Yacht losing/lost sails ...Hardway.

[matt1]

FWIW I always believed your 10 knots claim and thought it was very helpful that you posted about the Sigma damage. Frankly if my boat was damaged I would rather someone posted it (whatever the circumstances) if that allowed me the chance to go and do something about it......but then I guess I am just another Solent sailor sticking up for a fellow Solent sailor

 

[Chris_Robb]

Hi Chris, this forum sure is a strange place at times.

When I posted about a powerboat hitting a Sigma someone criticised me for not publishing the name of the Sigma ... it was half a mile away!

When I was looking for the person who hit my boat and damaged it in twelve different places it was suggested that as a child hadn't been run over it wasn't really that big a deal

When I posted that my boat had hit 10 knots I had people getting into LWL calculations and claiming it was impossible because the GPS was showing a lower speed than the log ... it's called tide against!

And now this ... at risk of turning into a South coast vs East coast rant .. a bit like raggies vs mobos or MAB's vs AWB's.

All pretty sad stuff in my opinion ... I did what I could to alert the owner OR FRIENDS of the owner to a problem but by taking a photo to show which boat I'm made to feel like an accident rubbernecker.

Blimey.

Well, I was sort of hoping the guy might re read his posts and put an appology out......

 

[chippysmith]

I sure appreciate The fact someones looking out for my boat, these are swinging moorings after all, not as straightforward as looking after boats in a marina. A heads up from Bav would give me a chance to make a few phonecalls to sort out any issues. Certainly piece of mind when i am 107 mls away!

We did identify the Sigma, and the owner was notified quite quickly so fair play to you.

 

[Madhatter]

I have read this thread and have one thing to say
WELL DONE BAY34 for trying your best to inform the owner ( or his/her friends)
Derrick

No, it doesn't belong to the five forumites (who still haven't signed their Direct Debits for my guardiennage ) whose boats I keep an eye on.

The genny has detached from the forestay, the plastic bag (!) over the main has gone ... the main is now billowing. the boom is doing a 180.

 

[waterbuffalo]

I have contacted a friend of the owner who is going to pass a message on regrding the sails.

The owner has been ill in recent months and not been able to get down to attend to the boat.

Hopefully he will be able to get somebody local to nip out and secure the sails.

 

[Searush]

securing main halliard

Take no heed bav34, your efforts are appreciated by those who moor there. i wish there was someone to watch over the boats at Caernarfon.

FWIW, I don't remove my main halliard, but I do tuck it down & round a mast fitting before the tail tight & cleating it off. This means that the halliard helps secure the head of the main by pulling it down. No real strain is put on it, just tight enough to minimise halliard noise & keep the head secure. I also have decent covers, although the bungee cords are due for replacement!

Usually, by now I take all sail off for the winter, but so far I have not managed to find the time, so I can feel for the owner.

 

[mcframe]

Am I the only person that runs a bit of webbing with a plastic buckle around the furled genoa?

I tie it around the mast before dropping mooring and replace it after picking up mooring.

(Main is zipped in stackpack, with halyard led back to end of boom, next to topping lift. Actually, that's a lie 'cos the sails are in the garage at the moment, pending decision over launder or buy other boat-toys over the winter...)

 

[Poignard]

Am I the only person that runs a bit of webbing with a plastic buckle around the furled genoa?

I tie it around the mast before dropping mooring and replace it after picking up mooring.

I do a similar thing with a sail tie around the furled genoa. Except that I usually remove it from the genoa some time after dropping the mooring (when I find the sail won't unfurl )

 

[jonjo]

Am I the only person that runs a bit of webbing with a plastic buckle around the furled genoa?

No, I always do that when leaving the boat since unattended unfurling of the genoa is a measurable risk we all face.

I am lucky that my high aspect genoa leaves the clew of my 350 sq ft foresail low enough to reach, on most 32+ ft yachts the clew ends up much higher. Someone here said they had drilled a small hole in the furling drum which allowed a shackle to mechanically immobilize the furling mechanism.

 

[monkfish24]

When I posted that my boat had hit 10 knots I had people getting into LWL calculations and claiming it was impossible because the GPS was showing a lower speed than the log ... it's called tide against!

......

All pretty sad stuff in my opinion ... I did what I could to alert the owner OR FRIENDS of the owner to a problem but by taking a photo to show which boat I'm made to feel like an accident rubbernecker.

Blimey.

I race on a Sigma 38, we quite regularly get over 10knots in a decent blow, in a boat that is the same size but probably a lot heavier than your BAV, so FWIW i believe you.


With regards to your OP, thanks for that, my boat is nowhere near the Solent but it clicked in my head that the Genoa is still on the Furling gear :s, reminded me to go down and check it so thanks!

 

[mickywillis]

BAV34, adopt the "Eyes Wide Shut" method, thats what a few of the members here would suggest you would rather adopt?
I would 100% appreciate any info if my boat were to come to any grief, from any source that cared about other peoples' property.
In fact I know that you have done exactly that for me in the past, to the point of cycling down to Quay Lane and adjusting my mooring warps and checking all's well after a storm last year! How's taht for a service.
Both myself and MrsW really appreciate what you have done for us (and indeed continue to do to assist us!) in our progression from total numpties to junior numpty.
Just my 2 pennys worth.

