What makes for an interesting sail?

[stav]

I set the alarm this morning to go to Sark 22miles each way. However small children needed a story and was late leaving, then chatted to a friendly fisherman about different types of pot (seems i need a ....buxxer I have forgotten). Finally getting away an hour and half late after putting the sheets back on after varnishing last week and then had to wait for three ferries...Motored a couple of miles and decided I was too late so turned around and headed home. Then though hey it is Monday morning and I am out on my boat with a fair breeze so decided to head for the Minquiers about 9 miles away in the other direction. So got the sails up and on a close reach with the tide felt so good to be sailing. As I approached could not find my large scale chart, OK chart plotter is still just about useable but completely dead,final back up free stuff on the laptop but untried but thought I would give it ago and got two miles in to the Minquiers before deciding I was on the edge of available accuracy so anchored by some rocks for a spot of fishing. Even took the lure in the dinghy closer but not even a bite.

At this point the tide turned and by the time I had rowed back and recovered the dinghy the log was showing 1.7knts at anchor: it was as though a switch had been thrown. Decided I had better get going or was going to be tide bound and had a brilliant sail back ferry gliding the tide 30 degrees to hold my course in 18knts of breeze making 3.5knts to my waypoint with 6.5knts through the water.

Glad the family was not on board but a really satisfying day and sunny but chilly, just no fish.

 

[Racecruiser]

That sounds interesting to me alright - no doubt some local knowledge helped.

Did you back in the anchor? Sorry everyone couldn't resist!

 

[stav]

Sorry if I am borig just thought it might be interesting to talk sailing as opposed to boats and problems for a change. I was hoping some other sails might have been posted. Sorry, just going off to eat some worms........

 

[Sans Bateau]

A bad day on the water is better than a good day in the office. I was in the office yesterday.

 

[Searush]

Thanks for the cruise report. Nice to know someone is out there sailing. Rather than on here wingeing!

 

[OGITD]

1st sail 2011

1, Sailing with inexperienced crew (never sailed before).

2, The smell of burning so bad that we had to evacuate the cabin (rust convertor on the exhaust elbow).

3, Ignition circuit failure (identified and resolved).

4, Change of plan with a chance meeting (via VHF) of an old pal who requests your presence for a social at another popular harbour.