With the first mate in North Carolina administering to her convalescing mom, it looked like this weekend was going to be a wash out. I'd planned on going down to the boat with the sea dawg to do a bit of work on Moonshine, but mainly to go and drink beer.
However, with the start of the football season, Nick was committed to spending the weekend at work on the Premier League website, so Pavla and her young cousin Tomas were at a loose end, so they got press ganged into going down to Moonshine for the weekend.
Pavla was working on Saturday morning, so that left us a shortened weekend, so we were never going to get very far from the dock. The weather was kind, so we had a nice walk around the harbour to Dell Quay, so Clemmie could get her usual amount of fussing and attention at the Crown and Anchor.
Sunday free-flow was ideal for getting a novice crew out into the harbour without minimum fuss. After scaring them both with a safety briefing, we headed out with the intention of getting the two landlocked Czechs out to the "open sea" wherever that may be!
In the end we decided that the Bar Beacon must qualify for that accolade and fortunately, we had just enough time to motor out there, spin around and return to the dock about 10 minutes before the end of free-flow.
Tomas was a star, a definite sailor in the making. He steered most of the way back to the marina and handled the fenders and mooring ropes with confidence. I hope he wasn't too disappointed that we didn't get the sails up, but the harbour was as crowded as I've seen it and with a fair breeze, I didn't want too push our luck too far.
Oh, and I managed to fix the broken traveller piece. It's amazing what you can do with a hammer! Good job too. There's still no sign of a replacement from RWO's distributors.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Goodwood and Picnics - August 4th-5th
The beginning of August is one of the last events of the English summer season, the Goodwood Festival meeting - Glorious Goodwood, so we donned our best summer threads and headed off with Mark and Helen.
Lord March hasn't been impressed with the standard of dress and behaviour and, to be honest, neither were we. By and large most people made the effort, but there were too many charabanc-loads of lads and lasses out to drink as much as they could without too much interest in it being a race meeting. It's also a victim of its own success in that it's practically impossible to circulate from parade ring to bookies, to the course and to the bars, simply due to the number of people.
Next year we'll be taking the panama hat and linen suit into the Richmond enclosure for either the July or August bank holiday meeting. Fewer people and fewer drunks.
Ooeee, smokin'!
Perhaps I'd have been less jaundiced about the day if I'd actually backed some horses that could manage more than a gentle trot around the course!
Anyway, we had a very pleasant meal at the Cider House restaurant in Apuldram, and on Sunday we took the advice of a very nice couple who we met in Yarmouth in July and took Moonshine up to Thorney Channel, where we grabbed a vacant buoy and had a very pleasant picnic in the harbour in a wonderful, peaceful spot.
On the way back to the main Chichester channel, in another little coincidence, we passed by the couple in their boat "Arrival", just coming back in to their mooring.
Lord March hasn't been impressed with the standard of dress and behaviour and, to be honest, neither were we. By and large most people made the effort, but there were too many charabanc-loads of lads and lasses out to drink as much as they could without too much interest in it being a race meeting. It's also a victim of its own success in that it's practically impossible to circulate from parade ring to bookies, to the course and to the bars, simply due to the number of people.
Next year we'll be taking the panama hat and linen suit into the Richmond enclosure for either the July or August bank holiday meeting. Fewer people and fewer drunks.
Ooeee, smokin'!
Perhaps I'd have been less jaundiced about the day if I'd actually backed some horses that could manage more than a gentle trot around the course!
Anyway, we had a very pleasant meal at the Cider House restaurant in Apuldram, and on Sunday we took the advice of a very nice couple who we met in Yarmouth in July and took Moonshine up to Thorney Channel, where we grabbed a vacant buoy and had a very pleasant picnic in the harbour in a wonderful, peaceful spot.
On the way back to the main Chichester channel, in another little coincidence, we passed by the couple in their boat "Arrival", just coming back in to their mooring.
Wild Week. July 7th-14th. pt II
So, it was Thursday morning and the weather forecast was diabolical and looking to get worse. It was clear we weren't going to be going to Poole with rather bedraggled boat, but were we going to be able to get home? Should we wait until the forecast looked better or make a run for it? We eventually decided that we'd head off just before the tide changed and see how far we could comfortably reach before we had enough. Swanwick (Premier marina and therefore free for us as visitors) was potential stop number one and Gosport (same again!) was number 2.
