The trials of the single-footed yachtsman

[Alcyone]

After suffering the ignominy of having the agony of my sprained ankle whilst sailing in company with Banjo and Cobby Girl laughed at over the airwaves on Friday, Louise convinced me that the injury should not prevent us fron joining the fun up at Portishead this weekend.

Couldn't get any worse could it?

Left the pontoon with Alana at 12:45 for the 13:00 lock out. Halfway across the bay and the engine overheated. Cancelled the lock and Louise fiddled with the Seacock 'to see if it would clear', which, luckily, it seemed to. Water started pumping and off we went.

Small mishap between the Holms as Louise managed to wrap the genoa around the forestay in an innovative way, which led to me hopping up to the bows and rethreading both genoa sheets whilst bouncing around in the chop.

As the waves dumped bucket fulls of sand onto Ishtar at the English grounds, we realised that the carpets below were sodden. Drilling a hole from the cockpit locker had indeed solved the problem of a leeking lid, but the bilges were now full from the week's rain.

Squelch, squelch went Saturday night.

A cracking sail back, and I thought we did well, more than keeping up with some of our more experienced friends, until the genoa halyard snapped, resulting in another panic.

Concerned about the low tide, and the race fleet, I fired up the engine and motored back. Safe in the wrach channel, we booked the lock, once again with alana. Home at last.

The engine cut out as we turned into the inner channel, and refused to start. Enter Huw (CardiffCruiser), aboard Sandpiper, and yet more embarrassment as we were towed back to our mooring. (Many thanks, Huw, you handled the boat brilliantly).

'Maybe I forgot to turn the seacock on at the same time I forgot to turn the fuel on' came a small embarrassed voice from below. 'Maybe that's why we overheated and ran out of fuel'.

So, back on the pontoon, covered in diesel, carpets drying in the wind and Genoa flapping in the wind as we fixed the halyard, the weekend has been, er, a tad trying.

Can't wait to get out again! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cardiffcruiser]

No probs Martin was glad to help. Hope you realise from my dodgy electrics that you're not the only one suffering the 'joys' of boat ownership.

Was the seacock really closed as well?

Was a really good sail back. Was glad to hear you resorted to the engine too though. I started ours just off the mouth of the Rhymney.

Did manage to give my new forum burgee it's first outing, thanks to Peter (PCUK) for ordering it.

 

[mrbloto]

welcome to sailing , at least the dog never got run over, or the cat had kittens on the carpet.lesson learnt hopefully. you did the thing by going in company. when the sh*t hits the fan it usually comes one after the other /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Alcyone]

Yes, I spent the evening cleaning the fan. Joking aside, some good lessons learned. Much of it was our own fault, not checking some obvious things, so we'll take those on the chin.

The other point though, I think, and it links to Huw's electrics problem, is boat maintenance. Ishtar had sat on her mooring at CBYC for a good few years before we bought her, slowly deteriorating. In the last few months she has done more work than she has in many years, and much of the neglect she was subject too has shown up in the form of electrical problems (now sorted) rotten and breaking running rigging, and so on.

So I think I'll go over her with a fine toothcomb in the next few weeks and look for things showing signs of impending failure. I don't really have the cash to spend, but I don't want things breaking all the time.

 

[mrbloto]

no the feeling bought 30ft yacht which someone had rengined took it out of river to the seano room in river to try it out150 yds from entrance river no drive on shaft,no wind. biggest tide of year1/2 hr to get back to mooring before being swept down channel !!no the feeling /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif