent thing drain 2 110 amp batteries overnight......unless...knackered batteries.
Oh how the dastard fates conspire, to thwart the things to which we aspire. (desire, but I prefer it as written)
OK. by chance the nearby yachtie, was alongside the harbour wall and had shore power and, bless his heart a powerful charger, (Aren’t those yachtie peeps nice ) so when the tide went out I came back and we carried the batteries over and he gave then a good walloping overnight.
But, and now the story takes a more sinister tack, possible total electric failure half way across. OK I know diesels do not stop running even then. But there’s a well travelled shipping lane past the Island. Ferries and freighters etc.
[/IMG]
OH Lord. my boat is so small and your sea is so big. Ah well. Change of plan. Lost a day, go to Peel tomorrow instead. stay overnight and get back as the tide is filling the harbour again. Were the fates saying “this is not the time to go across the wide blue waters”. I have truly had my life surely saved by my Guardian Angel one horrific day. She. yes She told me to........ but that’s another story, perhaps for another time.
So we drove home via the Calf Sound. The tide rip was really going at it, Spring tides ad all that, but it would have meant a rough passage or go round the outside of the Calf where the overfalls are quite something at times.
Next morning we went down to the harbour and the Yachtie told me the batteries were now OK.. but he, like me thought they could be suspect. He had kindly put them back on board.
Leaving SWMBO in the car I again rowed out and connected the batteries up. Good voltage, but a bit down. Held the starter key on warmers for 30 seconds, prayed, another turn and she fired up straight away.
Yippee!!!! and other such nautical expressions.
At least if we get another problem in Peel rather than Ardglass we can always hop on a bus and get home.
Off at last
[/IMG]
and out to sea. There was a bit of a breeze. SW, but we soon settled down at 2600 rpm and about 9 kts on the GPS. The Sound had flattened out during the night and it was about an hour before high water so little in the way of tide either way. There were a host of people down at the Cafe
We did do a circle ion the Seal Pool, but they were out fishing. Saw only 2 some way off but too far off for pix.
Looking at the chart a straight line to Contrary Head is the shortest distance but it does take you a bit far out for photos given the level of our cameras. Big zoom and it all goes to pot, so decided to do a coastal crawl all on the way back.
Going well
[/IMG]
Passing Port Erin I told you we were too far out
[/IMG]
As soon as you pass Cocntrary Head..well named as currents meet there and the speed drops of no matter which way you go. Must have been hell in the days of sail without an engine, Peel castle comes into sight, and the harbour is just round the corner.
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I knew that the marina flapgate is dropped 2 hours before and after HW so I called them up (Ch 12) asking if OK to come in. By the time we were at the swing bridge they were ready and in we went.
Peel is a quite busy fishing port. Now mainly scallops and queenies, so a pontoon marina was recently built for the leisure boats.
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Being a Manx registered boat it is free for us off the pontoons, but £18 a night on. My guardian angel was right on my shoulder as we were given a berth along side the wall in the midst of the fishing boats, with a ladder and electric and water to hand. Oh joy! This meant that I could just turn off all the ship power and hope the batteries would still be OK in the morning.
I think here is the place to put some pix of Peel for e who have never been here.
[/IMG]
some will know this boat
[/IMG]
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Freebird is not a luxury cruiser. Being members of the lower income families, I have never been able to afford a boat with all the necessities of life at sea, so we have to suffer sleeping bags, a wash is more of a lick and a promise but what the heck its FUN for a limited time. Hence my dreams of owning boats such as Toms Little Ship. or something even bigger, but unless I win the Lottery that will remain a fond hope.
Now you will have to wait for Part 2 which will be along shortly
[/IMG]
Cheers
Part the first......
SWMBO works. but I am long retired. She works a shift pattern that is 3 on early, 3 on late and 3 off, This does create a problem when applied to boating here on the Isle of Man. Getting the three things. 1 time off, 2 tides right, and 3 weather to coincide takes a small miracle if we contemplate going other than out for a jolly. A trip to Aredglass. Hah! you smirk;30 miles. A mere Nothing,you may say as you smile tolerantly and nod sagely. Yes, been there, done that many times. True enough, I have read tales of voyages many times that length here on the Forum, and done many in my earlier years but now Tempus has Fugited.
What’s that mean you ask, OK “The years have fled”
SWMBO is a lot younger but being a gentleman I cannot divulge a ladies age, but she was born 1000 miles from the sea, and had never done small boats on a rough sea. Big cruise liners..yes so She did get a real hard introduction to this sort of boating, but still came up smiling.
So when the Weather Man said that there were at least three days of settled high pressure coming up I was tempted, (Oh foolish man) to believe him. Then it happened.
