In the mean time...
10/10/2005
I have turned 40.
Still looking cool (or trying to) after all these years.
If life's supposed to start at 40, no more hanging about. Let the good times role.
The odd jobs
30/09/2005, Ostend
It's been over three months since I last updated our blog - must put things to right! No slacking just because it's winter.
As lift out charges in the UK border on the ridiculous, there are some jobs I want doing in Ostend before we head back to our winter home in Shotley.
1. Fresh anti-foul: the AwlGrip I had applied two years ago was finally losing the battle against "marine life". Opted for AwlGrip again - if it last again for another two years I'm well happy.
2. I noticed some rust on the keel when we last dried out, and the patch seemed to be bigger than the previous time I noticed it. I must admit to being a bit paranoid when it comes to safety, but I sail with my nearest and dearest, so I can not afford not to be. Scrub the keel bare and plenty of epoxy.
Job finished, and I must say I'm very pleased with the result. Smooth bottom for our baby.
Brigitte's had a bit of a moan: "She's up for sale, why are you spending all that money?" She's right - in a way. But then again, it may well take some time before we find a new owner for Yanita - in the mean time I want to keep her in top condition. It's not like we're giving up on her - I still want to be sailing her this winter.
For future reference
11/09/2005
To rally or not to rally? That is the question.
It's been two months now since we set out on our ill-fated attempt to complete the Biscay Triangle. What have we learned, and what did the rally do for us?
First of all: it provided a focal point. After years of sailing and refitting, where did we stand? It has always been our intention to set of long term when I retire in a couple of years. This was to provide Yanita with a first taste of true Blue Water. Would she be up to the job?
Secondly: how about us? On a steep learning curve for several years of family sailing - how would we cope? Would the Rally provide the safety net that Brigitte longed for?
1. The weather conditions when we sailed from Brighton were less than ideal (putting it mildly). The online weather sites and the Navtex all painted a less than rosy picture. Yet "Rally Control" seemed to paint a completely different one - cherry picking the bits they liked from different broadcasts. None of the other skippers seemed to find anything wrong with that. Mind you, most sailed boats that would have taken Cape Horn in their stride, and had at least 4 competent, adult crewmembers. Still, whilst it was made clear that it would be up to the skipper whether to sail or not, a lot of moral pressure was applied. And I must admit, you get a certain adrenaline rush when the whole thing kicks off. A couple of hours into the Rally the weather takes a turn for the worse F6/7 with gusts up to F8. Add the ocean swell to that and we weren't sailing but enduring. Some injuries, seasickness - aborting was the only sensible option.
Yanita is the perfect coastal cruiser, but once outside her familiar stomping ground that is the North Sea and the Channel she is less comfortable. I don't doubt that she could handle offshore work - but in ideal conditions. Conditions were NOT ideal.
2. How did we do? Not as expected - but then this family has a way of surprising me. Whilst I did most of the helming and sail shifting in our 22hr marathon run, the family came through when they had to. When I had been hit by the boom and retired down below they coped. It's not an experience any of us is in a hurry to repeat, but none of us were out of our depths. It was not comfortable, but no-one doubted that we would get to port safely, everyone knew what had to be done. The first leg sort of kicked the stuffing out of me - 20hrs out of 24 helming in these conditions was hard, but I did it. It's as close to my limits as I ever want to get. So, we can cope, but to keep the family "on board" it's best to avoid such instances in future. In a heavier, ocean-going boat we might have continued, but we found out how far we can safely take Yanita.
So, would we Rally again? NO - and that's unanimous. You're no longer your own master. You're - IMHO - treated as cattle. So many ships have to be herded over so many hurdles, and that's it. THEY have a tight schedule, and they will damn well make sure that YOU stick to it. The mayor has been booked, photo op at such hour, get going! There not your "friends", they run a company.
Once we decided to abandon completely, we had a very pleasant holiday. I don't regret it one bit. We learned a lot: about our boat, about ourselves and about the world of rallying. Made some mistakes too, but they are only a waste of money if we don't learn from them.
Home run
16/08/2005, Ostend
Brigitte said goodbye for the week. Not everyone has the luxury of 4 weeks away from the office. I had been toying with the idea of continuing further up the East Coast before returning to Ostend; but I sensed that the childeren had had enough.
The weather wasn't all that brilliant - quite lumpy out. Gusts of up to 25 kts. Still the forecast seemed more promissing - I was going to risk. Surely we had had enough bad luck as it was. And the cruising kitty was empty.
The first hour we sailed with one reef and a couple of turns on the genoa. Over six knots over the ground - I could live with that. When the wind dropped a bit we shook the reef out and unfurled the genoa completely. We weren't making great time, but it didn't really matter. Yanni got his fishing rod out and Evita was engrossed in one of these girlie mags she loves to read. Same old, same old.
Mid channel the wind dropped completely. The iron main was pressed into service and Evita and I took turns helming. We were going to get there before sunset.
We managed another hour of sailing before we entered Ostend. Fitting end to our summer cruise. Evita and Yanni picked up our buoy first time round. Once back in our home berth the children were absolutely brilliant. They tied up, cleaned up and fixed me dinner. What a crew!