The first hour out was slow going under the genoa only, with the tide against us, but was much calmer since we were travelling downwind.
Summer sailing, gotta love it!
As we approached Cowes, it became obvious that we weren't going to need Swanwick. With the wind and tide behind us we were doing a minimum of 6.5 knots over the ground. We even risked putting up a (very reefed) main. The sun came out as we came past Cowes and it actually turned into a very pleasant day for a sail.
Clemmie had had enough of the whole thing by now though, and had taken to her bed!
Anyway, we passed Portsmouth Harbour by 5pm, so we didn't need Gosport. We passed West Pole on our way into a wonderfully peaceful and deserted Chichester Harbour at about 6pm and were tied up by 7:30 after one of our best sails ever, following our worst the day before.
By 8pm we were in the Ship at Itchenor enjoying what felt like an extremely well-deserved dinner.
The first hour out was slow going under the genoa only, with the tide against us, but was much calmer since we were travelling downwind.
Summer sailing, gotta love it!
As we approached Cowes, it became obvious that we weren't going to need Swanwick. With the wind and tide behind us we were doing a minimum of 6.5 knots over the ground. We even risked putting up a (very reefed) main. The sun came out as we came past Cowes and it actually turned into a very pleasant day for a sail.
Clemmie had had enough of the whole thing by now though, and had taken to her bed!
Anyway, we passed Portsmouth Harbour by 5pm, so we didn't need Gosport. We passed West Pole on our way into a wonderfully peaceful and deserted Chichester Harbour at about 6pm and were tied up by 7:30 after one of our best sails ever, following our worst the day before.
By 8pm we were in the Ship at Itchenor enjoying what felt like an extremely well-deserved dinner.
Wild Week. July 7th-14th. pt I
OK, it's July. That means we're safe booking a week away on the boat and enjoying some fine weather. We may even get across to Poole if we're feeling brave.
Huh. As if.
We went down to the boat on Saturday evening with the intention of heading out on Sunday morning. Sunday was a little too wild and windy, as was Monday. We did have some great fish and chips at the Ship at Itchenor, but it wasn't quite what we were supposed to be doing.
Eventually on Tuesday, things calmed down and we headed out towards Cowes. Not much to report, really. The wind was on the nose, so we had to motor all the way. We had the Folly visitors pontoons to ourselves and had the novelty of having to get the dinghy blown up to cross back and forth across the river. Clemmie didn't seem to fazed by being in there, although once the water taxi started operating at 6pm, she obviously much preferred that. I'm glad we bought the old 3 metre Avon rather than a newer, smaller dinghy. I was grateful for the extra space and stability.
On Wednesday we headed out towards Yarmouth. At first things went well. We were a bit late setting off, because of walking the dawg, so that we only had a small window with the tide in our favour, but that didn't seem too much of a problem with only 11 miles to travel.
The wind was still coming from the West, but with a decent breeze and the tide with us, we were able to make good progress with tacks across to the Beaulieu river and down to Newtown as we tacked away from Newtown, though, we hit the first of our problems. The breeze was getting stronger and we decided to call it a day with the sails and finish the trip with the motor. Unfortunately, the genoa didn't want to furl and it took a good three or four minutes to get it put away, by which time the leech of the sail was looking very tattered. We continued with the wind getting stronger, the waves getting higher and the tide now completely against us.
I'd left the main sail up for stability, but after about 30 minutes, there was a bang and the boom and mainsheet were suddenly flapping free. After we managed to get things back under control and the mainsheet lashed down, I realised that the U shaped piece connecting the main sheet block to the traveller was now a nice J shape. Great!
We eventually limped into Yarmouth harbour with things pretty wild and windy. There were a few bedraggled looking people on the pontoon that evening!
Next day we were able to take stock of the damage. Fortunately the only thing damaged on the genoa was the UV strip. The stitching had just unravelled as the sail flogged while I tried to winch it in.
Somehow someone had managed to put the traveller in place with the retaining pin under the shackle out of alignment, so that only one side was secured. I'm surprised it had lasted as long as it did, to be honest.
