What sort of season did you have?

[Wiltshire]

Freezing cold and wet week doing maintenance in February. By that stage getting a little concerned about this COVID thing, it sounds nasty.
Boat went back in the water one week before Belgium lockdown so didn't see her for 3 months, fortunately sails not bent on (wait for end of story). Service batteries died. Two week holiday in July during which wind howled most of the time. It's not a bad place but 3 days in Breskens would leave anybody a little stir crazy.

And then things turned for for the better.

Some good weekends locally around Nieuwpoort and an excellent 2 weeks in August along the Normandy coast. Sunshine, fair winds and some nice evenings ashore in a decidedly unlocked down France. Only downside was not be able to cross to the UK to stock up on the sort of things you miss when you can't get them. We could see the White Cliffs from Boulogne on a sunny day with a N West 4 that would have taken us to Dover in fine style. Highlight was having not one but two pods of dolphins come and swim around the boat between Dieppe and Dunkerque. More fine weather in September and all was good. A couple of real bonus weekends sailing in sunshine and good, if a little brisk, winds.

There was a big storm at the end of September in the southern North Sea. Boat next door breaks mooring line and our boat gets a battering overnight. Genoa, fortunately with sail tie applied also damaged. As we were due to be lifted in a couple of weeks I planned to take the genoa off the previous weekend but the wind was directly astern of our mooring and quite strong so I left it. Doh!

We will be lifted out on Monday and I will fill in my claim form for the damage caused when I get the quote. All in all I would say it was a mixed season but I still feel lucky to be able to sail and goodness knows some people have had a dreadful year.

 

[Frank Holden]

I've had an excellent year ... apart from not having seen either the sea or my boat since last November . Only time I see my boat now is on Google Earth....
I live in hope... bags packed by the front door ready to go.......

 

[[3889]]

No complaints here. New-2-Us boat in March, set sail end of May and had 4 months of excellent cruising. The one fly in the ointment is that the last boat hasn't sold...yet. Slightly disappointing but not surprising and a burden worth bearing for what was a pretty good year afloat.

 

[alahol2]

All considered, not too bad.
Lockdown was called the day before we had planned to launch at end of March so all the covers were off the boat and it was sat under a tree.
Eventually managed to launch last week of May and spent the next day cleaning twigs, leaves and pigeon sh*t off the decks.
A couple of day sails then a couple of 'illicit' overnights along with myriad others in Newtown while the 'no overnight' ban was in place.
July and August we managed various trips from 3 - 15 days around Solent and Poole/Studland.
End of August to September we've taken any couple of half decent days away.
Hoping for a few more overnighters before coming out at the end of October/beginning November.
A better season than many in the club who chose not to launch at all.

 

[Birdseye]

Little activity to be honest. The early part of the season was taken up with the M-I-L in her final days and she passed on the first day of lockdown. Cardiff Council slammed the lock gates shut ( I still dont know why they did that - do they think it stopped the virus getting into the harbour?) so the boat didnt move until the lockdown was relaxed. Then on the first trip out we hit engine problems and the repair took ages because no one was working. Finally back in operation we staggered up river and got stuck in the marina with 25kn NE winds for 5 days and waves that you could surf on rolling up the entrance channel . As a parting gesture the dog was seasick on my bunk on the way back down river.
I should add that the boat is again in lockdown and we cant get to it.
All in all, a fun year!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Barely OK. Instead of our usual four weeks playing out in the wild west we had two weeks dodging rain, wind and other people on the Clyde. To be honest, I'd rather have left the boat ashore for the year. Going back soon to try for one final week before she comes out, but from the weather forecast that's going to be a miserable dud as well.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Prety good considering. Sold old boat and delivered it in foul weather thus demonstrating its supreme fitness for such weather - had an odd hiccup but no more.

Sailed new boat the Isles of Scilly for the first time - explored our usual huants and sailed home pleased with its metal legs. Trundled up and down Cornish and Devon coast trying out and ultimately rejecting newer engine - still every else fine.

Between waiting for engineer took campervan to seek the source of the Great River Lynher (by 5 lanes to our surprise). Several outing bbqs etc with Navigators progeny and grandchildren. Tried out new van cycle rack and got saddle sore bum but raised spirits.

And plenty of work to pay for outing to Florence as pre-birthday treat.

Missed Brittany but it will still be their next year

And we came home to lots of good family news, and I decided what engine I should install

 

[Concerto]

Tried out new van cycle rack and got saddle sore bum but raised spirits.

Which spirit was that? Single malt? Bet you walked funny after the spirit. LOL

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Which spirit was that? Single malt? Bet you walked funny after the spirit. LOL

I was in Cornwall, so Brandy and Lovage obviously. Just a bit of a list

 

[Sea-Fever]

I was already in the water when lockdown started, which perhaps made it all the more frustrating. Fortunately I had the busiest few months of work I've ever experienced to distract me. I do remember checking the weather and tides every so often and cursing at not being able to get away....however even if work had let me go lockdown would have put paid to sailing.

