Youngest solo Atlantic crossing

[Lakesailor]

Re: Youngest solo Atlantic crossing- publicity stunt?

Bugger me. I've just been out to check my moorings as we have some F8 winds forecast and I was looking over the boat to check everything. I make my tiller off between two cleats to stop it slapping about and to reduce the boat's tendancy to yaw on the mooring.

The rudder seemed to be shuddering. I had a shuddering rudder.

Looked over the stern and the bottom pintle is rocking!
I've shipped the rudder and will get in the stern locker next week, when the weather has settled a bit, to tighten the bolts.

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

Re: Youngest solo Atlantic crossing- publicity stunt?

Ah, yes. I went up to the lake a few weeks ago, after a strong blow, to find my tiller rope had broken loose of one of the cleats and my tiller was lying off to one side. Grasped tiller to recentre it and the bolt holding the tiller to the stock tumbled onto the deck, having sheared clean through. Spent a happy half-hour with my little hacksaw cutting a new one from some threaded rod I had on board.

Can't get up there this weekend, but given the forecast I'm already anxious about what I will find when I get to her next weekend.

Then again, Whistler has a complete spare rudder and tiller assembly to hang on the transom in case the one on the long keel is lost. I'm trying to make up my mind about buying another boat, and asked the vendor why, when the 2001 survey said the rudder was good, did he replace it in 2003. Stock went in heavy weather - oops!

If you find yourself down at Fell Foot Phil, just check that she's afloat for me! Looks like the boat in my avatar. She should be the furthest moored boat you can see when looking due north from the Fell Foot jetty

Cheers,

Steve

 

[lenseman]

Hurrah!

So far, so good. Father and son have made it to Cape Verde Islands (Sao Vincente) without further incident.

The wind is from the NE at 8 - 15mph so that is nice /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif