I failed

I'm glad to see the spirit of fun and adventure has not yet been killed off by elfin safety and wrapped in cotton wool.

Nothing here was dangerous, just uncomfortable and the correct decision to seek shelter made. Very seamanlike. I've done exactly the same myself.

BTW, there are two types of east coaters; those who have gone aground and liars. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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You'll be an RNLI statistic before long at this rate.
So save a life and take up skittles!

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Right, this has rubbed me the wrong way I'm afraid.

What do think, I am this completely clueless guy clinging on to a boat he's just bought with no idea what he's doing?

I got on on the river to 18 knots of wind. I could sail the boat without a reef in it at that speed. I knew I was going to be expecting more wind, so I set a reef. I then contemplated having to set another in a large sea if the speculated force 7 arrived, so prudence lead me to set number two on the main sail. I sailed out of the river and the wind picked up. I furled the genoa a bit more. I then went through a patch of crappy sea, and having the boat charging along was a hard work, so I furled a bit more. The boat was then fine, albeit being thrown about like a cork. I was fine. I wasn't in the slightest bit fumbling around the boat in a panic. In fact, I have video of the moment I made the decision to head inland, so you will be able to see my state of mind when I post it.

I would have damn well got to the Deben if I had decided for that option, but the fact of the matter is I decided not to. I'm not racing and there's no need to stress the boat of it's skipper when I don't have to.

Leave your unqualified opinion to yourself, because while you are more than welcome to criticise me, I do drawn the line at your presumption about my character or ability without so much as asking.
 
Going out was not a bad decision. Forecasts are often overstated, and you do not know what it will be like until you are out there. Even if you had met a full blown gale there are always places to go from Coln Bar area, even if it gets a bit bouncy.

Experience cannot be gained moored up, and it is useful know know how averything copes in poor weather, as one day you have no choice. It is worse with a crew as you are always worried about how they are coping with it, and whether they may be scared - so it is sometimes best to do these things by yourself so that when you do it with others you are more confident about how far you can push things.

Some years ago I did the Crouch round to Bradwell with a (forecast) full blown gale in a lift keel Sonata (with its keel jammed up!). The final couple of miles into the wind was hard to make any sort of headway, but we got in, needing showers to get all the salt out our eyes and hair.
 
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but we got in, needing showers to get all the salt out our eyes and hair.

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You mean you get wet whilst sailing??? Jesus man, get some lessons before you hurt somebody. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif


Right, I'm off back down the creek to see if Colne Yacht Club are a friendly bunch... I'll probably clatter my way through the moorings before coming to an abrupt bow on stop at the hammerhead, then I'll tie those stringy bits that hold the boat in. What are they called again, halyards?
 
Whilst you are undoubtedly the best sailor that has ever set out, in the whole of history, there are others on here, novice – expert, who will learn from, or inwardly grin at Nathan’s accounts. I for one find them a compelling read, as you can always learn from others. If you are at a point where you don’t think you can then it is you who is dangerous and likely to become a statistic.

If Nathan was feeling a little shaky, how in hells name do you think your post was in anyway helpful? We are all entitled to our own opinion and you may well feel that he was foolhardy (I don’t), but there are ways of expressing it without resorting to a full on personal attack. If you were genuinely concerned a PM would be the route to take.

If you find Nathan’s blog hard to read then simple……. Don’t!

I personally didn’t enjoy reading your response to his post and would much have rather you kept your mouth shut. I would suggest if you don’t have anything helpful or useful to say in future, you do just that. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
No Nathan, you didn't fail. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

This is the quote you need to remember:

"Good judgement comes from experience. Unfortunately experience usually comes from bad judgement".

I posted on your blog but it seems to have slipped into oblivion but I will re-post here:

Hmmmmp ! ! !

23 knots wind speed . . . . that's Force 5 / Force 6 !

Now you understand what and why I told you about nothing higher than a Force FOUR (15 knots of wind) in a 21 foot yacht! The fetch of the sea in those conditions is certainly not nice.

Anyway, glad you are safe, I await the Lat-Long :-)

BTW, the loud speaker cable is colour coded if you look carefully. One thin lead is BLACK and the other is BLACK with a tiny white trace running along the length. The later lead (Black/White trace) is usually taken as the positive lead.
 
I don't think you failed, made a good decision, it's great to read your exploits which are inspiring me to sail my Virgo Voyager from the Blackwater to Scotland due to an err "enforced leisure break" The wind is bound to change pretty soon.
 
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Of course you failed! Whatever tempted you to put to sea with 25 knots of wind over tide in a Corribee?


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Had much the same conditions over last weekend in a Coromandel, nothing there to worry a type of boat that has done numerous transats.....

....and I'm still skint! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Keep up the good work Nathan. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Nathan - you didn't bother anyone else and got in somewhere safe and sound - don't see how that is a failure. Part of being a good skipper is deciding when enough is enough and doing something about it and not becoming a statistic as some prat suggested. Windguru is suggesting the actual winds off B'sea were F6 gusting F8 between 0900 and 1100 so there is no shame at all in coming in!

So what you didn't get to your planned destination. In my log book I never write where I am going to until I get there. At best I may put 'sailing towards....'

Winds looking like they are easing over the next couple of days but staying from the south to help you on your way.
 
Looking forward to it buddy /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Got your replies to my GPS question by e mail so thanks for that too, just got to work out the GPS end now and I'll be sorted
 
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Of course you failed! Whatever tempted you to put to sea with 25 knots of wind over tide in a Corribee?
Don't you listen to the forecast? Check the tides?
Then getting water down below - don't you have washboards?
And ending up aground - no chart? No echosounder?

Do you have flares - and know how to use them?
A VHF radio - both set and yourself licensed to operate?
Where did you do your Day Kipper - or is that on the shopping list too?
The list is endless.

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The first thing I did when I stopped was flick open the laptop and right (write?) this post

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Your blog is a catalogue of inadequacies that is embarrassing to read. IMHO your disasters are best kept under wraps while you privately learn from your mistakes - if you can.
You'll be an RNLI statistic before long at this rate.
So save a life and take up skittles!

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Twat!
 
I'll call landline later David, connection here is terrible and drops more often than .... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif so Skype and MSN haven't got a chance
 
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