What has been your best sailing moment of 2013?

FullCircle

FullCircle

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Besides the very obvious of actually using the boat this year, I can say that my best moment of the year was in August on our holiday coming out of the Medway heading toward Whitaker beacon with 28kts true up the chuff, all sail up. Having just installed a new linear autopilot, I was trying it out in wind vane mode, starting at 165 degrees off the wind, and then slowly increasing this until I ran out of faith at 178 degrees. We were absolutely whizzing along, and the pilot steered a beautifully straight course with no sign of broaching. I took it off autopilot and ran with it for around an hour - very twitchy, but no problems. We rounded Whitaker to head back into the Crouch and of course then we had 28kts on the nose. Between me & Mrs FC we put 2 reefs in the main and furled down the genoa whilst doing the mark rounding - very efficient, straight onto the beat. (soon gave up beating straight into the mouth of the Crouch, and motorsailed home....).
We both really enjoyed that bit of the trip.
 
The sail from Lymington to Studland. Our first time in the Solent, the usual F6 to make a sail memorable and all three white sails up, we shot past the Needles with The Kipper brushing aside the overfalls; then the wind dropped a bit and the tide eased and I said to Mrs Kipper "I've heard about this place up ahead that is supposed to be quite nice, it's called Studland and I think we should stop there for lunch". We left 11 days later. Apart from a few day sails and lots of walks ashore it was our home for a bit. Golly it's nice there. The night sail into Chichester harbour comes a close second but only because getting there was like stopping bagging your head against a wall.
 
Well I would have said it was hooning along between Beachy Head and Selsey Bill at over 6 knots playing the mainsheet like a dingy sailor and going "yee ha" :)

But that was topped by the look of joy on the dear lady wife's face when the offer on Erbas was accepted and the loan application went through. Bless :D
 
Almost the same as FC but with only 16 knots of wind and Cruising chute and main pretty well from Richard Montgomery to Whittaker. Who says Centaurs dont sail well? (Oh every body!!) But not my one. Scurried through the Spitway and beat as far as Bradwell when timing dictated motoring up the Blackwater.

Gone all depressed now as the next time out is at least 3 months away.

Only three days now til the days start drawing out Horaah.
 
Had to think about this - the day we sailed from Byh to Tollesbury in company with Bru on Brigatia was good then the start of our hols when it was up to Ipswich , neither day was rough or outstanding in any particular way except we had BOTH sails up !, the rest if the time it seemed to be on the nose ( engine on ) on windy enough to go under Genoa alone , maybe the mainsail will get more use next year .......
 
The best moment must be the occasion we were anchored in Pyefleet for the evening and the trainee accordion player on the yacht 100 yards away shut up and allowed us to enjoy the evening in peace.

More seriously, on the return to the Medway from that trip with a great sail across in increasing wind (30kt gusts later on) which was our first real test of Beguine and really gave us confidence in her abilities as well as being great fun.
 
sadly I have done NO sailing this year! But my two trips were both wonderful.

1. motor sailing Artemis back to the Crouch via Havengore with Moody Sabre. Snow and ice on the deck, zilch wind but brilliant brilliant sunshine and the Narrow Cut was just beautiful.

2. Finally getting Ocean Lady into the water and motoring her down to St Kats. MoodySabre and Full Circle will account for my nerves and anxiety, and the relief on getting her there and into the berth was palpable and worth it all. Delighted.

Hope to do some sailing in both vessels in 2014. We are aiming to get OL to the continent - or at least to the Pirates weekend :-)
 
ChattingLil said:
sadly I have done NO sailing this year! But my two trips were both wonderful.

1. motor sailing Artemis back to the Crouch via Havengore with Moody Sabre. Snow and ice on the deck, zilch wind but brilliant brilliant sunshine and the Narrow Cut was just beautiful.

2. Finally getting Ocean Lady into the water and motoring her down to St Kats. MoodySabre and Full Circle will account for my nerves and anxiety, and the relief on getting her there and into the berth was palpable and worth it all. Delighted.

Hope to do some sailing in both vessels in 2014. We are aiming to get OL to the continent - or at least to the Pirates weekend :-)
Click to expand...

Ahem, Up to St Katts
 
nigelm said:
Had to think about this - the day we sailed from Byh to Tollesbury in company with Bru on Brigatia was good then the start of our hols
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, that was a good day too, and we were grateful for some really good photos of Brigantia under sail (ta muchely!)

Brent Goose said:
I think I passed you two somewhere near the Buxeys on my way up to Burnham or Fambridge that weekend?
Click to expand...

I recall somebody going t'other way around there, that was you eh?
 
Sailing east round Dasser Ort in bright sunshine with a following F6/7 and a poled out jib and the log showing 11.5kn. It was a pity that my wife was less than pleased.
 
Standing on

Out by the needles in the fastnet fleet with a crew of east coast sailors. Standing on whilst icap leopard ducked us.

Great photo. By kind permission of our bowman.


copyright
 

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It is a tie between two:

Taking a friends new (to him) boat into the Ore in April - before the buoys were laid. Don't think I would do it in my own boat!

Sail from Ostend to Calais to win some silver (for the 4th or 5th time)

I haven't sailed my new pride and joy yet so that pleasure is yet to come!
 
Karouise said:
It is a tie between two:

Taking a friends new (to him) boat into the Ore in April - before the buoys were laid. Don't think I would do it in my own boat!

Sail from Ostend to Calais to win some silver (for the 4th or 5th time)

I haven't sailed my new pride and joy yet so that pleasure is yet to come!
Click to expand...
Hi Peter do you have a launch date
 
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