What has been your best sailing moment of 2013?

Stangate to Pin Mill early August. Under sail all the way from Stangate spit buoy free wind all the way brilliant. A few days later returning from Ipswich wind on the nose all the way, bit rough in the Swin, still better than working though.
 
Best sailing moment of 2013: Without a doubt my crew on the day successfully putting out an electrical fire before it caught hold properly, and in doing so saving Santana.

I like to think I'd have helped, but I was too busy trying to manage the boat into the Deben against the ebb and onto our mooring, with the engine cut, and a strong F5 blowing.

Best memories this year are of things being over - the next best highpoint was locking in at Vlissingen after a very rough passage from the Deben in a SW7. Minor gear/boat damage, a fair few waves breaking aboard, and one very ill crew member. I made a last minute change from a planned crossing to Den Helder because of the forecast - the correct decision with hindsight would've been to wait for a few days until the weather passed through.

Best sail of the year was probably the next day, bound for Goes, goose-winging under full sail in the Veersemeer in a SW6, on flat water and making hull speed all the way.
 
Probably sailing back from IJmuiden, with a decent beam wind. We romped along at 5-6 knots, and got to Lowestoft quicker and more comfortably than ever before.

Or heading from Wangerooge to Hooksiel, which involves several very tortuous drying channels. There was quite a strong wind, so we, as well as several German boats, did the whole passage on just the jib. We managed 7 knots at times which is a bit nerve-racking when there is only about 20cm below the keel and you are tracking carefully from withy to withy.
 
#1 Rounding Ardnamurchan Point in F7 SW'ly then reaching all the way to Oronsay, Skye. Three reefs in main and a wee bit of rolled genoa. S/H

#2 "Mixing it" with the Fife fleet through Burnt Island narrows. Five Fifes around me, glorious sunshine, full sail set. S/H

#3 Taking SWMBO round Priest Island, just under 3hrs. Reach out and back 6kts all the way. Warm sunshine and gentle sea

#4 Seeing the boat safely hauled ashore on 4th November, then enduring weeks of gales since, in knowledge boat is safe!
 
Last edited:
Best sail; Levington to Ramsgate. Gloomy start turned into a cool, sparkly day straight down Foulgers.
Best moment; coming back to Blighty through the Needles against the tide at night and tying up to the outside moorings at Yarmouth.
 
More of a trip than a single moment, but after a fabulous holiday down Cornwall and Dorset way with the troops, a single handed hop from Torquay to Portsmouth. Weather forecast was a bit of everything with rain thrown in. It turned into a gentle/moderate beam/just aft of beam reach pretty much all the way back. Timing of tides worked a treat, and sail through the solent at night tho a bit tricky at times was grand.
 
There are two for me; a trip to the Medway over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, with a northerly! Although it started off cold, it was a huge change not to be punching into a southwesterly. Second was the motor/sail back from Ostend in late July, and fighting the other half for the shady spot in the wheelhose
 
The highlights have to be our two sails back from Oostende - Late May and Mid August - on both occasions we hoisted sail in the harbour and dropped c. 11 hrs later off the Ganges Buoy at Shotley - one tack all the way. The sails out were less fulfilling although we also enjoyed spending some time in Holland for the first time in a few years...
 
Running to Fox's Yard from Eastbourne late last May.

A testing, brilliant, very, very long hard day up through the Goodwins dodging the wind farms but we had young Kwaka on board to help us out so we knew all would be well:encouragement::ambivalence:

We arrived at Fox's after a 14 hours slog and that first drink at the Yacht Club Bar was nectar

May
Xx
 
maybh1 said:
Running to Fox's Yard from Eastbourne late last May.

A testing, brilliant, very, very long hard day up through the Goodwins dodging the wind farms but we had young Kwaka on board to help us out so we knew all would be well:encouragement::ambivalence:

We arrived at Fox's after a 14 hours slog and that first drink at the Yacht Club Bar was nectar

May
Xx
Click to expand...

Is Kwacker on the return trip
 
sailorman said:
Is Kwacker on the return trip
Click to expand...


He seems to have dropped out of sight. No one can get in touch with him currently:confused:

Anyway, given the time it is taking Fox's to do the work on my boat we may be in Ipswich for some considerable time yet!

May
Xx

Ps - we will be down on the 27th - if you are around Seadwellers bar will be open:)
 
Coming back from the crouch in mid august... Bit lumpy at first.. Sun came out, wind off the shore, tide under our belt... Crouch bar to to just round the corner near the backwaters averaged 8 knots for two hours...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top