Wet Wet Wet

[Aja]

Locked into crinan on friday afternoon, and spent the night in the lock above the basin - and listened to the wind howling all night. Saturday dawned, so I'm reliably informed - but was so wet!!!

Waited for assorted family and friends to arrive at 10.30 saturday to travers through. Canal was very quiet...

After getting soaked - and I mean soaked we arrived at Ardrishaig without a scratch - which is always a good thing.. to find it was still blowin' a hoolie out in L Fyne so tied up with at least a dozen boats seeking shelter in the basin. Dont really know how it happened but found ourselves 'parked' the wrong way and had to warp ourselves around after finding that a Moody 346 in high winds and restricted room will not turn as expected.

Up sunday morning at 8 and ready to lock out - but wait! Pieces of blue sky were appearing! Precipitation had ceased! things were looking up! Out from Ardrishaig and up went the sails for a broad reach. Decided to pop into Tarbert while the Scottish Series fleet were out enjoying a sparkling 15 knot breeze. Tied up to the fishing boats and ashore for a late breakfast..... oooops - there was Salamander the Bavaria Match 38 mastless - again..... something wrong with this boat - goes through masts like I go through lost shackles...

Sunday lunchtime - HOT.

Skipped out of Tarbert and ran for Ardlamont missing the Swan 45's and Class 00 boats and had a fantastic beat up the West Kyle until the webbing at the head of the foresail parted...... Genny down - will worry about halyard later.

Motored round to Colintraive and picked up mooring and met brother and sister-in-law as arranged. Great meal in Colintraive last night.

First thing this morning up mast to get lost halyard. Motored back to mooring at Kames and swapped to brother-in-laws boat for sail back to Rhu - stopping en-route for traditional game of putting with kid in Rothesay. Skoooshed up river to Rhu and arrived at 1900.

Beleive it or not now suffering from sunburn - and extreme exhaustion....

Roll on friday night...

Didn't really mean this to be so long - but there you go

Donald

 

[BrianJ]

Sounds like Melbourne (Oz) .. except we havent seen rain for a long long time.
In future please send all excess rain to OZ.. we need it badly
BrianJ

 

[jerryat]

Hi Brian,

Yep, it's becoming a serious problem for you according to my brother who lives a few miles from Melbourne. He said exactly the same thing after my last email complaining about the rain mucking up a sailing day here and told me that they had been on restricted supply for ages now. He reckoned it was going to become even more difficult in the near future if rain didn't come in large quantities soon.

He's lived in Aussie for well over 40 years now and this is the worst drought he's seen. It must be a bit ironic to read Donald's chirpy story when you'd give anything to be pounded by heavy rain.

Hope the rain comes soon for you all 'cos it must be looking very dry and dusty there now. And anyway, I shall be over visiting again later this year all being well, and will need to know if have to bring my own water!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry

 

[Superstrath]

Sounds like a great weekend. Everyone else has been moaning about the weather up here, although yesterday was lovely. The weather was brilliant in Wiltshire! (800 mile round trip for 6 34 second runs - and 1 exploded magnesium diff case - but did manage to out-accelerate gravity by a fair margin - for the first time)

Anyway, regarding the genny webbing - do you think boats are like cars, everything goes wrong the minute they change hands? It always seems to be the way, doesn't it?

 

[BrianJ]

Jerry,
Let me know when...perhaps you wil join me in a meal at the Club one Friday evening.
Brian

 

[Gordonmc]

Our adventure started a week ago today with wind on the nose for a trip for two boats from Troon to Loch Riddon. The weather was reasonable and at least dry.
As well as the usual porpoises South of Wee Cumbrae I had a minke breaching just a few yards to St.bd... quite a sight.
Picked up the moorings and dinghied round to Colintraive for eats which was pleasant.
Then Wet Wednesday hit. We were well and truly drookit all day until out pickup at night for a car trip back down the road.
Back at the boat on Thursday night to let the midgies get their fill on the shore... then rain all day Friday. Colintraive was good again at night. We met an instructor and his three students who had picked up a pub mooring.
We found later they had attempted to get back to the boat, missed it and ended up on the Burnt Islands and had to be taken off by lifeboat. Getting back to our own boats was scary enough. Decided it was too much of a risk to go ashore after another wed and windy Saturday, so we hunkered down in one (downwind) boat all night. We also heard of one boat which dragged its mooring and ended up on one of the isles during Friday night. Anyone know more?
Sunday started with sun and rain.
I had to get back to Troon and after a fickle round of wind got into East Kyle when everything came good and I managed to goose-wing down to Rothesay Bay. Back in Troon for 20.00 with just half an hour on the donk at the end of the trip.
Of course yesterday had to be glorious, just to rub in the fact we spend three days with hatches closed and covers on.
Such is life.