After lockdown and work eased had a pleasant few trips with the family, Solent only. Without the lure of warmer climes i do believe they actually enjoyed it.....well sort of....I don't care how big your boat is, in her mind it's still just a floating caravan isn't it.

 

[James W]

Great season. only let down by unreliable shipwright who took a year to headline one cabin, and then never got round to finishing. That aside, bought a new boat which needed drying out a little, which it did perfectly thanks to the wonderful weather over lockdown. Enjoyed the old boat a lot after lockdown ended, plenty of family fun. Sold old boat last week and now looking forward to 2021 with new toy! ??️

 

[Iliade]

Says it all really...

 

[Kelpie]

We couldn't get to our boat until late July, but once we were allowed, we quickly got her back in commission and set off for a three week cruise exploring Orkney. Essentially what we had planned for the year anyway, just that we would have preferred to do it earlier in the year. So I think we got fairly lucky.
Most years we try to put all of our annual leave in to one big lump and go for one really good cruise to somewhere new. Boat barely moves other than that.

 

[Tomaret]

Three and a half months late starting and the summer had to be shared with all the other things we couldn’t do during lockdown, so the sailing has been limited. Winds seems to have been 5-10 knots above forecast so some good sailing when I did get out. Is this the year to stay in the water and do some winter sailing?

 

[dunedin]

Clearly a frustratingly late start. And plans to sail to the Baltic were binned.
But with helpful info on this forum, anticipated lockdown so lifted boat a week early in March and got antifouling plus as much boat prep done as possible pre lockdown, so boat was virtually ready to go within hours when finally allowed.

Very determined to make the most of the available season left, so out cruising on the 3rd July - being very careful, fully provisioned to spend virtually all time on the hook, and catering on board rather than ashore. Was very quiet on the West of Scotland in July, and was often the first visitor in many places, and warmly welcomed on few occasions going ashore (applying RYA Scotland Respect The Destination guidelines).
In the end logged over 1,750 miles, including the Outer Hebrides from Barra Head & Mingulay to Stornoway (though still no weather window for St Kilda).
Saw lots of dolphins, countless porpoises and seals, a few otters, minkie whales, basking sharks and even northern bottlenose whales (twice).
Was fantastic to be on the water again. And much safer Covid-19 wise (for me and the places visited) than most staying at home and going to shops / cafes etc.

 

[matt1]

Clearly a frustratingly late start. And plans to sail to the Baltic were binned.
But with helpful info on this forum, anticipated lockdown so lifted boat a week early in March and got antifouling plus as much boat prep done as possible pre lockdown, so boat was virtually ready to go within hours when finally allowed.

Very determined to make the most of the available season left, so out cruising on the 3rd July - being very careful, fully provisioned to spend virtually all time on the hook, and catering on board rather than ashore. Was very quiet on the West of Scotland in July, and was often the first visitor in many places, and warmly welcomed on few occasions going ashore (applying RYA Scotland Respect The Destination guidelines).
In the end logged over 1,750 miles, including the Outer Hebrides from Barra Head & Mingulay to Stornoway (though still no weather window for St Kilda).
Saw lots of dolphins, countless porpoises and seals, a few otters, minkie whales, basking sharks and even northern bottlenose whales (twice).
Was fantastic to be on the water again. And much safer Covid-19 wise (for me and the places visited) than most staying at home and going to shops / cafes etc.

Wow! I'm envious. And I thought I had a good season ;-)

I am a complete "boat nut" and can't get close to those mileages. Maybe it's because I am working AND lay the boat up over the winter

 

[dunedin]

Wow! I'm envious. And I thought I had a good season ;-)

I am a complete "boat nut" and can't get close to those mileages. Maybe it's because I am working AND lay the boat up over the winter

Being early retirement (aka redundancy!) makes a huge difference. Never would have managed this when was working full time.

But also keep boat in commission all year round, which massively reduced the time needed to get underway when able to do so.

 

[Bobc]

We had a lovely month starting the day the French borders opened to us, port-hopping the boat from Southampton to the boat's new mooring in the Morbihan. Returned over there last month and just got back last weekend (so now in quarantine), and had a good cruise south, but our cruise was cut-short somewhat by storm Alex coming though, which was vicious, but gave me a couple of days to fit the new diesel heater and do a couple of other inside jobs.

I think although we've only been away twice this year on the boat, we've probably used it more this year than any previous year.

 

[doug748]

We had a lovely month starting the day the French borders opened to us, port-hopping the boat from Southampton to the boat's new mooring in the Morbihan. Returned over there last month and just got back last weekend (so now in quarantine), and had a good cruise south, but our cruise was cut-short somewhat by storm Alex coming though, which was vicious, but gave me a couple of days to fit the new diesel heater and do a couple of other inside jobs.

I think although we've only been away twice this year on the boat, we've probably used it more this year than any previous year.

Didn't see you going into St Malo did I? Pretty new 38ish footer, kids on board? Saw so few UK boats this year.

 

[Bobc]

Didn't see you going into St Malo did I? Pretty new 38ish footer, kids on board? Saw so few UK boats this year.

No, we crossed from Plymouth to Roscoff.