LizzyD
New member
As promised in the previous thread, my mates Dave and Ray from Cardiff Yacht Club were going to accompany Bev and me down to Ilfracombe. I had new legs on order to dry out with, and I was shaking like a new groom on his wedding night with anticipation. Then the phone went!
The leg man in Bristol - he say no. "Sorry mate", he said, "I can't get the wood". (We all know that problem, right lads? It's the cider that does it to me!) Then I realised with trepidation that I'd have to dry out on the wall. I've never done that before. So the contingency was to contact the HM at Ilfracombe to reserve a space, and if none were available, to turn around and take the flood tide up to Watchet. Then the phone went again!
It was my dog sitter. She never lets me down but had to on this occasion. A quick call to my reserve sitter meant that Kaiser was off the hook for this trip.
So we locked out at 08:00, and following on from the thread about booking out with the CG, both boats did. The message usually starts with "On passage from Cardiff to... Two persons on board. ETA at (wherever) at (whatever time we expect to get there).
We went through Sully Island as it was approaching the flood which was another first for me. As we passed the entrance to Barry Dock, I saw a pilot boat come out. I didn't know at the time, but it was a couple of fellow forumites who have already posted us on here. Thanks to DIOGENES and Graham for that.
When we reached Nash Point, we headed South West and together with the ebbing tide, we made great progress with Lizzy nodding her way through the water, but not a splash on the deck. As we approached Ilfracombe, we heard a boat call us up on the radio. It was "Lone Star", and he was on his way to Watchet from Ilfracombe and after a brief chat, we wished each other a safe and happy passage. It's really nice to develop this little network of fellow boaters even though we've not all met in the flesh. Maybe a little get together before Christmas? Who knows?
Anyway, we're getting nearer and nearer Ilfracombe, when a distant voice came from the radio asking for "Ilfracombe Coastguard". Bev and I had a brief debate about the actual existance of Ilfracombe Coastguard whilst the caller continued repeating the same call. Swansea Coastguard cut in and answered him, but we couldn't hear the replies. Something to do with transmitting and receiving being on different wavelengths I think. Then the CG asked if there was any vessel near Hangman's Rock. My mates Dave and Ray are Firefigthers like me and Dave must have been hovering over the radio. He told the CG that we were near Ilfracombe, but that we were yachts, thereby letting the CG know that we have the speed of a arthritic slug. The CG thanked him and politely declined his offer telling us thet Ilfracombe Lifeboat was being launched to assist a vessel with engine failure. We decided to remain outside the harbour so as not to impede the path of the lifeboat and in minutes, they came roaring out past us. I looked in total admiration at these white helmeted figures dressed in orange huddled at the back ot the boat. All volunteers; all unpaid; and all of them dropping what they're doing at a moments notice to race out to sea, to help a clot like me who has neglected to maintain his engine or some other such avoidable event.
So, it was into the harbour we go and Dave and Ray practically beach their Westerly Centaur opposite their chosen visitors morring. Lizzy is a long keel, so I had to anchor outside for a while. I got waved at by all of the grannies on the Balmoral when it came in, and glared at by the fishermen on the harbour wall because I was probably disturbing their potential catches. After about 30 minutes, Bev rang me. She had been taken ashore by Dave in his inflatable and had been despatched with my bank card to find cash. She'd rang to say that she'd drawn £100 from my account and was in the Ilfracombe Yacht Club with Dave and Ray raising a glass to my good health. As soon as I'd finished replying, the grannies on the Balmoral stopped waving and turned their backs on me, muttering something like "I've never heard language like it, and he seemed such a nice young man too!" Swines! Going on the lash without me!
I went in eventually and was put at the top end of the beach. I panicked a little because I was aware that the window of opportuity to get to and from this spot was the shortest in the harbour. What I hadn't immediately realised is that when your boat lands on the beach, it's there for ages - and that equals a lie in! Result!
