We got the Big Boy out !

Full crew last night, Mel, Norman, Mark, Peter, Linda and me. We played about with sail choices, saving the big No 1 for the regatta.
Nice breeze in the bay required a quick sail change as Pete and I were fore deck we sorted that. Norman made a good start. Fred on Ibis made a better one so we were duck hunting again. Eventually we got past Ibis going to the windward mark and we felt good about that.
On the down wind leg Norm jokingly asked about the Big. Mel had it out ready and we were running round looking for a sheet. In 5 years of sailing on Nickel Coin I have never seen this legendary sail. Fred headed away off wind and got a head while we were going dead down wind with the Big Boy. We got the Boy in and jibbed the spinnaker (correct me if I'm wrong) but the race was over. Fred had won and we were doing a Post Mortem on the Jibe.
Well it was good practice for the regatta and now Norm wants us to practice head sail changes with the spinnaker up :+) More fun. Not a bad night.
I have mixed feeling as it was a perfect evening for Plum Crazy and Jim was up for a blast in a propper dingy. We swapped handy numbers so I'll catch up with him mid week.



CONFACIMUS NAVEGEMUS (Fuck it -- let's go sailing)

Mad Thursday

A bright and blowy night. The R.O. Steve Ives quickly cancelled the dinghies and then the squibs. At Portland Harbour there was a gust of 51 knots at lunchtime. Bad omen 1.
Norman turned up after I had launched the rubber dinghy so he strolled up to the moorings and I rowed into the teeth of a gale, OK strong wind.
Linda turned up and eventually Mark, so off we go. But disaster! we got the aft spring round the rudder. So I'm holding the boat on to the slipper rope between the piles while they unhook us. Bad omen 2.
Then its a quick run down the river and out into the bay. 22 gusting 33. High aspect ratio No. 2 no reef in the main.
We made a good start and beat La Salmo across the line but they got up wind and past us. Then on the down wind leg those mad fools put a kite up but we didn't. The following sea was rolling so L.S. was doing the cork screw of death and not getting away from us very much.
The next leg was a reach and we caught up with them then a beat back to the committee boat. On this leg we over took L.S. and we were tanking along in a fine manner right up until the No. 2 exploded. So I gathered the rags and hanked on a storm jib. We finished a shortened race minutes down after leading it :+(
I sailed N.C. across the bay then motor sailed on the main up the river home. we needed the sail as the engine would have been very slow into the rising wind.

The the Omens ! And remember its unlucky to be superstitious !

Rainy Monday

Well I could have gone sailing but ...
I left my phone at home and I was not sure what Mark was doing. Rig the boat and then nobody turn up on a drizzly night with no wind ?
No Mel in the club house so I decided to take the soft option and have a chat, a beer, and an early night.
Mark turned up at the last minute (dot com) I explained how I felt about the lack of wind and excess of rain and he rushed off to get a ride with Phil S.
As it turned out the wind got up and it was a Nickel Coin evening after all, just not enough crew.
It appears that Andy E is an utter boat tart ! He was sailing with Steve on C Seven but for once Steve has just got enough crew so Andy hopped on to Evisa with Phil S. Tghis is not good enough, TEAM DEK should all sail with Adrian on Amarosa. I will have to speak to him.

Cadet Sailing

The cadet sailing was called off because the wind was gusting over 25 as the rain clouds passed over. So I had to de-rig the boats. The kids were going rowing instead.
Well all the kids ran off to the pontoon by the mast crane leaving me to cover the boats. This time I got some help.
Bolton Phil called out the window what was going on? I explained and we thought that they had made a bad call. So we rigged Plum Crazy for her second outing. Phil borrowed a paddle as there was no wind on the river. (Thanks Mike) We set off with Phil paddling until Richard turned up with the safety boat and we got a tow out into the bay.
I pooteled about for half an hour then I let Phil have a go. He already knew how tippy Plum Crazy is, Merlin Rockets are like that. But he was surprised at how quickly they turn compared to his Wayfarer. Anyway his head didn't do any damage to the boom. The rain was coming so we headed in on the rising wind. Phil took P.C. up the river and again there was no wind. For a moment I thought we were going to drift into RWH or Woolamoo (?) AGAIN but the man pumped the rudder and we sailed clear by them :+) Must try that next time!
I bought the kids drinks and chips so everybody has a great time.

