D3B
New member
So Mr 3 Bottles sees this post from a boater in distress who like himself has crewing problems.
Like a knight in shining armour the offer is made to crew aboard.........a sail boat /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I did admit to the skipper I had no experience of vessels with hankies, loads of string, attached to lengths of metal sticking out the middle of a boat. My sanity was put to question as the weather was....according to some forecasts...F5/6 on the nose rain and moderate seas to the proposed destination of Bradwell Marina. Not ideal conditions for a first sea trip on a small sailing boat. I believe a further attempt to dissuade me with the mention that there was no liferaft aboard /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif....I admit I did have a long pregnant pause before I spoke after this bombshell /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I assured said skipper(ess) that I would be alright, so set off early from work on Friday to get to my boat at Lowestoft to collect some essential items. H/H vhf, lifejacket, safety harness /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif waterproof trousers /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.....yes Jim they did keep the water out on both legs of this epic voyage......well come on 9 hours from SYH to Bradwell....35ish Nm....its an hour and a half for goodness sake /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Having completed D/S theory and practical and YM theory i had learnt a little about how things need to be done....shall we say a bit different.... for saily types. The need to sail with the tide to get extra speed, the wind needing to be favourable to propel you in the correct direction....so i wasnt going into this completely blind. Arrive at SYH and meet eastcoastbernie and friend Mike. The plan is to arrise at 0600 and set off at 0700 which as i had glanced at the almanac was a little after optimum departure time.......aaaah....bernie doesnt do mornings /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
So, arrise at 0600 depart at....
0800.......bernie definitely doesnt do mornings /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
to be fair she had one totally new crew member (me) and another with experience from many years ago and did give an excellent safety instruction before we departed.
We set off from SYH motor sailing down the Orwell.....that cone had a very nice shape /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif .....and evetually switched off the engine to sail before leaving the Trinity Container terminals. the quiet was amazing, not something i was remotely used to at sea. we continued to set a course favourable to the wind, which was nothing like the strength the doom and gloom forecasters had predicted....a tug went passed on his journey out of the harbour to collect a nice big container ship, who we managed to avoid with a deft tack.
Continuing the passage "beating the wind"....I believe the expression was. now i have seen some strange things but how the hell are you going to beat something which you cant actually see /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Around about Clacton the wind died so 50p went into the meter for some diesel to be dispensed to start the engine. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif thats my sort of boating 20Kts and get to the bar quickly. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ooops.....it started but then died....started and then died. ok thinks me we have them flappy things outside which will still get us there if a little slower.....course you need the motor to get into the marina though /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif . skipper starts the task of checking what might be wrong with the engine.
Fuel?
Yes.......and not a 1/3 indicator on the guage either /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
belt?
ok....
Lets drain a little fuel off the bottom of the filter and make sure there isnt any crud in there....i suggest.
an old olive jar was located from the rubbish bag to collect the sample. screw being undone.
just as i was about to say.....dont completely undo.....
plop......the screw falls into the jar /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
ooops!
like the good dutch boy saving the dyke.... a finger is pressed against the hole to stem the flow of fuel, whilst i tried to get my fingers into the jar to retrieve said screw.....now covered in diesel /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
question.....which wet wipes please skipper? they removed nearly all traces of fuel from my hands. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ok....says skip...this isnt easy at sea...lets get to Bradwell, drop the hook and carry out what repairs we could in calmer conditions. a phone call to a friendy marine engineer in France /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif confirms my suspicions that there is probably fuel starvation.
eventually (this sailing lark takes ages to get anywhere) we arrive off Bradwell....just in time for the wind to completey die and an absolute deluge.
i am given anchor duties /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
ok......wheres the windlass button /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Nope /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Ok then the manual windlass /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Nope /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
you have to chuck the anchor over the pointy bit /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
yep /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Duly threw anchor over and we managed a good hold first time....just as well as the sail had been furled (oh my god a raggie term)
Skipper then followed instructions given by engineer in france....turned engine key and hooray she started. after a short interlude for one of those things now banned in public it was time to retrieve the anchor.
i was despatched to the pointy bit to PULL UP the anchor. i pulled on the rope and eventually got about 2 metres of chain on board....then solid /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif it would not budge
much heaving, motoring over anchor and lots of purple face it seemed to be free.....but is still solid. we are motoring with the anchor half way up. but at least we were clear of the training wall /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
skip comes up with a brain wave to attach a line to the chain and pull it up with the winch.....after all my purple face /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.....so the shank of the anchor appears under the surface with a boulder attached /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. now we have discussed this on mobo forum so i knew exactly what was required /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. piece of string around the shank, pull it up and push off offending boulder. in the end i pulled the shank with the boat hook and it fell off as though it hadnt been attached /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.....after thought....drop hook back onto sea bed "may" have released it anyway /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Moored up....on what i was informed was a pontoon for a very large ship...not a small sailing yacht....but at least we were berthed safely.
