MagicalArmchair
Well-Known Member
Again we went for our socially distant sail this weekend (not many other people on Poole Quayside appeared to be social distancing mind you - quite the summer of love\party going on there!). There was a bit more wind, however, I had much less anxiety (thus slept the night before, which helped!). I started faffing with lines to create a spring to hold the boat against the pontoon, and then considered that whilst the wind was stronger, and like last time, was pushing the bow into the boat next door, it was not sufficient to be a problem. With your comment in mind below Bob, I just let everything go, calmly stepped aboard, and reversed out of the berth. No dramas.
This time, the twin sails bridge was in action, meaning all the boats outward bound and inward bound got (for want of a better word) kettled between the bridges, whilst waiting for the following bridge to be opened. The gave a cracking opportunity for some maneuvering practise. We moored up on the pontoon outside the twin sails bridge and did some fishing with our nets, before springing her bow off (more to pass the time and play with the technique), as the wind was holding us onto the pontoon. In between the bridges, with lots of very glamorous looking Poole-onions, in various states of bronzed undress on Motorboats, we had to mill around.
Spirit, it was a revelation how well she goes backwards. Being used to the fin and skeg of Triola, I was expecting unpredictability, needing a cognisance of propwalk and a fair amount of shouting. On the way back in, it was so easy, I allowed my eight year old to helm her through the two bridges and during the "kettling" procedure. She is very simple to maneuver indeed. It's incredible how different the reality is to the dread if you just have a go!
All of your techniques helped me immensely. Coming back into the berth was stress free and a joy. Thanks again for the support.
This time, the twin sails bridge was in action, meaning all the boats outward bound and inward bound got (for want of a better word) kettled between the bridges, whilst waiting for the following bridge to be opened. The gave a cracking opportunity for some maneuvering practise. We moored up on the pontoon outside the twin sails bridge and did some fishing with our nets, before springing her bow off (more to pass the time and play with the technique), as the wind was holding us onto the pontoon. In between the bridges, with lots of very glamorous looking Poole-onions, in various states of bronzed undress on Motorboats, we had to mill around.
Spirit, it was a revelation how well she goes backwards. Being used to the fin and skeg of Triola, I was expecting unpredictability, needing a cognisance of propwalk and a fair amount of shouting. On the way back in, it was so easy, I allowed my eight year old to helm her through the two bridges and during the "kettling" procedure. She is very simple to maneuver indeed. It's incredible how different the reality is to the dread if you just have a go!
All of your techniques helped me immensely. Coming back into the berth was stress free and a joy. Thanks again for the support.
