A weekend of learning!

[rbcoomer]

This last weekend was a first in a F5/F6 for me and a great learning experience! I volunteered for safety boat/marshalling support for the NRC round 1 in Torquay and thus went out in conditions I wouldn't have taken the family out in (and had only experienced before in much bigger vessels!) Our little 15' Fletcher did take a good bit of water over the top but coped well - although I doubt the bilge pump has seen so much action. Holding a position against a 20-25kt wind in a meter swell was an interesting experience as the wind would occasionally push us too far around or towards the course, but a quick circle got us back in position. My aim was to keep the wind about 30deg off the bow and the swell around 300deg as this seemed to hold us in place with low rpm - the wind down the starboard side holding us off the course. Looking at the fairly dense trace on the plotter, we didn't do as bad as I feared and apart from one yellow flag, thankfully no incidents for us.

I was glad not to have been in a race boat however as I think they had a pretty gruelling weekend! I also learnt a new term for sea state - "snotty" wasn't one I'd heard before! :ambivalence: Big thanks to 'Dave the Diver' who was my knowledgeable crewman for the day (and who, in a wetsuit, was much more suitably dressed than I was) and to the safety team for the opportunity. :encouragement:

A day of drying out today - myself and the boat!

Sorry - didn't get many pictures as rather preoccupied and it was a little wet for the camera much of the time - did manage to take a few on Saturday on the Southern side of the circuit where it was much flatter...

 

[rafiki_]

Hmmm, snotty seems to sum it up nicely. I hope your Fletch enjoyed the experience, and thanks for the photos.

 

[rbcoomer]

Hmmm, snotty seems to sum it up nicely. I hope your Fletch enjoyed the experience, and thanks for the photos.

Indeed, the pictures were by far the better day - yesterday was more confused with higher wind but much less cloud. Must admit that I was surprised there weren't more sailing boats out there given a good strong wind - perhaps they all wanted to head South? Apart from the charter/local tourist boats and us, very quiet...

Great confidence boost in the boat and handling as conditions were worse than we'd usually go out in. I've just been out cleaning and empting everything from the boat for drying - found 3" of seawater in the base of the seats... I wonder how that got there!

 

[prv]

found 3" of seawater in the base of the seats... I wonder how that got there!

Are you sure it was water?

Pete

 

[rbcoomer]

Are you sure it was water?

Pete

- Yes, didn't quite come to that!

I stood the whole time in order to see over the chop and keep head dryish. By standing, the water over the screen hits the chest rather than the face!