D3B
Well-Known Member
After being royally entertained aboard Full Circle the time came for the return to SYH.
Overnight the wind had increased and was gusting to 30 Kts. Now on my little sports cruiser i would have gone back to bed and booked the restaurant for Sunday evening hoping for a calmer day to move the boat on Monday /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
But saily types seem to like all this strong wind stuff, which also means sea described as moderate on the forecast /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
the vessel was prepared for the homeward passage with skipper contemplating which sail to use /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif (that confused me really cos i dont wake up in the morning and start wondering which engine to use /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ) and there was some discussion about reefing the main.......now here i wondered if we had been transported to jamaica over night and a gentleman with dreadlocks might appear offering a large scented rollup /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but it turned out to be one of these saily terms for using only part of the sail....bit like half throttle i suppose /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
i recalled that the night before one of the halyards /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif had been fastened to a deck fitting and advised skipper accordingly. it was moved to a fitting on the mast. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
at 10.30 we departed.....only 30 minutes later than the originally scheduled time....bernie defintely doesnt do mornings /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but at least there was more water in the narrow channel out of Bradwell with the echo sounder alarm only bleeping once...
we motored....yes it worked ok on this occasion....passed the training wall which we had come to know so well the afternoon before. up goes the head sail with me doing all the pulling again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif engine into neutral....and the wind dies /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
ok says skip....main sail up and if we need to reef we can do that later. instructions given to pull (again ?) hard on indicated bit of string.
so i pulled like billy ho......nothing happened and the line went solid /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
wont budge.
now remember that halyard that was tied to the mast /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
should have been tied to the top of the sail /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
in the mean time the wind had got up again and was gusting up to 26 kts /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
no need for head sail there then.
so we tied the sail away.
the sail down the blackwater was relatively uneventful if a little windy....well for me at least.
a ship entered the estuary ahead and at one time looked as though it was heading straight for us. a clear and concise course alteration to starboard /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif soon cleared the way for him to pass on our port side.
I had noted that even with F5/6 winds the sea was comparativley quiet. waves every 6 seconds and not much more than 1/2 metre height, which though windy was making for an enjoyable sail.
that didnt last long.....out into the open sea and the wind gusting to F8 occasionally, the wave height became shorter and much steeper /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
i noticed in the distance that the white horses were getting a little aggressive and i guessed something different might be coming when benie clips the safety harness on /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Mike had been doing an admirable job at the helm....i had a turn but think i was not paying enough attention as we ended up with a very snake like wake as i had to keep changing course to maintain the direction intended /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
one wave caught up with us and pushed the boat to starboard quite sharply /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif not sure whether that should have scared but me the way that skip calmly controlled the situation /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif didnt give me cause for concern /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
we even saw laods of nutters on sailboards off clacton /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and when the sun appeared for a short time i am sure i saw loads of essex girls on the beach in their bikinis /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
a noticable change in the sea marked the tide change and for a while the sea flattend out a bit /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
we were now in an area where i could recognise marker buoys and easily identified Languard /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif home at last /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but of course in these saily boat things you have to make allowances for the wind. we seemed to be heading for the Deben at one point /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif until we tacked or was it a jibe....i dunno....we changed course anyway. now the wind and sea were broadside onto us which was probably the most interesting situation we had been in all weekend. heeled over at quite a fierce angle we or at least bernie battled against the sea and wind. we had gone quite a way north and were very close to the deep water channel....and in the distance....yes you guessed it a big ship was approaching /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
we sailed into the shelf area opposite the container terminal. visiblity reduced to about 200 yards when an absolute deluge of rain fell. it only lasted a short while as happens with squalls. i noticed the harbour master's vessel was floating in front of us about 100 yards off. oooh thats nice a welcoming party on the way back after my first sail /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
<whisper> actually i think he was stopping us going across the entrance to the Stour cause the big ship was going that way <whisper end>
so it was down with the head sail and on with the engine /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
once the big boy had gone we continued to motor back to SYH. i think bernie prefers to sail rather than motor because after a few moments she is back at the pointy bit getting the head sail ready
Ok pull on that string i am told....
what again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
think i shall suggest someone designs some nice mechanical means of pulling bits of string so you can sit at the helm and not worry where to put the G&T without it spilling /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
aaaah....that doesnt look too good.... a tear in the sail
so down comes the sail again and we motor back after putting a few more shillings in the metre for the diesel /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
All in all a very enjoyable weekend.
thanks to the other forumites who were ready to rescue us outside Bradwell if we couldnt fix the engine.
thanks to Mike who helmed for a large portion of the time. though at one point when he started to look a bit green helming was probably the best place to be
and a very big thanks to bernie for taking a virgin sailer on what was an impessionable journey. beyond reason is a fanatstic little boat (if its not rude to call her little)
Fear?.......no Jim....sorry none at all. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look foward to a crewing opportunity aboard one of the massive yachts the other forumites own. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
convert to the other side?
well you should never say never.....but most probably not.
