DAKA
Well-Known Member
There was far too much snow to even attempt to get to my own boat but I managed to get out on a friends 42ft yacht.....
Great Marina with easy access (free flow 2 hours either side of HW) but what a setting to drive to, deep rutted snow/ice, stench of fish guts, fish boxes dumped all over, derelict buildings with ladies of the night lining the approach roads.
Anyway once through the Security gates I felt safe to get out my car and immediately enjoyed the marina ambience despite the tricky ice covered pontoons to negotiate.
With only three years sailing experience under his belt after selling his Broom I was greeted warmly and made to feel part of the crew (helmed most of the way) but he made everything look so simple and was full of confidence, perhaps ex power boat skippers make good sailors.
Cast off slowly and the boat appeared very manoeuvrable, there was no hanging over the sides with boat hooks or leaping for pontoons with mooring lines that you see so often.
Well sheltered until we exited the free flow lock, a smile and Christmas greetings from the lock keeper and then we herd the wind whistling in the rigging , F6-7 Westerly but still felt like an Arctic breeze, full floatation suit, thermal inner gloves with leather ski gloves for warmth, any exposed flesh soon froze, difficulty in precise elocution due to frozen cheeks.
Once clear of the docks the sails were hoisted by depressing a button and the engine cut.
The steering wheel is huge and out spans my arms length, very responsive , the yacht heeled over and we were soon at 8 knots.
Wind against a 6 knot tide allowed a short sharp chop to build but this was comfortable at 8 knots with only an occasional wave of icy water over the top .
The water was dark brown and resembled drinking chocolate.
Went out to two light houses, across to an industrial zone and prototype wave powered generator, didn't see a single pleasure boat out (sail or power) just one Oil tanker escorted by a couple of tugs, although I was at the helm it was made clear to me that we didn't have right of way and I had no intention of getting anywhere near it anyway (wasn't sue if this safety concious attitude was due to being ex power or if all sailors secretly follow the same navigation rules once on the water and away from forums).
Now despite the cold , I really enjoyed sailing .
The weather was too bad for me to even get to my boat but even if my boat had been there I wouldn't have cast off in a F6-7 with a chill factor of -20', an ex power boat owner that gained my respect as a confident sailor.
Who else managed to get out on the water , and anyone manage to find any warm sun shine over Christmas ?
Great Marina with easy access (free flow 2 hours either side of HW) but what a setting to drive to, deep rutted snow/ice, stench of fish guts, fish boxes dumped all over, derelict buildings with ladies of the night lining the approach roads.
Anyway once through the Security gates I felt safe to get out my car and immediately enjoyed the marina ambience despite the tricky ice covered pontoons to negotiate.
With only three years sailing experience under his belt after selling his Broom I was greeted warmly and made to feel part of the crew (helmed most of the way) but he made everything look so simple and was full of confidence, perhaps ex power boat skippers make good sailors.
Cast off slowly and the boat appeared very manoeuvrable, there was no hanging over the sides with boat hooks or leaping for pontoons with mooring lines that you see so often.
Well sheltered until we exited the free flow lock, a smile and Christmas greetings from the lock keeper and then we herd the wind whistling in the rigging , F6-7 Westerly but still felt like an Arctic breeze, full floatation suit, thermal inner gloves with leather ski gloves for warmth, any exposed flesh soon froze, difficulty in precise elocution due to frozen cheeks.
Once clear of the docks the sails were hoisted by depressing a button and the engine cut.
The steering wheel is huge and out spans my arms length, very responsive , the yacht heeled over and we were soon at 8 knots.
Wind against a 6 knot tide allowed a short sharp chop to build but this was comfortable at 8 knots with only an occasional wave of icy water over the top .
The water was dark brown and resembled drinking chocolate.
Went out to two light houses, across to an industrial zone and prototype wave powered generator, didn't see a single pleasure boat out (sail or power) just one Oil tanker escorted by a couple of tugs, although I was at the helm it was made clear to me that we didn't have right of way and I had no intention of getting anywhere near it anyway (wasn't sue if this safety concious attitude was due to being ex power or if all sailors secretly follow the same navigation rules once on the water and away from forums).
Now despite the cold , I really enjoyed sailing .
The weather was too bad for me to even get to my boat but even if my boat had been there I wouldn't have cast off in a F6-7 with a chill factor of -20', an ex power boat owner that gained my respect as a confident sailor.
Who else managed to get out on the water , and anyone manage to find any warm sun shine over Christmas ?
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had a lovely day out in Sant carles 