I was in a bit of a tizz about leaving the boat and then the friendly face of Colin from the boat Hidden Secrets, and also from Cardiff Yacht Club, appeared. His boat is a fin keeler and he's landed it loads of times. I was about to lose my drying out virginity with the help of an expert. Colin was gentle with me, and issued instructions about what line should go where. Dave, Ray and I busied ourselves without questioning a single order. With me bracing the ladder, and Ray balancing the boat on the other side, we felt a gentle bump and the boat was down. Within a minute, we were in the Yacht Club and I had some catching up to do.
I had several pints of San Miguel and a meat platter. Dave had fish, Ray had Thai curry, and Bev had fish platter. The food, beer and atmosphere was absolutely first class and I felt like a millionnaire. I think I drank like one too, because the next morning, I was fifty quid down and had a hangover the size of Canada.
After breakfast in Shirl's cafe and a brief walk around Ilfracombe, it was time to think about our return to Cardiff. The CG predicted poor weather and we decided to go then rather than leave it until the next day. I moved Lizzy to the outer harbour whilst Bev went to the shops. She came back armed with daily papers and chocolate cake. (What more could you need?) We sat there until 15:00 and both boats upped anchors and off we went.
We were promised a SW force 5. What we got was a variable force 0.5! So we damaged more ozone with our deisel engines riding over the swell which was really quite big. I'm always a bag of nerves when I'm out and I really ought to have more faith in the abilities of the boat to be honest. Bev heated up some pasties and I had a beer to wash it down with. There was quite a haze and I just couldn't seem to be able to see the Welsh coast, although the chart and GPS told me it was out there somewhere. I wondered if it was still far away as we were probably not level with Porthcawl yet. Ray and Dave seemed to be going dead north whilst I was trying to steer 060 when the swell allowed. It turns out that that's exactly what he was doing to but he seemed to race ahead of us.
After what seemed an age, I saw a white tower on the horizon. At first, I thought it was a ship's accommodation block on it's aft end, but spirits lifted when I realised it was Aberthaw Power Station. Wales ahoy! We held our course and Dave and Ray went further and further ahead of us. The nearer to Aberthaw we got, the better behaved the sea became. Smiles all round and I considered a beer but was strict with myself. I had to drive later. It began to get dusk and Bev steered whilst I prepared the boat for the dark. Curtains closed so as not to show any confusing lights, nav lights on, instrument lights on, and finally, lifejackets on.
We eventually got our way into Cardiff Barrage at about 22:15 on a still flooding tide and lock number two was open, ready and waiting. Inside, also waiting, were Dave and Ray. We had a quick post mortem of our trip back and all of us were dead on our feet. How can sitting in a cockpit be so tiring? We got to our home mooring and I've never closed the boat down so quickly. All sea cocks shut. Essential bags and anything rot-able off the vessel, and up to the car. Once we got into the house we were asleep within minutes.
The next day, I sat at my PC to write about our adventures for the forum, and to put a few of the 89 photographs I took on the thread, to illustrate our story. Then something happened to me that's never happened before. My computer had got a virus. Once the pictures were off the camera and onto the PC, the free anti virus I had kicked in and the computer switched itself off. It tried to re-start itself but just went through a continuous cycle of switching itself off and re-booting.
Can anyone tell me what in heaven's name possesses these friendless, slack-jawed, spot-riddled "Wayne Carr"s, to sit in their techno-filled bedrooms, no doubt filled to the brim with porn and stolen underwear, and figure out a way of messing up the computers of people they don't even know? These insects must be so bitter at their sad lives that they can only get pleasure and a sense of power by messing up people like me, who they know would rip their livers out if I could catch them.
OK spotty Cyber Anorak. You got me this time. but today I lashed out £50 on a super duper anti virus package that won't let this happen again - so go back to ripping the wings off butterflies and your mummy's apron strings you bloody low-lifes!! (Pant, pant. OK. Rant over)
So thanks to Cyber Anorak, I haven't got any pictures for you. It's a shame, because I took one of Bev's boobs when she was asleep, not that Cyber Anorak knows what boobs look like - except on line!!
