Scuttlebutt 2009 Cherbourg Meet

Participants

I would just like to add that although a few could not make it at the last minute due to genuine reasons all but one contacted me and explained the situation. The last one PM'ed me over the weekend explaining that he had recently been in hospital and hence why he had fallen off the Radar.

I think a special mention to Lady In Bed is deserved as he has now made EVERY Cherbourg meet and sailed across single handed in his 33' cutter. Weather Forecast was NE F5-7 and two boats at 24' & 26' also made the effort and attended.

From an organisers point of view its great that everyone that I finally expected - did make the effort and made it to Cherbourg.
 
I must admit to jealously thinking that you guys must be having a pretty good sail both ways - didnt realise it had so much north in it though.

Well done to Nigel for being the only one who has made it every year, and in his own boat at that.

Hopefully next year ....
 
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disgraceful ... allowing smoking on board
 
Some more pictures below.

Really nice for me to come along and meet some of you (and hear your wake stories!) Had a great time with some really nice sailing especially yesterday, really sunny. Only snag was it was smack on the nose to Newhaven going home. I'd hitched a lift with MasterofNone on his rather lovely cutter "Free Spirit". 12 tons of long keeled steel made light work of the waves on the way over. But sailing tight to the wind is not her forte. So it was a bit slow going back, and we arrived in Newhaven at 4 this morning, having left Cherbourg at 10 on Sunday. Guess we were last home, but we were very comfy given the conditions and made the most of enjoying being on the water. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and big thanks to MastofofNone for taking me along.

MasterofNone, his SWMBO and lad as well as phanakapan of this forum (in the light blue)
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Its behind you!
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Free Spirit battering some waves into submission.
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Some pics from the dinner.
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rickp said:
And some copydex, just in case!

Just a few photos to complement Fireball's:


The return trip, you can see the competition as specs in the distance ;)

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The reason dear, is that your camera was pointing in the wrong direction..... At least untill we tried to become a sailing boat again whilst the rest opf you cheated!
 
whilst the rest opf you cheated!
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We have 2 perfectly good reasons to use the engine for so long.
1) We had a moboer on board ... so it made him feel more comfortable (honest! ;) )
2) SWMBO had dinner ready for us, and it sounded (and then tasted) too good to wait for.... so with the additional mileage we had to cover we used a fair bit of iron topsail ...
 
You arrived at 4am on the 15th? having left Cherbourg 10am or PM? eitherway - flippin long sail just to meet up for a meal!! :)
 
fireball said:
We have 2 perfectly good reasons to use the engine for so long.
1) We had a moboer on board ... so it made him feel more comfortable (honest! ;) )
2) SWMBO had dinner ready for us, and it sounded (and then tasted) too good to wait for.... so with the additional mileage we had to cover we used a fair bit of iron topsail ...
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Having had Carina for 3 years, this was the first long beat - with 25knot over the deck in a bumpy sea that we have had. Surprisingly, we have been blessed by the gods with free-er winds (and SWMBO - who motors to windword, becasue "the dog doesn't like her tipping over").

So we decided to persivere and see how she went. Being only 1.5 mtr draft, I think she is a little tender, and in that breeze we had full genoa (110%) and heavily reefed role up main - (1 foot below top set of spreaders) Best pointing in those conditions was about 40% on apparent wind, with speed ranging from 5 to 7 knots depending on waves. I have sailed better windward going boats - such as the contessa 32, but all in all for a cruising boat = not too bad.
 
fireball said:
You arrived at 4am on the 15th? having left Cherbourg 10am or PM? eitherway - flippin long sail just to meet up for a meal!! :)
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10 am sun to 0400 tue - true it took longer than anticipated but there were enough of us to get rest and the only bit that really wasn't enjoyable was the last few hours off Brighton where it started to rain, and the wind got a bit more unpredictable and the "nearly there" attitude took over (in my head anyway).
 
You've probably got a bit more weight and you draw more ... even with our keel on we're only 1.4!

Having had Nadurra for 3 months this was the first real beat in a sea - trying to remember if we had 1 or 2 reefs in - I think just the one, but the 1/2 genoa didn't help pointing ... 35° saw us pointing towards Poole and doing 4.5-5 - certainly wouldn't have entertained 40° as it doesn't do ones sanity any good even if it is a knot or 2 faster .... especially when I could go faster and point higher in my dinghy!!
 
fireball said:
Very commendable! Now, have you booked up for next year yet?! ;)
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Well I'm unlikely to have bought a sailing boat (not my wife's cup of tea, she only likes mobos) so it depends on blagging an invite.
Assuming I haven't been banned, if I can find someone with a boat that I haven't offended yet then I'll be there!
 
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