Left mooring fine, getting back was a whole different story!

We have had a wonderfull day. The weather was just right. Met some lovely people. Learnt a lot and now sitting with great memories of our first day on the river... :)
 
Huh thats nuffick

Worst bit is on a lovely sunny Saturday when the river bank is packed with families out for a walk..... All lined up along the lock watching those lucky people with boats..... As you glide gracefully in then miss BOTH bollards with the lines and have also switched off too soon so drift into the middle in a red- faced mess.


Or you could try approaching a lock when already full up with Swan Uppers and attendant audience/TV crews
.Manage to just get turn with bare end of rope only to realise boat is still in gear and heading for the full lock chamber while merrily removing chunks of your gel coat courtesy of a concrete wall as it does so
Beat that then . :)
 
oldgit said:
Worst bit is on a lovely sunny Saturday when the river bank is packed with families out for a walk..... All lined up along the lock watching those lucky people with boats..... As you glide gracefully in then miss BOTH bollards with the lines and have also switched off too soon so drift into the middle in a red- faced mess.


Or you could try approaching a lock when already full up with Swan Uppers and attendant audience/TV crews
.Manage to just get turn with bare end of rope only to realise boat is still in gear and heading for the full lock chamber while merrily removing chunks of your gel coat courtesy of a concrete wall as it does so
Beat that then . :)
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I hope we never do, but if it happens what a memory we will have. :D

Yesterday I managed to cut my knee jumping off the boat followed by a fall from the rear starboard side backwards from about 4ft up onto the table below in full view of gongoozelers, while in a lock. I was more worried about losing the mooring rope than the pain. Suffering now..

Bloody good day though :D
 
By the height of Summer you will be experts and will chuckle at the hire boaters entering the locks sideways. As others have said, take it slow and with gentle nudges on the throttles. The wind is the thing you will find hard to control or anticipate.

One thing it is worth practicing is lassoing the bollards so that you can do everything from the boat rather than jumping off which is fraught with the risk of injury and or embarrassing moments. Having loose coils in the rope is the key, don't roll it up over your arm otherwise you will just have a useless tangle of rope.

I do think it is worth changing your mooring though. Things like room to manoeuvre and the prevailing wind which may not appear to be problems at first can make a big difference.
 
NO absolutely NO jumping !!! I forbid it on my boat and threaten not to take people out again if they do!
If you can't step off, stay on. Skippers responsibility to put you in the right place, I always try to get SWMBO so close to bollard that she can get a rope on easily - if I fail she juts waits for me to get it right :D

How much playing with engines and helm did you do?
 
The jumping was a one off with no cleat just a ring. We also had about 3ft of water on board at the time. I was a little worried about stepping onto the bathing platform to step off at the time.

Loads of engine practise is key to us getting it right... That's the plan especially before it gets too busy... :D
 
HONEYMOMMY said:
The jumping was a one off with no cleat just a ring. We also had about 3ft of water on board at the time. I was a little worried about stepping onto the bathing platform to step off at the time.

Loads of engine practise is key to us getting it right... That's the plan especially before it gets too busy... :D
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Eh? That would concern me somewhat!! In fact, 3ft of water on board would make you officially sunk ... ;)
 
rosssavage said:
Eh? That would concern me somewhat!! In fact, 3ft of water on board would make you officially sunk ... ;)
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It was in the engine compartment only. Rather scary tone honest.

Today.... Lots of practise with no mishaps. Met a few more people, waved at some.... Cinzano on board but the kids drank all the lemonade so none for a welcome visitor as promised.... :D
 
Seriously, you need to get your act together.

Running out of mixers is a very serious matter. Go shopping and FFS make sure you can serve up cocktails in a proper manner before the commodore finds out.

Oh, and sort the water leak. We don't like getting wet feet while drinking...:mad:
 
No Lemonade !!!

HONEYMOMMY said:
Cinzano on board but the kids drank all the lemonade so none for a welcome visitor as promised.... :D
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Having threatened to visit, I had not really intended it to be so soon so will forgive the lack of lemonade on this occasion.

Very impressed with the small army of youngsters doing the cleaning bit - make the most of it, it won't last ! :D

Good to meet you.
 
boatone said:
Having threatened to visit, I had not really intended it to be so soon so will forgive the lack of lemonade on this occasion.

Very impressed with the small army of youngsters doing the cleaning bit - make the most of it, it won't last ! :D

Good to meet you.
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Good to meet you too. Next visit we will have lemonade with your name on it. Know my lot they will have drunk the cinzano by then though.... :rolleyes:
I will have to have a secret stash somewhere just for you... LOL.

Cleaning.... I know it won't last, but I will take advantage while I can... There's allready been mention of Ian and I going off alone for weekends so they can stay home and party... ;) Once Ian can hold the boat steady while I gracefully step off of course... ;)

Oh, I bought the tender and outboard I showed you on ebay for the kids and a ferry across for everyone if needed. Just need to work out how to hang the damn thing on the davits now... hahahaha.
Just said to hubby thats two boats in two weeks OMG... :D

Looking forward to next weekend now. We think we will go to Marlow Saturday for and overnighter then back Sunday.
 
No Regrets said:
Seriously, you need to get your act together.

Running out of mixers is a very serious matter. Go shopping and FFS make sure you can serve up cocktails in a proper manner before the commodore finds out.

Oh, and sort the water leak. We don't like getting wet feet while drinking...:mad:
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Perhaps thats where all the lemonade went..... :D

The funny thing is I don't drink, so don't really have any idea what drink we should have on board..... Any ideas?????:eek: Here we go.........:D
 
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