Do Coathangers come in larger sizes?

[FullCircle]

Well we finally managed to get Second Chance in the water AND off the mooring this weekend. A glorious day, marred only by a little engine trouble. No matter.
Lynn (first real sailing weekend) & I went downwind and upwind trying out all the new gadgets. Highly delighted with deck hardware layout extra winches, jammers cleats blocks etc (size 1 coathanger grin). Wind gets up a bit and new Crusader bi radial roller genny fills, stiffens, and looks very nice just kissing the shrouds at the foot. Pulls like a train. Was worried about owning roller furling. Now not (size 2 coathanger grin).
Long beat up the Crouch from the Roach to North Fambridge, Lynn learns the art of short tacking winch/sheet handling, and through the Burnham moorings too. Boat turns on a sixpence and points nicely. Main looks nice too. Arrived North Fambridge hooked up to swinging mooring, Boatman says OK to stay right where I am for the night. No charge (sizes 3&4 coathanger grins). Peaceful night, Great meal on board with High Voltage Vimto to aid sleep.
Sunday, leisurely breakfast, hoist new Crusader tri radial cruising chute and scamper off downhill to Burnham again. Went from dead downwind to just forward of the beam in F2 to gust F4. Saw 5.3kts even towing the rubba-dubba & OB. Was worried about performance of cruising chutes, as only had spinnakers before. Now not. (size 5 coathanger grin). Delightful, as it looks like the front cover of Dark Side of the Moon ( Black with rainbow striped panels).
Lynn is also smitten with this actual sailing lark, rather than the rubbing down/varnishing/antifouling/paying bit she has been used to.
There had to be a downside - I left my shirt off too long on Saturday, and my back could be served as Sunday lunch with apple sauce and roast tatties. I care not a jot or tittle, it all seems worth the bloody hard work that went into it now. Also thanks to all the folks at Rice & Cole for keeping putting me in and out of the water and providing encouragement/ advice. Thanks.

Now, what sizes do coathangers go up to?


Jim & Lynn



<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. Look for the Yellow Dinghy in Burnham.

 

[Vara]

Magic,hope you have many more nice days.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[AndrewB]

Nice account!

Glad to hear that all that winter exercise on Lynn's muscles with the scraping down and antifouling has been put to good use with the short-tack winching. But watch it, or next thing you know, she'll be wanting to do the steering thing.

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[FullCircle]

Oh yes, she did some first time stick waggling, I am afraid I wasnt helpful sometimes......
Come up a bit love, steer to port, no, port! The other port!!!! Left,left,left. Oh bugger, pull it towards you. Too late, nice tack love. Shall we go round again?
But on the whole she did really really well, especially as I wanted to try the cruising chute on different points of sail. She held the course according to the Windex so I could tune the sail trim/tack positions. A brilliant time.
Any folk we scared on the Crouch, we will be out again this weekend. Besides, we didnt actually get all that close, except for a First 29, and he was gracious on learning there was a first timer on the helm.




<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. Look for the Yellow Dinghy in Burnham.