So until my next little jaunt,
take care all,
Lizzy D.
The leg man in Bristol - he say no. "Sorry mate", he said, "I can't get the wood". (We all know that problem, right lads? It's the cider that does it to me!) Then I realised with trepidation that I'd have to dry out on the wall. I've never done that before. So the contingency was to contact the HM at Ilfracombe to reserve a space, and if none were available, to turn around and take the flood tide up to Watchet. Then the phone went again!
It was my dog sitter. She never lets me down but had to on this occasion. A quick call to my reserve sitter meant that Kaiser was off the hook for this trip.
So we locked out at 08:00, and following on from the thread about booking out with the CG, both boats did. The message usually starts with "On passage from Cardiff to... Two persons on board. ETA at (wherever) at (whatever time we expect to get there).
We went through Sully Island as it was approaching the flood which was another first for me. As we passed the entrance to Barry Dock, I saw a pilot boat come out. I didn't know at the time, but it was a couple of fellow forumites who have already posted us on here. Thanks to DIOGENES and Graham for that.
When we reached Nash Point, we headed South West and together with the ebbing tide, we made great progress with Lizzy nodding her way through the water, but not a splash on the deck. As we approached Ilfracombe, we heard a boat call us up on the radio. It was "Lone Star", and he was on his way to Watchet from Ilfracombe and after a brief chat, we wished each other a safe and happy passage. It's really nice to develop this little network of fellow boaters even though we've not all met in the flesh. Maybe a little get together before Christmas? Who knows?
Anyway, we're getting nearer and nearer Ilfracombe, when a distant voice came from the radio asking for "Ilfracombe Coastguard". Bev and I had a brief debate about the actual existance of Ilfracombe Coastguard whilst the caller continued repeating the same call. Swansea Coastguard cut in and answered him, but we couldn't hear the replies. Something to do with transmitting and receiving being on different wavelengths I think. Then the CG asked if there was any vessel near Hangman's Rock. My mates Dave and Ray are Firefigthers like me and Dave must have been hovering over the radio. He told the CG that we were near Ilfracombe, but that we were yachts, thereby letting the CG know that we have the speed of a arthritic slug. The CG thanked him and politely declined his offer telling us thet Ilfracombe Lifeboat was being launched to assist a vessel with engine failure. We decided to remain outside the harbour so as not to impede the path of the lifeboat and in minutes, they came roaring out past us. I looked in total admiration at these white helmeted figures dressed in orange huddled at the back ot the boat. All volunteers; all unpaid; and all of them dropping what they're doing at a moments notice to race out to sea, to help a clot like me who has neglected to maintain his engine or some other such avoidable event.
So, it was into the harbour we go and Dave and Ray practically beach their Westerly Centaur opposite their chosen visitors morring. Lizzy is a long keel, so I had to anchor outside for a while. I got waved at by all of the grannies on the Balmoral when it came in, and glared at by the fishermen on the harbour wall because I was probably disturbing their potential catches. After about 30 minutes, Bev rang me. She had been taken ashore by Dave in his inflatable and had been despatched with my bank card to find cash. She'd rang to say that she'd drawn £100 from my account and was in the Ilfracombe Yacht Club with Dave and Ray raising a glass to my good health. As soon as I'd finished replying, the grannies on the Balmoral stopped waving and turned their backs on me, muttering something like "I've never heard language like it, and he seemed such a nice young man too!" Swines! Going on the lash without me!
I went in eventually and was put at the top end of the beach. I panicked a little because I was aware that the window of opportuity to get to and from this spot was the shortest in the harbour. What I hadn't immediately realised is that when your boat lands on the beach, it's there for ages - and that equals a lie in! Result!