We spent a few pleasant days in Ostend - the beach, go-karting and the club bar. Just before the trip back Yanni gave me a hug. 'Thanks dad. That was the best holiday ever!' Lump in my throat and tear in my eye.
Close call
15/08/2005, Ramsgate
Today the weather forecasts were all in agreement, a nice 3-4 W. It was an 80NM trip to Ramsgate, but with the right tide, I could see us doing it in less than 10 hours. The first two hours we motored - no wind at all. Then it picked up. Off Eastbourne we hoisted the kite, and very soon we were flying - 9.5kts over the ground. All the planes taking part in the airshow seemed to be heading straight for us. Life doesn't get much better than this!
When we set off I was worried about being caught off Dover after sunset - the way we were going we would make Ramsgate before sunset.
Off Dungeness things took a turn for the worse. The wind was still W, but increased markedly. High teens, with gusts up to 27kts. Waves started building too and Yanita doesn't 'surf' well. Let's get the kite down. Before I had time to call the crew up what I feared for happened. Yanita surfed down a wave sideways, wind caught the kite, I shouted for everyone to come up NOW! We were heeling over 65 degrees, Brigitte took the helm and I made my way forward to get the kite down. By now we heeled over so much the kite was scooting up water - we were going nowhere but down. I could hear Brigitte crying for help at the helm. I felt strangely calm - training kicked in - I had to cut the kite. Out with the knife - cut sheets and halyard - say goodbye to the kite. Yanita responded straight away. We were going to live to fight another day.
A bit of luck - the wind dropped for a couple of minutes. I could see the kite floating away from us. I was not prepared to write off £2,000 worth of sail just yet. I shouted instructions to Brigitte so she could bring us near to the kite. Evita brought a boathook forward. She managed to hook the eternal loop. Two minutes of heave-ho later and we had the kite back on board.
Dover was its usual busy self. But it didn't fill me with the same feeling of apprehension as it did on the way down. If you listen to port control you have a fairly good idea of what's going on. Just the Goodwins to go and we were into Ramsgate. One thing I had forgotten though: Ramsgate Regatta. No room at the inn - or so it seemed. We found a berth alongside a lone 43ft-er. We were just about to make fast when their skipper informed us that they were leaving at 6 the next morning. Beggars can't be choosers. Shower, a hot meal and an early night. Next morning the alarm woke me at 05H45. By 06h00 no movement onboard our neighbour. Had they overslept? Gave them a friendly reminder. Five minutes later two sleepy heads appeared. They hadn't overslept - they were planning to leave at 10H00 and forgot to tell us. They won't forget again. Back to bed. Later that morning we found a free berth alongside. Brigitte had to be back in the office the next day, so we decided to stay in Ramsgate at least one more day. I would take Yanita over to Ostend with the children when the weather had settled a bit more. Some shopping and a big clean up. We needed new gas and at the local chandlery I picked up replacement spinnaker sheets and halyard going cheap. £100 down the road you wouldn't know anything had happened the day before.
Touristy things
12/08/2005, Brighton
Despite the very short break in Portsmouth, we all felt very relaxed. The engine was fixed and was purring very happily down below. Hardly any wind to speak of. As the Solent disappeared behind us peace and quiet set in. The VHF went strangely silent - what, no radio checks?
Once we rounded Selsey Bill the wind picked up - a very modest 2-3, but at least it was from the right direction. As the tide was still with us our SOG was still a very decent 5.5kts. We're on a holiday - who's in a hurry? We made Brighton just before the tide turned. Off to the Marina Office to get a berth for two days.
Brighton looked attractive on our way down. Illuminated pier and all that. Give the kids a break. The next day we did just that. Pier, beach, electric train, the usual touristy things. They seemed to be having the time of their life. Good! This is what it's all about.
Antifreeze
11/08/2005, Gosport
Next day another short passage. To Gosport. Once again no wind. Once again the iron main is pressed into service. We get zoomed in the Small Ships Channel by a motorboat - Evita who was stacking the main falls. Just what the doctor ordered! Thank you for your consideration - whoever you are! I'm sure I saw something about a speed-limit somewhere. Just as we're about to put into Haslar the engine overheats. We drift the final few yards towards the pontoon. Not the prettiest way to put into a berth, but no damage was done. Bilges full of water - green, antifreeze flavour. It's the fresh water cooling circuit. While I try to sort things, Brigitte's off to the marina office to inform them of our arrival. She comes back shocked. Thirty-two pounds for one night! So much per meter, 3.50 for electricity (when did that happen?), plus VAT. We had planned to stay two nights, but not at those prices. I have didn't have much more luck the engine. I could find no obvious leaks. Last resort - a post on the PBO forum. A cry for help. Within 10 minutes a useable reply. Ten minutes later "the man" arrives. Twenty minutes later everything's sorted. All for a tenner. Just when you're about to loose all faith in humanity something like this happens. Thanks one and all!
Brigitte's got to be back at work on Tuesday, so tomorrow we start to retrace our steps towards our homeport. We should get there by Monday.
Comments [0]