So to Full Circle for the curry....
Return journey to be continued......
Like a knight in shining armour the offer is made to crew aboard.........a sail boat /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I did admit to the skipper I had no experience of vessels with hankies, loads of string, attached to lengths of metal sticking out the middle of a boat. My sanity was put to question as the weather was....according to some forecasts...F5/6 on the nose rain and moderate seas to the proposed destination of Bradwell Marina. Not ideal conditions for a first sea trip on a small sailing boat. I believe a further attempt to dissuade me with the mention that there was no liferaft aboard /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif....I admit I did have a long pregnant pause before I spoke after this bombshell /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I assured said skipper(ess) that I would be alright, so set off early from work on Friday to get to my boat at Lowestoft to collect some essential items. H/H vhf, lifejacket, safety harness /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif waterproof trousers /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.....yes Jim they did keep the water out on both legs of this epic voyage......well come on 9 hours from SYH to Bradwell....35ish Nm....its an hour and a half for goodness sake /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Having completed D/S theory and practical and YM theory i had learnt a little about how things need to be done....shall we say a bit different.... for saily types. The need to sail with the tide to get extra speed, the wind needing to be favourable to propel you in the correct direction....so i wasnt going into this completely blind. Arrive at SYH and meet eastcoastbernie and friend Mike. The plan is to arrise at 0600 and set off at 0700 which as i had glanced at the almanac was a little after optimum departure time.......aaaah....bernie doesnt do mornings /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
So, arrise at 0600 depart at....
0800.......bernie definitely doesnt do mornings /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
to be fair she had one totally new crew member (me) and another with experience from many years ago and did give an excellent safety instruction before we departed.
We set off from SYH motor sailing down the Orwell.....that cone had a very nice shape /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif .....and evetually switched off the engine to sail before leaving the Trinity Container terminals. the quiet was amazing, not something i was remotely used to at sea. we continued to set a course favourable to the wind, which was nothing like the strength the doom and gloom forecasters had predicted....a tug went passed on his journey out of the harbour to collect a nice big container ship, who we managed to avoid with a deft tack.
Continuing the passage "beating the wind"....I believe the expression was. now i have seen some strange things but how the hell are you going to beat something which you cant actually see /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Around about Clacton the wind died so 50p went into the meter for some diesel to be dispensed to start the engine. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif thats my sort of boating 20Kts and get to the bar quickly. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ooops.....it started but then died....started and then died. ok thinks me we have them flappy things outside which will still get us there if a little slower.....course you need the motor to get into the marina though /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif . skipper starts the task of checking what might be wrong with the engine.
Fuel?
Yes.......and not a 1/3 indicator on the guage either /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
belt?
ok....
Lets drain a little fuel off the bottom of the filter and make sure there isnt any crud in there....i suggest.
an old olive jar was located from the rubbish bag to collect the sample. screw being undone.
just as i was about to say.....dont completely undo.....
plop......the screw falls into the jar /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
ooops!
like the good dutch boy saving the dyke.... a finger is pressed against the hole to stem the flow of fuel, whilst i tried to get my fingers into the jar to retrieve said screw.....now covered in diesel /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
question.....which wet wipes please skipper? they removed nearly all traces of fuel from my hands. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ok....says skip...this isnt easy at sea...lets get to Bradwell, drop the hook and carry out what repairs we could in calmer conditions. a phone call to a friendy marine engineer in France /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif confirms my suspicions that there is probably fuel starvation.
eventually (this sailing lark takes ages to get anywhere) we arrive off Bradwell....just in time for the wind to completey die and an absolute deluge.
i am given anchor duties /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
ok......wheres the windlass button /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Nope /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Ok then the manual windlass /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Nope /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
you have to chuck the anchor over the pointy bit /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
yep /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Duly threw anchor over and we managed a good hold first time....just as well as the sail had been furled (oh my god a raggie term)
Skipper then followed instructions given by engineer in france....turned engine key and hooray she started. after a short interlude for one of those things now banned in public it was time to retrieve the anchor.
i was despatched to the pointy bit to PULL UP the anchor. i pulled on the rope and eventually got about 2 metres of chain on board....then solid /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif it would not budge
much heaving, motoring over anchor and lots of purple face it seemed to be free.....but is still solid. we are motoring with the anchor half way up. but at least we were clear of the training wall /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
skip comes up with a brain wave to attach a line to the chain and pull it up with the winch.....after all my purple face /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.....so the shank of the anchor appears under the surface with a boulder attached /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. now we have discussed this on mobo forum so i knew exactly what was required /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. piece of string around the shank, pull it up and push off offending boulder. in the end i pulled the shank with the boat hook and it fell off as though it hadnt been attached /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.....after thought....drop hook back onto sea bed "may" have released it anyway /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Moored up....on what i was informed was a pontoon for a very large ship...not a small sailing yacht....but at least we were berthed safely.
So to Full Circle for the curry....
Return journey to be continued......
