solent clown
RIP
We were recently given a Z Spars boomstrut for our trident, to replace the tired old kicker that I had been assured by an expert was the source of our lack of crisp performance all round, and the reason I was finding the mainsheet traveller such hard work.. Duly educated, and conviced it may help, I set about the thing with an angle grinder to shorten it to fit, made up a block and spinlock system back to the cockpit, and congratuled myself on if nothing else, how very fetching it looked.
Yesterday we went out to try it, and the difference was immediate. Everything was better, we were faster, could sail better at every point of sail, and the mainsheet and horse largely tamed. Such a difference did it make, that our previous best speed of 6.4 kts in a really good wind was bested by our performance in a lesser blow where we reached 8.5kts (both with tidal help BTW)
Such was the difference in feel and general sail-ability, that what was to have been a trip from Southampton to Newtown Creek saw us for the very first time actually break out of the Solent as we sailed on past the needles and struck out to the west. Unfortunately time forced us to turn about and head home before we reached Poole, but it was a very gratifying experience, and everything seemed so very much easier with the boom under control.
We had an absolutely great day, everything just kind of clicked together, and it was like a different boat. Maybe some of that is down to our rapid learning curve, but whatever the answer, we had one of those almost mythological sepia-toned days where we felt every second was consigned to the very best drawer of the memory bank, one of those days you break your heart that it must end, and one that leaves the soul warmed, but hungry for more.
Thank you canvas rope and wind, thank you the cradle of the Itchen, and the playground of the Solent, and thank you, the irresistible human instinct to explore.
Life is good with so much to learn, and so far to sail.
Yesterday we went out to try it, and the difference was immediate. Everything was better, we were faster, could sail better at every point of sail, and the mainsheet and horse largely tamed. Such a difference did it make, that our previous best speed of 6.4 kts in a really good wind was bested by our performance in a lesser blow where we reached 8.5kts (both with tidal help BTW)
Such was the difference in feel and general sail-ability, that what was to have been a trip from Southampton to Newtown Creek saw us for the very first time actually break out of the Solent as we sailed on past the needles and struck out to the west. Unfortunately time forced us to turn about and head home before we reached Poole, but it was a very gratifying experience, and everything seemed so very much easier with the boom under control.
We had an absolutely great day, everything just kind of clicked together, and it was like a different boat. Maybe some of that is down to our rapid learning curve, but whatever the answer, we had one of those almost mythological sepia-toned days where we felt every second was consigned to the very best drawer of the memory bank, one of those days you break your heart that it must end, and one that leaves the soul warmed, but hungry for more.
Thank you canvas rope and wind, thank you the cradle of the Itchen, and the playground of the Solent, and thank you, the irresistible human instinct to explore.
Life is good with so much to learn, and so far to sail.