The boat was fuelled and spare fuel in 25 litre barrels stowed away.I can hear you laughing. Spare fuel, whatever next. Patience dear reader, and all will be revealed. Freebird is a small boat with a very small fuel tank. 15 gallons, and since I re-engined her with a larger engine she has become thirsty. This means that unless I let the fuel level drop to nearly empty, I would have to do a pit stop during the crossing. I dont have a fuel gauge, so time is important. Some time back a kind person on here told me of a 12 volt fuel transfer pump that fits through the neck of said barrels and works a treat.
Enough of the history, “This is where the story really starts”
I had been to the boat and made sure that everything was in place. locked up and gone home. The weather was just right. Time to go was 11.30 am as that was when she would float. The plan. down to the Calf Sound. hang a left and head out to Ireland. Arrive Ardglass early afternoon, have all the next day there and head back the morning of the third day in time for SWMBO to get her beauty sleep for an early start the next day. I may add that an early is at work at 6 am. so rise and shine at 4 25 am.
Arrived at the harbour, launched the dinghy
and as I was rowing out a voice from a nearby yacht called. “Did you know you left a light on all night”
“Oh sheeeit” I growled. But what the heck , one little light, that’s no problem.
How wrong can you be. I climbed on board, unlocked the door, went in and saw said light in the wheelhouse deckhead gleaming, glowering, gloating at me, Still bright and baleful. Turned the engine start key.... no voltage. Flat.....Flat.....Effin’ Flat.
Now how can one little light, a tiny florescent thing drain 2 110 amp batteries overnight......unless...knackered batteries.
Oh how the dastard fates conspire, to thwart the things to which we aspire. (desire, but I prefer it as written)
OK. by chance the nearby yachtie, was alongside the harbour wall and had shore power and, bless his heart a powerful charger, (Aren’t those yachtie peeps nice ) so when the tide went out I came back and we carried the batteries over and he gave then a good walloping overnight.
But, and now the story takes a more sinister tack, possible total electric failure half way across. OK I know diesels do not stop running even then. But there’s a well travelled shipping lane past the Island. Ferries and freighters etc.
OH Lord. my boat is so small and your sea is so big. Ah well. Change of plan. Lost a day, go to Peel tomorrow instead. stay overnight and get back as the tide is filling the harbour again. Were the fates saying “this is not the time to go across the wide blue waters”. I have truly had my life surely saved by my Guardian Angel one horrific day. She. yes She told me to........ but that’s another story, perhaps for another time.
So we drove home via the Calf Sound. The tide rip was really going at it, Spring tides ad all that, but it would have meant a rough passage or go round the outside of the Calf where the overfalls are quite something at times.
Next morning we went down to the harbour and the Yachtie told me the batteries were now OK.. but he, like me thought they could be suspect. He had kindly put them back on board.
Leaving SWMBO in the car I again rowed out and connected the batteries up. Good voltage, but a bit down. Held the starter key on warmers for 30 seconds, prayed, another turn and she fired up straight away.
Yippee!!!! and other such nautical expressions.
At least if we get another problem in Peel rather than Ardglass we can always hop on a bus and get home.
Off at last
and out to sea. There was a bit of a breeze. SW, but we soon settled down at 2600 rpm and about 9 kts on the GPS. The Sound had flattened out during the night and it was about an hour before high water so little in the way of tide either way. There were a host of people down at the Cafe
We did do a circle ion the Seal Pool, but they were out fishing. Saw only 2 some way off but too far off for pix.
Looking at the chart a straight line to Contrary Head is the shortest distance but it does take you a bit far out for photos given the level of our cameras. Big zoom and it all goes to pot, so decided to do a coastal crawl all on the way back.
Going well
Passing Port Erin I told you we were too far out
As soon as you pass Cocntrary Head..well named as currents meet there and the speed drops of no matter which way you go. Must have been hell in the days of sail without an engine, Peel castle comes into sight, and the harbour is just round the corner.
I knew that the marina flapgate is dropped 2 hours before and after HW so I called them up (Ch 12) asking if OK to come in. By the time we were at the swing bridge they were ready and in we went.
Peel is a quite busy fishing port. Now mainly scallops and queenies, so a pontoon marina was recently built for the leisure boats.
Being a Manx registered boat it is free for us off the pontoons, but £18 a night on. My guardian angel was right on my shoulder as we were given a berth along side the wall in the midst of the fishing boats, with a ladder and electric and water to hand. Oh joy! This meant that I could just turn off all the ship power and hope the batteries would still be OK in the morning.
I think here is the place to put some pix of Peel for e who have never been here.
some will know this boat
Freebird is not a luxury cruiser. Being members of the lower income families, I have never been able to afford a boat with all the necessities of life at sea, so we have to suffer sleeping bags, a wash is more of a lick and a promise but what the heck its FUN for a limited time. Hence my dreams of owning boats such as Toms Little Ship. or something even bigger, but unless I win the Lottery that will remain a fond hope.
Now you will have to wait for Part 2 which will be along shortly
Cheers