Bizarre aside:
In the evening, we took the water taxi across the harbour to go and have some dinner. As we walked up the steps, a female voice called, "Paul Hughes?" I looked round and it was my cousin, Pam. This wasn't so very odd, because she lives in Freshwater, but I haven't seen her for years. What was odd was that she was there because she was waiting for my other cousin, Mick, and his wife to arrive on the ferry. Mick and Lynne live in Australia and I haven't seen them for about twenty five years or more. They were on a flying visit to visit Pam on their way to France, so in an astonishing coincidence, we all found ourselves at the same spot at the same time. We had a ten minute conversation and then went our own ways. Weird.
Huh. As if.
We went down to the boat on Saturday evening with the intention of heading out on Sunday morning. Sunday was a little too wild and windy, as was Monday. We did have some great fish and chips at the Ship at Itchenor, but it wasn't quite what we were supposed to be doing.
Eventually on Tuesday, things calmed down and we headed out towards Cowes. Not much to report, really. The wind was on the nose, so we had to motor all the way. We had the Folly visitors pontoons to ourselves and had the novelty of having to get the dinghy blown up to cross back and forth across the river. Clemmie didn't seem to fazed by being in there, although once the water taxi started operating at 6pm, she obviously much preferred that. I'm glad we bought the old 3 metre Avon rather than a newer, smaller dinghy. I was grateful for the extra space and stability.
On Wednesday we headed out towards Yarmouth. At first things went well. We were a bit late setting off, because of walking the dawg, so that we only had a small window with the tide in our favour, but that didn't seem too much of a problem with only 11 miles to travel.
The wind was still coming from the West, but with a decent breeze and the tide with us, we were able to make good progress with tacks across to the Beaulieu river and down to Newtown as we tacked away from Newtown, though, we hit the first of our problems. The breeze was getting stronger and we decided to call it a day with the sails and finish the trip with the motor. Unfortunately, the genoa didn't want to furl and it took a good three or four minutes to get it put away, by which time the leech of the sail was looking very tattered. We continued with the wind getting stronger, the waves getting higher and the tide now completely against us.
I'd left the main sail up for stability, but after about 30 minutes, there was a bang and the boom and mainsheet were suddenly flapping free. After we managed to get things back under control and the mainsheet lashed down, I realised that the U shaped piece connecting the main sheet block to the traveller was now a nice J shape. Great!
We eventually limped into Yarmouth harbour with things pretty wild and windy. There were a few bedraggled looking people on the pontoon that evening!
Next day we were able to take stock of the damage. Fortunately the only thing damaged on the genoa was the UV strip. The stitching had just unravelled as the sail flogged while I tried to winch it in.
Somehow someone had managed to put the traveller in place with the retaining pin under the shackle out of alignment, so that only one side was secured. I'm surprised it had lasted as long as it did, to be honest.
Bizarre aside:
In the evening, we took the water taxi across the harbour to go and have some dinner. As we walked up the steps, a female voice called, "Paul Hughes?" I looked round and it was my cousin, Pam. This wasn't so very odd, because she lives in Freshwater, but I haven't seen her for years. What was odd was that she was there because she was waiting for my other cousin, Mick, and his wife to arrive on the ferry. Mick and Lynne live in Australia and I haven't seen them for about twenty five years or more. They were on a flying visit to visit Pam on their way to France, so in an astonishing coincidence, we all found ourselves at the same spot at the same time. We had a ten minute conversation and then went our own ways. Weird.
Whitstable and Canterbury June 28th-30th.
Not much sailing got done for the rest of June, with the weather being wet, windy and miserable. Missy's mom came over for the last two weeks and we mainly sat watching it rain, ugh.
We did venture out to spend a couple of days in Whitstable dodging the showers, though and can highly recommend the original Wheeler's restaurant on the High Street. Still called Wheelers, although not part of the chain. It's a wonderfully quirky little place, with a seafood bar at the front and five tables in a 12'x12' room at the back. There's no drinks licence, but there's a Thresher's opposite. The food is absolutely wonderful.
We managed to see Canterbury Cathedral in between the downpours. It's an amazingly historic and beautiful building, but we decided that the stone carving at Southwell Minster is better :-)
Canterbury really is a beautiful city and we must get back there one day when we actually get a proper summer. I'm not sure about the standard of build of some of the houses there, though.
We did venture out to spend a couple of days in Whitstable dodging the showers, though and can highly recommend the original Wheeler's restaurant on the High Street. Still called Wheelers, although not part of the chain. It's a wonderfully quirky little place, with a seafood bar at the front and five tables in a 12'x12' room at the back. There's no drinks licence, but there's a Thresher's opposite. The food is absolutely wonderful.
