Midlands Newbie sailing 18ft microcupper inland lake.

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bremar

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Hi everyone,
Does anyone know of any lakes near where I live in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, that allow sailing and the use of a 4 stroke outboard motor (primarily to get us back to our starting point at the slip in no wind or me/ son not being able to sail it back. ( I ask this because a long time ago in a small dingie I failed miserably to sail back to the slip that I started from because I couldn't tack back in the wind properly and had to paddle back. Doable in an 8ft dingie but not in an 18ft TS.)
I've been on the forum for a couple of months or so while doing up my 18 ft trailer sailer, so I have read many many posts. The boat is a 1980's microcupper called a bandit. It's in very good condition and is now ready to sail. It also has a 4 stroke outboad attached. I am not a sailer but my son has sailed dingies and has his rya level 2. This is obviously a bigger boat. I wanted to find a safe place to start using/testing the boat out. I thought an inland lake like Rutland waters would be good but they don't appear to allow engines.
Thanks in advance for any replies
Bremar.
 
Most inland lakes now prefer electric outboards. Why not launch in the sea then you can do as you like. Milford haven is well sheltered and not too far from the Midlands and has several slipways.
 
bremar,

welcome to the forums.

I'd check re Rutland Water, it looked a suitable spot when I visited there ( by land ).

Beware electric outboards are notoriously feeble, ( torqueedo's are the best, avoid ' trolling ' engines ) if you have to motor back into a wind; then again 4-strokes are heavy, and a boat like a Microcupper might not like the weight and drag of an engine on the transom ?

With a bit of practice and your son's dinghy skills I think you'll be able to get back under sail, if engines are against the rules; but do ensure you have efficient reefing, just because it's a lake doesn't mean the wind & waves can't get awkward !
 
ghostlymoron said:
Most inland lakes now prefer electric outboards. Why not launch in the sea then you can do as you like. Milford haven is well sheltered and not too far from the Midlands and has several slipways.
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Just a bit worried about sailing and dealing with tides/waves etc. Hope to launch this easter when son back from uni for 3 weeks. Also if issues might be easier to remedy on an inland lake. Moor up and leave boat till moor up and fix it. There's bound to be lots wrong or stuff I'll forget. I will look at Milford tho. Someone also suggested Cardiff because the marina area is behind a sea lock. Don't know how big an area that is to sail in tho?
 
bremar said:
Someone also suggested Cardiff because the marina area is behind a sea lock. Don't know how big an area that is to sail in tho?
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Cardiff Bay (a freshwater lake maintained behind three sea locks) is, relative to the size of your boat, vast. It is often used for racing much larger boats including 40 foot cats in the extreme series and yesterday the local yacht racing fleet. We often take our 30 ft cruiser out for an afternoon sailing in the bay, so rest assured you will not be short of water if you come to Cardiff.

There are no tides to worry about although it can get a little bit choppy in a strong wind from the west which funnels down the river valleys to the bay. No more than any other lake might though.

You can also go out to sea straight from the bay when you've built up confidence to do so, which you wouldn't be able to do from an inland lake obviously.

Cheers
 
Thanks for that info bitbaltic. It is very hard to find out that sort of info. I phoned Cardiff sailing centre with the idea that perhaps my best bet is to see how much they want to do a 1/2 day or a day to show us the ropes using our own boat. They weren't available so I'll try again tomorrow.
It might not be a bad idea to get a teach in so that we can get a bit of expert knowledge on using our own boat. It's a racing cruiser with fractional rig. We have launched and retrieved ribs before ( both my son and I do sub aqua diving so have done this quite a few times) but sailing is going to be a new ball game. Thanks again
 
I contacted kingsbury and it appears sailing and motor boating are separated activities. As you might expect no outboards permitted on the sailing lake.
I guess this is the norm then. If I want the security of the outboard for the final return to the slip and putting it back on the trailer etc then it has to be somewhere like Cardiff I think. While responding to bitbaltic I formulated the idea of paying a sailing school to take us through the ropes on our own boat and I think I will put that question to the sailing school at Rutland water. My feeling is Rutland 1st with some tuition depending on cost then Cardiff in a relatively secure environment.
Thanks bremar.
 
Dont worry about outboard, used to race a micro 18 in my youff , never used outboard, if no wind blagged a tow , or rocked the boat from gunnel to gunnel could build up to 3 knotts , used to dement the dear departed harbour master when we did that !
 
An 18 fter should be quite easy to row. Use long paddles and fit rowlocks or some other thing that the owr can press against. I have a stern rail post that works OK as a rowlock.
Simple paddling can also work OK with no wind.
As said get a good reefing system on the main. A lot of dinghies don't use reefing and I think this is a huge mistake. The right sized sail can make strong wind easy to handle especially for newbys.
Other techniques you can use when learning are to always sail initially up wind so you can sail or drift downwind back to start. If you can't do that sail on beam reach each way again making return easier. Do try to get a feel for the wind if it has a tendency to drop and don't go too far if it is likely to drop. Be prepared to jump into the water to manouvre the boat onto the trailer.
I am nearing the end of a second season with my 21fter without using engine. I would leave it home but safety standards demand I carry it. But it does hone you upwind sailing skills. I think you OP should give it a go without engine. good luck olewill
good luck olewill
 
sailing 18ft micro recent trip ........

southkessock.jpg
 
if you cant be bothered rocking the boat which really works (thats why its banned in racing ) and you must row , learn to skull or scull , as the french do , only one rowlock needed at transom , the french can move quiete large boats effectively this way , but if you are a rocker , no oar/ s need to carry on a cramped boat, you can also pump the sails as you rock , become a pumping rocker ;) or vice versa :)
 
markhomer said:
Dont worry about outboard, used to race a micro 18 in my youff , never used outboard, if no wind blagged a tow , or rocked the boat from gunnel to gunnel could build up to 3 knotts , used to dement the dear departed harbour master when we did that !
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Steve Goacher of sailmaking fame doesn't seem to use engines. He moves his Sonata about like that. (Synchronising with moving the rudder across to drive the boat)
 
I think you're overreacting to the perceived problems of tide and waves on the sea. As an ex 19' trailer sailer owner I recommend picking a decent weekend and heading off to anywhere really. Cardiff Bay would be OK for a trial sail, but would be pretty dull after half a day. Milford Haven would be better. I took mine to the Solent, East Coast, Firth of Clyde, Porthmadog and Falmouth. You're in an envious position; maximise the potential.
 
Windermere isn't too bad either.
The slip is good with a jetty either side.
Carparking is availabe even if it isn't cheap.
On a long weekend you can learn how to launch/recover and rig/de-rig even if you don't get much chance to sail a lot.
If you can sail a dinghy you will be able to manage a Micro 18'. If you don't know how to rig the boat someone will no doubt come and give you the benefit of their experience, whether you want it or not. Actually, it's worth stepping the mast on the trailer at home just to try it out. Don't put the sails on or up if there is any wind at all.
Have fun, I'm sure you will.
 
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