 

[mcframe]

I do a similar thing with a sail tie around the furled genoa. Except that I usually remove it from the genoa some time after dropping the mooring (when I find the sail won't unfurl )

Top-Tip for forumites with swinging moorings:
Remember to unlock your cockpit locker before setting sail - otherwise you may find yourself under power, in a marina, approaching a pontoon with fenders still in (locked) locker and locker key attached to engine ignition key.

SWIMBO was *not* amused )

 

[fireball]

Yer bother all that. Did you get your dinner ok? Very important to ensure your routine isn't upset

 

[Athene V30]

I have contacted a friend of the owner who is going to pass a message on regrding the sails.

The owner has been ill in recent months and not been able to get down to attend to the boat.

Hopefully he will be able to get somebody local to nip out and secure the sails.

Well Done that Man! Clearly I was wrong, Bav by posting the photo has indirectly got in touch with someone who can contact the owner to resolve the problem. Just a shame the guys sails may have got trashed in the process. Where I keep my boat that role is fulfilled by the many boat owners (sail and power) looking out for each other and our excellent HM.

 

[Piddy]

I for one think Bav 34's service for distant boat owners is wonderful.
I did go and check the boat was still out there on Sunday just in case he had been away on another extended holiday - is there a clause in our contract for holiday cover...?

Thanks for taking the trouble to highlight this and keep up the good service.

Piddy

 

[Chris_Robb]

Well Done that Man! Clearly I was wrong, Bav by posting the photo has indirectly got in touch with someone who can contact the owner to resolve the problem. Just a shame the guys sails may have got trashed in the process. Where I keep my boat that role is fulfilled by the many boat owners (sail and power) looking out for each other and our excellent HM.

Peter - I suggest a stronger appology is in order to BAV34. Your original 2 emails werer pretty insulting. It no good saying "I was wrong" Say SORRY!
and write out 100 lines " I will read my posts twice before I send them, and try and understand what recipient will think when reading them".

 

[Athene V30]

Peter - I suggest a stronger appology is in order to BAV34. Your original 2 emails werer pretty insulting. It no good saying "I was wrong" Say SORRY!
and write out 100 lines " I will read my posts twice before I send them, and try and understand what recipient will think when reading them".

That is for Bav34 to decide. FWIW I have messaged him.

We clearly have different interpretations of what is insulting. On re-reading both my posts no criticism was directed at Bav34 other my comment "Posting a picture on here came across to me as gloating at someone else's misfortune"

 

[Bav34]

Hi Peeps, back from a great day sitting in a locker trying to get a holding tank pipe off the electric pump ... it's been running slowly.

TOP TIP ... if you can't get the pipe off the pump ... take the pump off the pipe!!! Four screws ... pump in hand ... wiggle ... (the pump!) ... and VOILA ... still absolutely no idea why.

Anyhoo ... thanks for all the kind words ... it is frustrating sitting here sometimes unable to help directly, but the power of the forum usually comes to bear.

(Is that English??? Writing this in a hurry)

Good news ... I've picked up another client ... although his boat is slightly up harbour out of my direct sight, if I ever see it being steered in a straight line, I'll know it's been stolen

 

[ianat182]

Couldn't get down and on the boat last weekend to double check mooriing lines etc so wnet to the Sailing Club and used their large binoculars to check visually that all was OK. Saw a mainsail and cover billowing outbehind a boat moored in front of my own,and mis-identified it as mine. Luckily the Hamble Warsash ferryman was about to leave for Hamble so asked to be dropped on board only to find that the Marieholm folkboatahead of mine was the problem,so he dropped me on board. I tidied and secured the mainsail and the cover which had broken it plastic hooks,and thenwrapped the mainsheet the full length of the boom and secured it. The ferry man asked if I still wanted to get on my boat,so I did and spotted that one of my two bowlines had pulled a strand from the splice,the other was still OK. it was blowing hard and High tide too so couldn't lift the buoy to jury rig the defective warp, and had to leave it so as to buy new shackles and warps today. Purchased all new warps and eyes and shackles and had tried to get aboard the boat via my dinghy,but the wind was gusting so much I went home to splice the warps and eyes . Got home at 1pm to get a phone call from the Harbourmaster telling me the second warp had parted and the boat was held by the two at the stern. He had placed a temporary pair of warps below my buoy and made the boat secure- Charge for two of them for 1/2hour £23 and very grateful I am for that. I now intend to get aboard again tomorrow closer to Low water when there will be less strain on the chain risers and I can perhaps lift high enough using my winches.Wind may be a problem if gusty though. Funny how things happen though.
No yachts were harmed in the parting of the warps I'm glad to say!

ianat182

 

[srp]

Presumably you rig some anti frap tie on the main halyard? I find it quicker to take the halyard off and clip it onto the pushpit rail.

I always tie the halyards back to the shrouds, and with the cover on the sail can't really go anywhere I suppose. I agree though - unclipping it and making it off on the rail is a far more elegant way.
I take the main halyard off the track and clip it to the pushpit, and I always tie a lashing around the foresail to prevent it unrolling.
Went out to check mine yesterday and a quick look at a few other boats showed several covers had come adrift because elasticated cord had failed. I'm constantly replacing this stuff on my boat as it degrades so quickly, and it obviously can't be relied on, especially in this sort of weather.