Wow!! What a Fabulous weekend in Cherbourg!!

Becky

Becky

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Firstly huge thankyou's, hugs and kisses to Bignick and Twister Ken. Despite some nerves beforehand, the whole weekend went like clockwork. There was the usual Scuttlebutt banter and p**s-taking that we all are used to. But all those funny 'handles' by which we know the participants we can now tie up with faces. They really are real people!

Sailing was fabulous. The crossing we had on Friday was bouncy, and after a very slow start, the wind moved a few degrees off the nose and Cornish Maid really got going, 7-9 knots. But today, we had the fastest crossing I have ever had. Left at 6 am, and tied up in Haslar at 16.15. Hardly dropped below 8 knots all the way!

There will be lots more from the other particpants, but once again, thankyou to all of you who made the weekend so lovely.
 
Agree absolutely. Definitely the best sailing of the season - F4-5 N on Friday night - goosewinged for hours, surfing down the seas among brilliant stars and moon - unforgettable! Then a reach back SW F5-6, one reef in the main, brilliant sunshine - wow!

Oh yes, and those forumites - united in a common love of sailing and writing on this board (I'd better keep it polite!)Many thanks again to BigNick and TwisterKen for all the organisation!

One question - we left at 0645 and there was another boat ahead of us with full main and genoa, broaching and generally having a hard time of it - anyone care to own up?!
 
Was not us - we left at 0600 and ended up with two reefs in the main and no headsail at one time. Surfed down waves with 14kn on the log at times. Superb - sun too. Passed Talbot (motor) sailing at W Prinessea.
Thanks to Parahandy for his many attributes not least his cooking and Mark and Kate for their company.
Great sail - still buzzing today despite a clinic full.
 
I agree many thanks to Ken and Nick for a brilliant weekend - these things always take five times the organisation one might imagine. The venue was great, food good and convenient as too boot. Even the winds on the way home were perfect and the sun shone. Perfect!
 
Certainly enjoyed my weekend on Ayesha

Cutter seemed to have a dual role of skipper / sommelier and I'm still in awe of Parahandy's culinary skills.

Wonderful sailing / delightful company and Saturday night was a riot as usual.

Great to put some names to faces NAS, Becky, Dralex, Talbot to name but a few and not forgetiting the Irish contingent on the First 47.7.

Right...when's the next one ?
 
Yes agreed, nice to put names to faces.

We too had a blast of a sail back, cast off Cherbourg at 0530, tied up Northney 1658! One reef in the main, lots of surfing at over 10knts. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyway must'nt say too much, already in trouble for our fast run over. (is tome back yet, tee hee)
 
I also toroughly enjoyed my weeked and am very grateful to Big Nick and Twisterlessken.

Yep did a bit of motor sailing on the way back as sea on the quarter was a bit of a pain unless I was moving just a bit quicker. I would have put up the chute, but keeping SWMBO happy was the major requirement of this passage. Engine was definetly of for passage up the solent.

Cutters reference to my motor sailing was when I unleashed all the horses to overtake his boat and take some photos of her (did the same earlier for bedouin)
726Ayesha.jpg

726Bedouin.jpg
 
I tried to take a couple of Hi Jude - not sure how well they will come out and being the old fashioned film type you'll have to wait a couple of days to see the result!

The sail across on Friday was pretty spectacular just slightly marred by having to motor sail for the last part of the trip. The trip back on Sunday was stunning - just under 11 hours which is a record for us - and wonderful weather
 
I think we've got a couple of photos of Hi Jude between us too.

Forgot to bring camera to work so may be post tomorrow or PM you for your e mail address.
 
Hope they come out! Do you want me to send what piccies I have (most are a bit lop sided as SWMBO was working the camera!) via email - and if so do you have a broadband address
 
Agreed, great weekend and good to put names to faces. Thanks again for the rum Cutter- you'll be glad to know my breakfast did not stay down. Glad to see all you Solent people had a deserved cracking sail back after a slightly disappointing run over. We had our fun on the outbound leg, surfing at 11 knots and blowing our spinnaker- the way back was hard on the wind with 25-30 knots apparent and a lovely head sea- challenging sailing, but we sailed all the way for 18 hours, then used the engine for the last two, arriving back in Torquay at 0400 after covering 115 miles through the water.

Once again, great to meet everyone and here's to many more.

Alex
 
I second all of that. Great to meet forumites in real life.

I was press ganged from the pontoon by Paddy Whack Cocker on Saturday afternoon then armlocked all the way to Le Skiff .Consequently Saturday evening all a bit of a blur but highly enjoyable anyway.

Sail back was superb .One tack all the way Boat sailing fast sun shining to put the icing on the cake.
 
[ QUOTE ]

One question - we left at 0645 and there was another boat ahead of us with full main and genoa, broaching and generally having a hard time of it - anyone care to own up?!


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I noticed a boat about that time with what looked like an optimistic amount of sail up /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif No idea who it was though.
 
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Consequently Saturday evening all a bit of a blur

[/ QUOTE ]

Phew thats a relief, I thought you had a speech impediment!
 
Yep a great weekend,
We started back at 0030 on the Sunday just in case we ran out of puff... That was an error.. headed to the Banks buoys at about midday and when we furled sail and fired up the old Bukh --- disaster!!! There was a banging from the arse end... On inspection found all ok inside and the banging went off at very low revs.. Suppose it could be the shaft anode or rope cutter...
Anyway set genoa and rolled down to Hengestbury knowing that there was a race starting at 1430... Watched the start then sailed into the run wiv everthing crossed.. got a pluck through the run from the Christchurch Harbour security rib.. then motored at below banging speed 1 to 1 1/2 kts up the harbour.. grounded twice then made the mooring..
On tidying up found that lack of communication within my superstar crew members meant that the backstay had been seriuosly over tensioned... Of course I was sleeping it off for most of the return trip..
Slacked off the back stay and NO banging... Don't believe the hull was bent that much!!!
So now its lift out and look, or go over to a suitably large tidal place to dry out and have a dekko..
Maybe that basin in Cherbourg would be good on Saturday next ( The one Lady in Red uses)??
Any thoughts??
But yes, it was a great weekend and thanks as ever to Big (and isnt he?) Nick and the twisterless Ken....and all the others who made it fun... Putting names to faces is not easy especially when in ones cups!!
Are the photos going to be put on a specific site?? Not that I was capable of taking any Blame the B&B's
Cheers Bob E..
 
Glad to read you made it back OK, Talbot.

Around 1000, looking at the size of the waves as the strong west going tide competed with the wind, I have to say I was very concerned about your SWMBO!

Our novice crew, John, decided he didn't want his breakfast 3 hours later and threw it away, but recovered after that.

I explained about the ears and the eyes sending different messages to the brain, to which he replied "So you are basically telling me that sailing is an unnatural act!"

I was laughing too much to give a quick response, but later told him that our forefathers sailed boats across oceans many milleniums before anybody invented the combustion engine /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

One question - we left at 0645 and there was another boat ahead of us with full main and genoa, broaching and generally having a hard time of it - anyone care to own up?!


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I noticed a boat about that time with what looked like an optimistic amount of sail up /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif No idea who it was though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Careful graham, we left at 0635, exited Grand Rade at exactly 0700 so he might be referring to us !!

We had full genoa all the way, and one reef in the main, but didn't exactly broach - just slid down a couple of waves from time to time. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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