Saguday
Well-Known Member
After a careful inspection of the keelbolts we cautiously ventured out into the testing waters of Plymouth Sound on Sunday afternoon, courtesy of the redoubtable Captain Photodog on the good ship Talisman.
First time on a Bavaria (a 10 year old 31) and I am instructed to tell you all that she is indeed a very fine ship (actually, she is). Following the obligatory safety briefing we were shackled to the benches and pulling on the oars as if our lives depended on it. Had a great time with SWMBO and kids for about 6 hours out around the breakwater, over to near the Mew stone, gybed and back through the bridges hurling spray and leaving Nauticat's trembling in our wake. Sailed up through the Narrows (yes, sailed, unlike the amateurs who motored up) past what's left of the might of the Navy before it moves to Pompey and up to see the Tamar Bridges where the Sancerre was broken out in celebration along with some posh ginger cake ready for a gentle reach back to base. An immaculate return to the PYH pontoon without touching the sides AT ALL marked the end of a perfect trip with the same number who ventured out returning back so all was fine.
Weather was great all weekend and were even doing over 6 knots several times with the boat heeled at it's apparently normal cruising angle of 70 deg. We had a fine meal at the Bridge (why is everything to do with Bridges down there some sort of bridge fetish??) where we coincidentally bumped into our old friend Charlie Thompson (ex-Treasurer of Bristol Corinthians YC when I was Commode there) who has Prima also berthed at PYH.
What a fine day and our first sail in over 2 years since we finished our US liveaboard adventure and now we're all fired up again. Our sincere thanks to Doug for a super trip.
I'd love to post a selection of fine photographs but unfortunately I've tried for 4 hours now and I keep breaking the forum uploader and even broke the forum web complainer widget when it said invalid post (presumably only non-complaints are valid) so anyway if I figure out what to do I'll post some pics.
Cheers
Neil
First time on a Bavaria (a 10 year old 31) and I am instructed to tell you all that she is indeed a very fine ship (actually, she is). Following the obligatory safety briefing we were shackled to the benches and pulling on the oars as if our lives depended on it. Had a great time with SWMBO and kids for about 6 hours out around the breakwater, over to near the Mew stone, gybed and back through the bridges hurling spray and leaving Nauticat's trembling in our wake. Sailed up through the Narrows (yes, sailed, unlike the amateurs who motored up) past what's left of the might of the Navy before it moves to Pompey and up to see the Tamar Bridges where the Sancerre was broken out in celebration along with some posh ginger cake ready for a gentle reach back to base. An immaculate return to the PYH pontoon without touching the sides AT ALL marked the end of a perfect trip with the same number who ventured out returning back so all was fine.
Weather was great all weekend and were even doing over 6 knots several times with the boat heeled at it's apparently normal cruising angle of 70 deg. We had a fine meal at the Bridge (why is everything to do with Bridges down there some sort of bridge fetish??) where we coincidentally bumped into our old friend Charlie Thompson (ex-Treasurer of Bristol Corinthians YC when I was Commode there) who has Prima also berthed at PYH.
What a fine day and our first sail in over 2 years since we finished our US liveaboard adventure and now we're all fired up again. Our sincere thanks to Doug for a super trip.
I'd love to post a selection of fine photographs but unfortunately I've tried for 4 hours now and I keep breaking the forum uploader and even broke the forum web complainer widget when it said invalid post (presumably only non-complaints are valid) so anyway if I figure out what to do I'll post some pics.
Cheers
Neil
