FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Well, it was the weekend that Dualin went sailing for the frst time in 6 or so years.
Andy & Jo have bought the boat, a Duellist 32 and wanted to try here out this weekend.
It was, to put it mildly, effin freezing on Saturday morning, as I pitched along the very icy planks of Tollesbury Marina at 8am.
You see Andy can't sleep. In fact he wants it all. Now.So he texted me to arrive special early so we could get going.
I arrived on time and Jo had the breakfast ready to wolf down which was delicious. We got into 3 or 4 layers and then we were off.
Force 3 on the beam coming out of Tollesbury paast Mersea toward the Colne. A decent shakedown for the boat, and Andy & Jo are grinning. This is great.
Cutting along quite nicely, all loking good, winches are a bit stiff, but thats on the list.
It was very cold, but the sun shone all day really. Only a couple of sailing boats seen all day.
But then we decided to turn back towards Bradwell, and beat back in about 10-12 knots of breeze on the nose. Unfortunately, the genoa worked its way out of the luff groove, and we were against the tide anyway, so hit the engine button, and put the genny away.
Thrum,thrum thrum, lovely.
Andy: lets get the main down.
Ok.
Then, well, errr, pook pook pook. Sod all.
Andy dived below to discover the filters clogged. The diesel hadnt been disturbed for a long time while the boat was out of service.
Me and Jo got the main back up, and wind was dying away. I managed to keep the boat going at about 2 knots against the tide just on the main, and tacking in the shallows around St peters flats while Andy fiddled with the Bukh.
Got it started a couple of times, but filters kept clogging.
So Andy did the bucket of fuel trick, disconnecting from the tank. Brilliant.
That worked for a while, but of course the bucket empties quickkly as the excess fuel gets pumped into the fuel tank. Oh.
After much more headscratching, Andy finds there is a small fuel filter in the lift pump, which of course was blocked solid. Having cleaned that with Bradex Easy Start, all reassembled and we trundled into Bradwell with no further issues.
Had a bit of a sort out with the genny halyard and went to the Green Man. Fabbo sirloin and bucket of red wine ensured a good nights sleep.
Off again this morning, sailed round West Mersea moorings and back out again, and made good progress up into Tollesbury channel.
Dropped the rags, out with the fenders and tiedup. Job done.
Off for a deserved pint in the Tollesbury Club bar, and home.
Thanks to Andy and Jo for a very entertaining weekend, and a really good work out for Dualin. Now that added a few jobs to the list!
I am sure we will see more of them on Forum events this year....
Andy & Jo have bought the boat, a Duellist 32 and wanted to try here out this weekend.
It was, to put it mildly, effin freezing on Saturday morning, as I pitched along the very icy planks of Tollesbury Marina at 8am.
You see Andy can't sleep. In fact he wants it all. Now.So he texted me to arrive special early so we could get going.
I arrived on time and Jo had the breakfast ready to wolf down which was delicious. We got into 3 or 4 layers and then we were off.
Force 3 on the beam coming out of Tollesbury paast Mersea toward the Colne. A decent shakedown for the boat, and Andy & Jo are grinning. This is great.
Cutting along quite nicely, all loking good, winches are a bit stiff, but thats on the list.
It was very cold, but the sun shone all day really. Only a couple of sailing boats seen all day.
But then we decided to turn back towards Bradwell, and beat back in about 10-12 knots of breeze on the nose. Unfortunately, the genoa worked its way out of the luff groove, and we were against the tide anyway, so hit the engine button, and put the genny away.
Thrum,thrum thrum, lovely.
Andy: lets get the main down.
Ok.
Then, well, errr, pook pook pook. Sod all.
Andy dived below to discover the filters clogged. The diesel hadnt been disturbed for a long time while the boat was out of service.
Me and Jo got the main back up, and wind was dying away. I managed to keep the boat going at about 2 knots against the tide just on the main, and tacking in the shallows around St peters flats while Andy fiddled with the Bukh.
Got it started a couple of times, but filters kept clogging.
So Andy did the bucket of fuel trick, disconnecting from the tank. Brilliant.
That worked for a while, but of course the bucket empties quickkly as the excess fuel gets pumped into the fuel tank. Oh.
After much more headscratching, Andy finds there is a small fuel filter in the lift pump, which of course was blocked solid. Having cleaned that with Bradex Easy Start, all reassembled and we trundled into Bradwell with no further issues.
Had a bit of a sort out with the genny halyard and went to the Green Man. Fabbo sirloin and bucket of red wine ensured a good nights sleep.
Off again this morning, sailed round West Mersea moorings and back out again, and made good progress up into Tollesbury channel.
Dropped the rags, out with the fenders and tiedup. Job done.
Off for a deserved pint in the Tollesbury Club bar, and home.
Thanks to Andy and Jo for a very entertaining weekend, and a really good work out for Dualin. Now that added a few jobs to the list!
I am sure we will see more of them on Forum events this year....
