So finally a chance to sail Silver Lining. Last weekend we rigged the sails in the marina. - took us ages - hoisting them up and down whilst trying to figure out the reeding lines. And to make it harder the wind picked up in the marina, leaving us with aching arms and blistered hands (just not used to this anymore!)
This weekend was a bank holiday so we headed off early Saturday morning towards Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. We hoisted the main and the jib. - but no wind - ended up motor sailing all the way. We tried but we're only making 1.7 knots! But is was lovely warm sunny day and we enjoyed it.
Arrived at Yarmouth and skidded in on the tide. Faultless bething off the fuel dock and then told by the harbourmaster to tie up on a another yacht for the night. Now that was an experience - first time ever. There was no one on the yacht so I had to hop from our boat onto theirs and tie up whilst Neil masterfully managed to handle the boat in a very busy and crowded harbour. We hadn't tied up properly yet when another yacht came along and tied into ours. - now that created a bit of bedlam but with much running around with lines and a few grumpy words we finally got settled. Later another yacht tied up on the third so now we were four! And we had a very stumpy stompy night as sailors had to climb all over all four yachts to get off an on- including us!
Yarmouth is a pretty little harbour town with lots of interesting shops, a good little chandlery busting with all sorts of goodies, and great pubs. We enjoyed a pint at the Kings Head, a 15th century pub.
The next morning caused all sorts of problems with the yacht on the pier wanting to leave before us, so just to make it easy we left and headed out the harbour to a mooring ball. So much more peaceful and we enjoyed watching the shennangens of other yachts trying to pick up mooring balls and one ended up too shallow and was grounded for a while.
Woke up to heavy rain and had to leave to catch the tide - hurtled out at 8 knots with the tide (no sailing) and as we had no wet weather gear ( sitting in our storage unit in NZ) ended up soaked and very cold. Made a mess of berthing at our marina but saved by the marina guy - now home and exhausted -
Let hope we get better at this sailing UK style lark!