Finally back on the water! (Briefly anyway)

[rbcoomer]

Well, after what seems like a 24 month winter we finally got out at the weekend for the Fletcher Rally

Saturday went well and our rag-tag convoy made our way up from Brixham to the Cafe on the Exe for lunch. Our little 14' ran fine, but a friend's 25' snapped a drive belt and then a couple of miles further on, the spare too just past Dawlish resulting in a long tow home . I swapped our Evinrude 30 for a big twin 50 off eBay a few weeks back, so this was a good (if slightly ambitious) test run. I had replaced oil and impeller the week before as the old oil had signs of emulsification and unknown history. Apart from some sporadic issues not finding forward, she ran well and topped out at 30kts on GPS - more than enough for us (a bit of trim would likely take us to 35). The run to Exmouth and back, and evening run out around the Bay plus a bit of doubling back to check on the small Zodiac that accompanied the group resulted in a total fuel burn of around 36L, so pleased on that front too!

We made the run around from Brixham to Dartmouth without issue on Sunday, but gear selection was getting a bit iffy and following loss of forward gear at Galmpton, we made the call to tie up at MDL, cab back to Brixham for car & trailer and recovered from there. Gearbox full of white goo, so clearly a seal had failed. Drained off today and replaced selector cable, but seems to be a further issue as no amount of adjustment seems to get forward AND reverse gear so looking like a workbench strip down and rebuild.

A few pictures:

A cautious place to launch...

Flying the forum Burgee!

Flat seas off Teignmouth

Even possible in a 3M rib Saturday!

Oops! Broken belt...

Exmouth

Group lunch stop - Floating Cafe on the Exe

Madatory wake shot (Sorry about the gradient - SWMBO couldn't find her sea legs it seems!)

Not quite flat off Berry Head...

Gervais & sons in 19GTO (St Mary's Bay)

Convoy to Dartmouth

Sunset astern - 'pootling' (in Mike's terminology) into Brixham Harbour

 

[[2068]]

Great photos there of small boats having a blast.
Thanks for posting

 

[NoviceRod]

Robin - great post. Yes the weather was good on Sat, we took a set of grandchildren and parents out for a maiden voyage into Babbacombe Bay. Couldn't go too far as the 18month old has limited staying power!

Have they increased the pontoon space at the River Exe Cafe since last year? I know they were talking about it.

 

[MapisM]

Nice report and pics, particularly the first one.
Thanks for sharing them!

 

[epervier]

Great set of images, thanks for posting.

 

[Firefly625]

Great set of images, thanks for posting.

+1

 

[maverickofpoole]

Looked fun and that's what boating should be about, thanks

Martin

 

[rbcoomer]

...Have they increased the pontoon space at the River Exe Cafe since last year? I know they were talking about it.

I don't believe so, but didn't get that far last year to compare. Space was very limited with a wooden hut on the far end of the pontoon that made access quite 'interesting' from that end (walkway against the building about 6" wide with none the other side! Biggest problem TBH was wash from being parallel to the ski lanes and passing vessels. If you go up there then fender well as the boats get thrown about quite a bit - not ideal when rafted 2-3 deep!

 

[matm]

Looks like great fun. We had a 14' fletcher as a family when I was a kid so brought back happy memories!

 

[ricky_s]

I love how clear the water looks over that way.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I don't believe so, but didn't get that far last year to compare. Space was very limited with a wooden hut on the far end of the pontoon that made access quite 'interesting' from that end (walkway against the building about 6" wide with none the other side! Biggest problem TBH was wash from being parallel to the ski lanes and passing vessels. If you go up there then fender well as the boats get thrown about quite a bit - not ideal when rafted 2-3 deep!

Sorry we missed you in the Dart, I was helping on another boat, Debs saw you go past. As to the Exe cafe, no there is no extra pontoon space and yes that wooden structure on the end is a real pain. Always better to moor on the Starcross side to avoid most of the wash from the waterski lane.
Hope you enjoyed yr time there, the food has been good so far but the service a bit patchy.
You certainly had a great weekend weather wise, so much better than the forecast, shame so many cancelled, but quite understandable with the forecast beforehand. Thank goodness they got it wrong!

 

[Quest]

Excellent! Looks like it was a great day in good company. Enjoyed the pics, especially the sunset wake pic.

 

[rbcoomer]

A couple more pictures taken by a friend:

Oops - someone missed a fender...

(Thanks to Guy Shepherd for pictures )

If anyone wants more: http://swfbr.org.uk/2013 (Adding them as they come in)

R-)

 

[Robg71]

great Photos Robin
the first one, the water looks really gin clear... lovely almost jump in it...

 

[rbcoomer]

great Photos Robin
the first one, the water looks really gin clear... lovely almost jump in it...

Yes, you can actually study the bottom in much of Brixham Harbour these days - unlike when I was a nipper, I think you could have walked on it back then!

 

[Ryan mercruiser 1.7 turbo]

great pics i wish i was there looks like a great day . Thats what its all about.

 

[Matt341]

Excellent pics, a lovely part of the country. We spent last weekend in Brixham & Dartmouth, unfortunately land based. The water clarity in Brixham was incredible. We sat on the breakwater at Brixham for an hour or so but were surprised how few boats were actually out on the water. Saturday afternoon we spent in Dartmouth, again what a beautiful place, wasn't happy being land based looking out at everyone on the water! Dartmouth again was quieter than we expected in boat terms but I think the weather was better than forecast.
Ian