christmas at sea

sailaboutvic

sailaboutvic

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is there any one else out there plainning sailing over christmas .

each year I sit at home thinking i was I was somewhere else then sitting in front of the TV eatting my self silly and sleeping on the sofa so if any other solo sailer or couple out there fancy doing some thing different get in touch .

based on the east coast the plain is set off sometime before christmas as sail to where ever .

any takers ????
 
Had the same idea, and would be carrying it out if it wasn't for my bl00dy unreliable sister-in-law who has suddenly decided she doesn't want to do Christmas so the mother-in-law is now coming to us and she hates sailing.

We have decided instead we are going to be aboard for New Year, either sailing over to Cowes or into Gosport to see in 2010.
 
Best idea I have heard all week.

We did it 6 years ago. Sat in Tobago Keys lisineing to NatKing Cole singing I'm dreaming of a white X-mas whilst eating harrods X-mas pud and getting pissed on rum!

No relatives, no presents, no hassle!

Planning something similar for next year as I've had enough of buying presents for everybody and their dog! Bahh Humbug. :)
 
Boat44 said:
Best idea I have heard all week.

We did it 6 years ago. Sat in Tobago Keys lisineing to NatKing Cole singing I'm dreaming of a white X-mas whilst eating harrods X-mas pud and getting pissed on rum!

No relatives, no presents, no hassle!
Click to expand...

It's funny, reading that it sounds like a miserable christmas to me! I've never spent christmas at sea and have counted my lucky stars for that fact. I do always spare a thought for all the lads at sea, far away from families, christmas cheer and yes, even the hassle ;)
 
Well, there is a bit of a gathering of East Coasters in Shotley for New Year.

I will be coming up from Burnham either 30th or 31st and returning 2nd or 3rd. We will also, weather permitting, go out sailing on New Years Day.

Feel free to come along. More detail in the East Coast Forum.
 
I think it's a great idea.

A few years ago we were stuck in Florida waiting to cross to the Bahamas to meet friends for Christmas, we had two weeks in hand but the weather had other ideas. The first chance to cross, was the on the 23rd Dec. We set off feeling very glum and thought that we would literally miss Christmas.

However it turned out to be one of the happiest and magical Christmases we have ever had.

There is a story and pictures about it here

Scroll down to the "200 miles to Christmas" heading.
 
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RNLI and Christmas

Just reading RNLI statistics over Christmas, seems the trend is growing, see the stats and maybe take that little more care, not to deprive others.

RNLI statistics show that the number of call outs during the festive period is rising. Over the last 20 years, RNLI lifeboat launches during this period have increased by 87 per cent. In the last five years alone, crews around the British Isles have responded to 457 calls for help, rescuing 240 people, at the one time of year most people are at home with their families.
 
Yes, we've sailed on Christmas day each year for about the last 5 or 6 years. It tends to be cold, so we don't go far, and if the weather's good, we anchor and cook the duck (cooker a bit small for a turkey) for an evening meal. If the weather's iffy, we just daysail and moor up for the meal. We have never seen anyone else out, except the odd work boat. Our kids (all grown-up) are sort-of invited, but they have always made other arrangements. A phone call suffices.

Lovely - wouldn't do anything else!

We'll also be out over the New Year.
 
Leaving Lymington on 19th for a couple of weeks on board. Beats enduring the relatives and trash tv hands down. Planning to head west weather permitting
 
Christmas At Sea

"Christmas At Sea"
by Robert Louis Stevenson

The sheets were frozen hard, and they cut the naked hand;
The decks were like a slide, where a seamen scarce could stand;
The wind was a nor'wester, blowing squally off the sea;
And cliffs and spouting breakers were the only things a-lee.

They heard the surf a-roaring before the break of day;
But 'twas only with the peep of light we saw how ill we lay.
We tumbled every hand on deck instanter, with a shout,
And we gave her the maintops'l, and stood by to go about.

All day we tacked and tacked between the South Head and the North;
All day we hauled the frozen sheets, and got no further forth;
All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and dread,
For very life and nature we tacked from head to head.

We gave the South a wider berth, for there the tide-race roared;
But every tack we made we brought the North Head close aboard:
So's we saw the cliffs and houses, and the breakers running high,
And the coastguard in his garden, with his glass against his eye.

The frost was on the village roofs as white as ocean foam;
The good red fires were burning bright in every 'long-shore home;
The windows sparkled clear, and the chimneys volleyed out;
And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel went about.

The bells upon the church were rung with a mighty jovial cheer;
For it's just that I should tell you how (of all days in the year)
This day of our adversity was blessed Christmas morn,
And the house above the coastguard's was the house where I was born.

O well I saw the pleasant room, the pleasant faces there,
My mother's silver spectacles, my father's silver hair;
And well I saw the firelight, like a flight of homely elves,
Go dancing round the china-plates that stand upon the shelves.

And well I knew the talk they had, the talk that was of me,
Of the shadow on the household and the son that went to sea;
And O the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind of way,
To be here and hauling frozen ropes on blessed Christmas Day.

They lit the high sea-light, and the dark began to fall.
"All hands to loose topgallant sails," I heard the captain call.
"By the Lord, she'll never stand it," our first mate Jackson, cried.
..."It's the one way or the other, Mr. Jackson," he replied.

She staggered to her bearings, but the sails were new and good,
And the ship smelt up to windward just as though she understood.
As the winter's day was ending, in the entry of the night,
We cleared the weary headland, and passed below the light.

And they heaved a might breath, every soul on board but me,
As they saw her nose again pointing handsome out to sea;
But all that I could think of, in the darkness and the cold,
Was just that I was leaving home and my folks were growing old.


BishopT
 
sailaboutvic said:
is there any one else out there plainning sailing over christmas .

each year I sit at home thinking i was I was somewhere else then sitting in front of the TV eatting my self silly and sleeping on the sofa so if any other solo sailer or couple out there fancy doing some thing different get in touch .

based on the east coast the plain is set off sometime before christmas as sail to where ever .

any takers ????
Click to expand...

sent you a pm. im going from the crouch on sunday to portsmouth for the wednesday. need a crew asap. boat is moody 38. if your interested let me know!

oh and the weather aint that bad for monday, forcast has just changed again
 
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