I was in a bit of a tizz about leaving the boat and then the friendly face of Colin from the boat Hidden Secrets, and also from Cardiff Yacht Club, appeared. His boat is a fin keeler and he's landed it loads of times. I was about to lose my drying out virginity with the help of an expert. Colin was gentle with me, and issued instructions about what line should go where. Dave, Ray and I busied ourselves without questioning a single order. With me bracing the ladder, and Ray balancing the boat on the other side, we felt a gentle bump and the boat was down. Within a minute, we were in the Yacht Club and I had some catching up to do.
I had several pints of San Miguel and a meat platter. Dave had fish, Ray had Thai curry, and Bev had fish platter. The food, beer and atmosphere was absolutely first class and I felt like a millionnaire. I think I drank like one too, because the next morning, I was fifty quid down and had a hangover the size of Canada.
After breakfast in Shirl's cafe and a brief walk around Ilfracombe, it was time to think about our return to Cardiff. The CG predicted poor weather and we decided to go then rather than leave it until the next day. I moved Lizzy to the outer harbour whilst Bev went to the shops. She came back armed with daily papers and chocolate cake. (What more could you need?) We sat there until 15:00 and both boats upped anchors and off we went.
We were promised a SW force 5. What we got was a variable force 0.5! So we damaged more ozone with our deisel engines riding over the swell which was really quite big. I'm always a bag of nerves when I'm out and I really ought to have more faith in the abilities of the boat to be honest. Bev heated up some pasties and I had a beer to wash it down with. There was quite a haze and I just couldn't seem to be able to see the Welsh coast, although the chart and GPS told me it was out there somewhere. I wondered if it was still far away as we were probably not level with Porthcawl yet. Ray and Dave seemed to be going dead north whilst I was trying to steer 060 when the swell allowed. It turns out that that's exactly what he was doing to but he seemed to race ahead of us.
After what seemed an age, I saw a white tower on the horizon. At first, I thought it was a ship's accommodation block on it's aft end, but spirits lifted when I realised it was Aberthaw Power Station. Wales ahoy! We held our course and Dave and Ray went further and further ahead of us. The nearer to Aberthaw we got, the better behaved the sea became. Smiles all round and I considered a beer but was strict with myself. I had to drive later. It began to get dusk and Bev steered whilst I prepared the boat for the dark. Curtains closed so as not to show any confusing lights, nav lights on, instrument lights on, and finally, lifejackets on.
We eventually got our way into Cardiff Barrage at about 22:15 on a still flooding tide and lock number two was open, ready and waiting. Inside, also waiting, were Dave and Ray. We had a quick post mortem of our trip back and all of us were dead on our feet. How can sitting in a cockpit be so tiring? We got to our home mooring and I've never closed the boat down so quickly. All sea cocks shut. Essential bags and anything rot-able off the vessel, and up to the car. Once we got into the house we were asleep within minutes.
The next day, I sat at my PC to write about our adventures for the forum, and to put a few of the 89 photographs I took on the thread, to illustrate our story. Then something happened to me that's never happened before. My computer had got a virus. Once the pictures were off the camera and onto the PC, the free anti virus I had kicked in and the computer switched itself off. It tried to re-start itself but just went through a continuous cycle of switching itself off and re-booting.
Can anyone tell me what in heaven's name possesses these friendless, slack-jawed, spot-riddled "Wayne Carr"s, to sit in their techno-filled bedrooms, no doubt filled to the brim with porn and stolen underwear, and figure out a way of messing up the computers of people they don't even know? These insects must be so bitter at their sad lives that they can only get pleasure and a sense of power by messing up people like me, who they know would rip their livers out if I could catch them.
OK spotty Cyber Anorak. You got me this time. but today I lashed out £50 on a super duper anti virus package that won't let this happen again - so go back to ripping the wings off butterflies and your mummy's apron strings you bloody low-lifes!! (Pant, pant. OK. Rant over)
So thanks to Cyber Anorak, I haven't got any pictures for you. It's a shame, because I took one of Bev's boobs when she was asleep, not that Cyber Anorak knows what boobs look like - except on line!!
So until my next little jaunt,
take care all,
Lizzy D.
