How many sailors give up at the end of October or before?

boatmike

boatmike

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While I grant it has been a really horrible year generally, the musings on another post made me wonder. Who else, like me, thinks that October through to Christmas is a superb time to sail? I have often had my best sails then with empty harbours, moderate winds, and low costs. Many harbours reduce their charges out of season and places like the Solent are less like playing marbles on the motorway. There is also nothing better than to huddle up in a nice warm heated cabin with a bottle of wine and a bowl of chili in the evening or visit restaurants ashore that are not crowded and noisy. Personally I am hoping to skip over to Cherbourg on Friday (looks OK now but will obviously check at last minute before going) Expect another front through on Saturday/Sunday and then hopefully a bit more settled again perhaps. If it looks horrible I will put crew on a ferry and come back later..... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Who else thinks the same?
 
For the last 5 or 6 years we have been keeping the boat afloat with just a month ashore usually in Feb or March.

You can get some great sailing in the winter.Obviously need to be carefull with the weather.

All depends on how exposed yoiur moorings are I suppose.
 
Yes I do keep her in...
and it would be great if we could keep it to ourselves /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'm hoping to keep going all winter, might take it out of the water next May for a spot of maintenance...
 
Good point! I keep Peregrine on a pontoon mooring right up the top of Fareham Creek where it is sheltered, and although it dries I don't have to worry about weather. I used to keep a boat on a swinging mooring in Falmouth and winters afloat were a constant worry.
 
Agreed. We get some super sails in the winter, and have managed quite nice long sails on the last three Christmas days. Now, that really is deserted, but we work up a really good appetite for Christmas dinner (cooked on the boat)!
 
Agreed. For the last 4 years in our ownership of the boat there have been some major winter projects to complete and although the boat was in the water she was not ready to sail. But, this year! She and we are ready and there are no big projects!

I'm just looking forward, past Christmas to the new year, anchored up in Newtown, the heater keeping us nice and warm, and having the place to ourselves.
 
We just started sailing again after a long break and went away for a month in July- in one month we had full sail up once- for twenty minutes...
We haven't been out since but the boat will stay in the water until we get some more use out of her- I freely admit to being a fair weather sailor as the whole point of having a boat is to enjoy the time spent on it and being bashed about in the wind and rain simply isn't fun for me.

She'll probably come out in January only because I have so much work to do to her.
 
Keyhaven can be brilliant too, if Westerlys not too strong, with all the waders visiting for winter.
Come to that, behind Pilsey can be great, even seen the Chi Hbr seals there- no good if Easterlies- too damn cold!
Thinking of going out for Christmas Holiday period this year too- one son & lass skiing in USA, depends what the eldest wants to do-if he latches onto some poor girl too, we might as well sleep off 12,000 calories cooked on the boat, as stay at home /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Sailing in the winter can be great fun and with most marias dropping pric to £0.95 -- £0.50 per meter per day it is cheep.
Also you can still catch the winter lift out deals in feb befor they end
 
I'd love to have the boat available year round, but that's not practical at Findhorn. I wouldn't get insurance on the swinging mooring (which would contravene the mooring agreement even if I didn't care). I had to shop round to get cover for April - October.
 
I have to leave my swinging mooring by end Oct - not really motivated enough to find an alternative for the winter although sounds nice occasionally (have no heater though!)
 
A bottle of wine and bowl of chilli! no bloody wonder there is no one else around. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Stayed in last year and had some lovely sailing, including Boxing Day. When the yard hauled us out on about 6th January they told us "last out first in, please be ready to launch on 10th March". So with a longer job list this year we'll probably be coming our some time in early November. If you do stay in all year how do you get any jobs done at home?
 
Listen sunshine... Having been quite happily described as an old fart for at least the last 10 years I have no intention of changing my diet. Better than bloody Fray Bentos pies!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
[quote
Arrh Harrgh, Pugwash, you aint bin readin' the ols Butt proper. Go here for a view

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2011302/an/0/page/0#2011302

[/ QUOTE ]

Belay that last statement of mine! Ain't had much chance to read all the posts - been doing too much sailing!
Now fully edumacated. Thanks for that Jim lad!

crabpirate.gif
 
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