We managed to see Canterbury Cathedral in between the downpours. It's an amazingly historic and beautiful building, but we decided that the stone carving at Southwell Minster is better :-)
Canterbury really is a beautiful city and we must get back there one day when we actually get a proper summer. I'm not sure about the standard of build of some of the houses there, though.
Black Holes and Red Arrows. June 9-10th.
With the weather in May being pretty dismal, our next trip out of the harbour was to the IOW on the festival weekend of June 8th-10th. We wanted to head down to The Folly for the night and we knew that things would be busy because of the Festival, so we slipped away from Chichester at 7:00am, much earlier than our usual later-than-we-intended time away.
It was a beautiful still morning as we headed down the harbour. For once the water wasn't churned up by all the day's activity and it was lovely having the glassy water to ourselves.
The wind was very hit and miss as we headed along the Solent as sea breezes began to fill in on both the island and the mainland. Coming up towards Osbourne House with the wind behind us, we were treated to the slightly worrying sight of a fleet of Sunsail boats racing towards us with their spinnakers flying. Fortunately it gave us opportunity to get the main sheet hauled in before the inevitable gybe.
Inevitably, the Folly visitors pontoons were busy. Our early start meant that wthe pontoons were full of boats on a lunch stop, which led to some interesting organisation and re-organisation as boats on the inside of the rafts had to get out. I'm still wondering if the Irish boat on the outside of four noticed that the boat inside of him wasn't the one that was there when he'd left for lunch.
As the afternoon turned to early evening, we were treated to a fantastic display by the Red Arrows, performing for the festival, but often being directly over us. It really was an awesome free show on the few really hot and sunny days of June.
Dinner at the Folly was eaten to a soundtrack of Amy Winehouse and we drifted off to sleep with the sound of Muse's Black Holes and Revelations coming over the water. Pretty cool.
Apparently it was somewhat crowded on the water down towards Newport. This was taken in the afternoon, before the crowds really started to arrive.
Returning home the next day, we had a great sail back to Chichester, with sunshine and a nice South Westerly breeze giving us a reach for most of the day. Things changed dramatically as we passed by the forts and the submarine barrier, though. A thick sea fret rolled in, reducing visibility to just a few tens of metres where we were and, apparently, less behind us. We could hear the horns of the ferries in the Solent, but headed past Hayling Island without seeing anything very much at all.
Amazingly, the thick mist only made it a few hundred yards onshore and we were in bright sunshine as we passed the Winner bank, very odd.
It was a beautiful still morning as we headed down the harbour. For once the water wasn't churned up by all the day's activity and it was lovely having the glassy water to ourselves.
The wind was very hit and miss as we headed along the Solent as sea breezes began to fill in on both the island and the mainland. Coming up towards Osbourne House with the wind behind us, we were treated to the slightly worrying sight of a fleet of Sunsail boats racing towards us with their spinnakers flying. Fortunately it gave us opportunity to get the main sheet hauled in before the inevitable gybe.
Inevitably, the Folly visitors pontoons were busy. Our early start meant that wthe pontoons were full of boats on a lunch stop, which led to some interesting organisation and re-organisation as boats on the inside of the rafts had to get out. I'm still wondering if the Irish boat on the outside of four noticed that the boat inside of him wasn't the one that was there when he'd left for lunch.
As the afternoon turned to early evening, we were treated to a fantastic display by the Red Arrows, performing for the festival, but often being directly over us. It really was an awesome free show on the few really hot and sunny days of June.
Dinner at the Folly was eaten to a soundtrack of Amy Winehouse and we drifted off to sleep with the sound of Muse's Black Holes and Revelations coming over the water. Pretty cool.
Apparently it was somewhat crowded on the water down towards Newport. This was taken in the afternoon, before the crowds really started to arrive.
Returning home the next day, we had a great sail back to Chichester, with sunshine and a nice South Westerly breeze giving us a reach for most of the day. Things changed dramatically as we passed by the forts and the submarine barrier, though. A thick sea fret rolled in, reducing visibility to just a few tens of metres where we were and, apparently, less behind us. We could hear the horns of the ferries in the Solent, but headed past Hayling Island without seeing anything very much at all.
Amazingly, the thick mist only made it a few hundred yards onshore and we were in bright sunshine as we passed the Winner bank, very odd.
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