Gitane sold, Kerrin 2 being bought

[Gitane]

At last summer's very enjoyable ECF Lime house cruise, I think I might have mentioned that I was considering buying another boat, perhaps a Centaur.


Well things have moved on. I have recently sold Gitane to a young couple who are looking to gain more sailing experience with a view to doing more longer term cruising, but then maybe on a larger boat.


I am now in the process of buying Kerrin 2, a Westerly Griffon mk2. This takes me from a pretty cramped 21ft to a more roomy 26ft which even SWMBO might enjoy being on........well for at least for a bit.

Kerrin 2 is currently on the hard in Titchmarsh. Hopefully I will get her (the boat not SWMBO) in the water by the end of May to take her to her new home at Bradwell.

What is the norm in this one.? Should I change my Forum name? Is it bad luck to rename a vessel?

Any one have any experience with a Griffon?

Gitane

 

[MoodySabre]

Well done Ron. Selling and buying in that order.
I know someone who had a Griffon and was very pleased with it. You will of course spend much time looking for things that wouldn't have got lost on Gitane.
Change your boat name and /or forum name to something you like. Superstition is irrational nonsense (in that respect a bit like boat owning!).

 

[PeterWright]

Congratulations! Never owned a Griffon, but I've sailed them and they're good little boats that sail much better than Centaurs and will look after you well. If you haven't done so already, I would recommend joining the Westerly Owners Association, where you will save more than the membership fee in first class advice on maintaining , improving and generally caring for your new lady, as well as great events ashore and afloat. I only left because I replaced my Westerly Storm with a Moody.

Sorry, I can't answer re the form on name changing on this Forum - as you see I didn't even get my username right the first time round. Just remember rule 1.

 

[Gitane]

Thanks Peter and Roger.

Gitane said goodbye to Bradwell for the last time this Sunday and her new home is now in Gillingham. The new owners and I sailed her to Gillingham, what a glorious day sailing it was and even a very useful easterly to boot.

I will move the new boat from Titchmarsh to Bradwell during the May bank holiday, weather permitting.
Dear weather gods, another easterly would be useful!

 

[ianfr]

Congratulations we wish you well.

Fair winds

 

[Gitane]

Kerrin 2 now in Bradwell

We sailed her down from Titchmarsh on Saturday, a day early to avoid the weekend's storm. (Which ended up arriving on Monday!)

Weather gods were kind and gave us a north to north easterly. Easy sail.

Boy, what a difference between a 2,500 lbs, 21 feet boat and a 6,000 lbs 26 feet boat. Very comfortable sailing even on the wallet in a F5 swell. Less comfortable for a few boats we met at the Naze tower going the other way. A lot of beating into winds of 20 knots at times for them, at least according to Kerrin's instruments.

Now busy working on how to single handed sail and moor a boat of this size. I'll wait for the winds to die down before practising the mooring techniques.

Still not decided what to do about the forum name.

Gitane

 

[sailorman]

Kerrin 2 now in Bradwell

We sailed her down from Titchmarsh on Saturday, a day early to avoid the weekend's storm. (Which ended up arriving on Monday!)

Weather gods were kind and gave us a north to north easterly. Easy sail.

Boy, what a difference between a 2,500 lbs, 21 feet boat and a 6,000 lbs 26 feet boat. Very comfortable sailing even on the wallet in a F5 swell. Less comfortable for a few boats we met at the Naze tower going the other way. A lot of beating into winds of 20 knots at times for them, at least according to Kerrin's instruments.

Now busy working on how to single handed sail and moor a boat of this size. I'll wait for the winds to die down before practising the mooring techniques.

Still not decided what to do about the forum name.

Gitane

Size is important as is a good ballast ratio, were 52%
In home berth, rig permanent lines with eye splices all made to the correct length. An aft spring being the first to use to stop forward momentum

 

[MoodySabre]

In Bradwell I have a mooring pole with a line I pick up and pop on the midship cleat and then motor slowly against it. Leave it in gear whilst sorting out the lines.

A midship cleat is an essential IMO.

 

[Gitane]

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately, Kerrin, for some reason, does not have midship cleats. However, I agree that this is something that I should consider adding to make mooring easier. It will probably also help tying up when going through a lock.

 

[PeterWright]

Ideally, you want cleats just ahead of midships. With these, once you have made off a stern spring as Sailorman describes, just engage ahead on minimum revs and push the tiller hard over towards the pontoon and she will lie quiet for as long as you like while you make the remaining lines fast. The spring holds the bow in while the prop and rudder are pushing the stern in. This works equally well when arriving at berths other than home - you'll get good at lassoing a cleat with your stern spring as you pass it!

The Westerly Storms were wonderfully equipped in this respect with two "midships" cleats each side - one a bit forward and one a bit aft of true midships. I miss that luxury.