Overnight the wind had increased and was gusting to 30 Kts. Now on my little sports cruiser i would have gone back to bed and booked the restaurant for Sunday evening hoping for a calmer day to move the boat on Monday /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
But saily types seem to like all this strong wind stuff, which also means sea described as moderate on the forecast /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
the vessel was prepared for the homeward passage with skipper contemplating which sail to use /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif (that confused me really cos i dont wake up in the morning and start wondering which engine to use /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ) and there was some discussion about reefing the main.......now here i wondered if we had been transported to jamaica over night and a gentleman with dreadlocks might appear offering a large scented rollup /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but it turned out to be one of these saily terms for using only part of the sail....bit like half throttle i suppose /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
i recalled that the night before one of the halyards /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif had been fastened to a deck fitting and advised skipper accordingly. it was moved to a fitting on the mast. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
at 10.30 we departed.....only 30 minutes later than the originally scheduled time....bernie defintely doesnt do mornings /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but at least there was more water in the narrow channel out of Bradwell with the echo sounder alarm only bleeping once...
we motored....yes it worked ok on this occasion....passed the training wall which we had come to know so well the afternoon before. up goes the head sail with me doing all the pulling again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif engine into neutral....and the wind dies /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
ok says skip....main sail up and if we need to reef we can do that later. instructions given to pull (again ?) hard on indicated bit of string.
so i pulled like billy ho......nothing happened and the line went solid /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
wont budge.
now remember that halyard that was tied to the mast /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
should have been tied to the top of the sail /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
in the mean time the wind had got up again and was gusting up to 26 kts /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
no need for head sail there then.
so we tied the sail away.
the sail down the blackwater was relatively uneventful if a little windy....well for me at least.
a ship entered the estuary ahead and at one time looked as though it was heading straight for us. a clear and concise course alteration to starboard /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif soon cleared the way for him to pass on our port side.
I had noted that even with F5/6 winds the sea was comparativley quiet. waves every 6 seconds and not much more than 1/2 metre height, which though windy was making for an enjoyable sail.
that didnt last long.....out into the open sea and the wind gusting to F8 occasionally, the wave height became shorter and much steeper /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
i noticed in the distance that the white horses were getting a little aggressive and i guessed something different might be coming when benie clips the safety harness on /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Mike had been doing an admirable job at the helm....i had a turn but think i was not paying enough attention as we ended up with a very snake like wake as i had to keep changing course to maintain the direction intended /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
one wave caught up with us and pushed the boat to starboard quite sharply /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif not sure whether that should have scared but me the way that skip calmly controlled the situation /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif didnt give me cause for concern /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
we even saw laods of nutters on sailboards off clacton /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and when the sun appeared for a short time i am sure i saw loads of essex girls on the beach in their bikinis /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
a noticable change in the sea marked the tide change and for a while the sea flattend out a bit /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
we were now in an area where i could recognise marker buoys and easily identified Languard /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif home at last /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but of course in these saily boat things you have to make allowances for the wind. we seemed to be heading for the Deben at one point /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif until we tacked or was it a jibe....i dunno....we changed course anyway. now the wind and sea were broadside onto us which was probably the most interesting situation we had been in all weekend. heeled over at quite a fierce angle we or at least bernie battled against the sea and wind. we had gone quite a way north and were very close to the deep water channel....and in the distance....yes you guessed it a big ship was approaching /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
we sailed into the shelf area opposite the container terminal. visiblity reduced to about 200 yards when an absolute deluge of rain fell. it only lasted a short while as happens with squalls. i noticed the harbour master's vessel was floating in front of us about 100 yards off. oooh thats nice a welcoming party on the way back after my first sail /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
<whisper> actually i think he was stopping us going across the entrance to the Stour cause the big ship was going that way <whisper end>
so it was down with the head sail and on with the engine /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
once the big boy had gone we continued to motor back to SYH. i think bernie prefers to sail rather than motor because after a few moments she is back at the pointy bit getting the head sail ready
Ok pull on that string i am told....
what again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
think i shall suggest someone designs some nice mechanical means of pulling bits of string so you can sit at the helm and not worry where to put the G&T without it spilling /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
aaaah....that doesnt look too good.... a tear in the sail
so down comes the sail again and we motor back after putting a few more shillings in the metre for the diesel /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
All in all a very enjoyable weekend.
thanks to the other forumites who were ready to rescue us outside Bradwell if we couldnt fix the engine.
thanks to Mike who helmed for a large portion of the time. though at one point when he started to look a bit green helming was probably the best place to be
and a very big thanks to bernie for taking a virgin sailer on what was an impessionable journey. beyond reason is a fanatstic little boat (if its not rude to call her little)
Fear?.......no Jim....sorry none at all. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look foward to a crewing opportunity aboard one of the massive yachts the other forumites own. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
convert to the other side?
well you should never say never.....but most probably not.