Thursday

Work is not going well TSP is a bit like having your teeth drilled without drugs.
So I was glad to get to the sailing club. Text from Mark, "No Mel 2nite". So it was just Me Mark and possibly Linda.
I rowed up the river to Nickel Coin and rigged the boat for racing ( big No. 1 ) Linda arrived to help finish off and as usual Mark turned up at the last moment.
Very light breeze so we were never going to win. To make matters worse we chose not to spinnaker as Linda does not know the boat well. A good call as there was a jibe on the down wind section.
We made a good start and off we went to the windward mark. We squeezed past 2 V class boats on port and almost squashed a Squib at the mark. Pheobe came steaming up to the mark on starboard from nowhere and then caused C seven to turn away. C seven lost boat speed and steerage and hit the 2 V class boats. BUT we didn't see anything !
We had a relaxing time and made it home safely. Mark ferried us ashore one at a time as there not a lot of air in the rubber dinghy. I waited for Mark but no sign, had he stopped for a chat at the moorings or been run down by a fishing boat ?
I had a chat and a beer then it was off to pick up Tanja. Should check for Mark... No tender no oars Oh dear. I walked up to the moorings there was Mark getting pissed with Len and Dave on Dave's boat !

Nickel Coin racing again

Well we "actually" went racing. I showed up at 5:30, I was delayed at work Launching a maintenance team project.
Warm to start with and little breeze until we got out into the bay. Then I put my fleas on.
We didn't make a great start as we were sorting out missing ropes and the like. The course was OK with a good beat to I from X then a run back across the bay. We prayed for no spinnaker jibe as we were using the spare halyard for a spinnaker pole up haul and as we use a 2 pole system we would have to use the one off the Genoa.
Then it rained but it was not cold and we had plenty of warning to break out the oilies.
The race was shortened so the beer leg was back to the mooring. On the mooring we played hunt the hole in the spinnaker, patching tape at the ready. We stopped looking when we had run out of tape.
No idea of the result (we didn't win) but I don't care ! I enjoyed it.

P.S. 7th

Just a visit

David and June popped down today so we went to the sailing club for lunch. So Tanja's parents Nathan and Charlotte and my parents arrived at the club.
We had a lovely meal, thanks Christian.
Then we went to see Plum Crazy. I put up the main for a photo shoot :+)
We tipped the water out packed it up and when went home.

Big boat Saturday

I went down to the club early Saturday to wire up the electrics on the mast of Nickel Coin. The tails had been taped to the mast while the mast was off. One of the screws for the deck seal was missing, either I had lost it or it had come loose while racing. Into the rubber Dinghy and off to Bussells for a pair of new screws.
I expressed shock that N.C. had metric threads as the Spinner is 40 years old and British built. At this point the shop owner offered to put the 48 pence bill on Norman's account. :+) Well, as I possible had lost the screw I thought it only fair to shoulder the huge cost myself.
Normally I don't sail on a Saturday but I had my pass signed so I was going to make the most of it. Charlotte had decided not to go sailing with me (not surprising after Tuesday) so I was a bit miffed about that. Having finished on Nickel Coin I headed to the club for a drink. I met Len and Don heading the other way. "Would I like to sail on Galliard?" as Mel had gone home and Mark was not yet about N.C. was not going so I said yes. We then met Lyn by the ladder so that was 4, eventually Mark turned up and we had a crew.
We had a good race and the obligatory beer leg. Lyn was flapping as she had to be off the boat by 5 to go on holiday. We made it back it time, after the elder members had a few scoops of Lidl's best Scottish medicine we returned to club to find out we had won out race.
Got home tired but happy. A good day.

Gentel sail with Charlotte

I picked Charlotte up at work and we wandered down to the sailing club.
We rigged Wrong Way Up the W&P Housing Association RS Feva and plodded (rather than dead running) out on a light breeze.

We sailed around the bay for a bit then I put Chops on the tiller and all was well for a while. We had a few gusts and she fluffed a tack and at this point Chops went to bit and flapped about.
Gone was the girl that loved to jump out of Laser Picos and swim more than sailed. In her stead was a would rather squeal and go in circles while moaning.

Well I took over and sailed for a bit but the fun was gone.
Note to self : I need to take over earlier so the crew can calm down.

Needless to say we didn't do capsize drill :+(

We will try again on Saturday.

Tired today

Too tired today for sailin.
Nickle Coin is not ready to sail as the mast stays have not been tensioned up and the mast tuned. I would have liked to go on N.C. for a blast round the bay as there is a nice breeze but my body says no.

I still have to wire up the electrics on Nickle Coin's mast. Must try and do that this week...

Sunday Fun

My little lad Ben didn't fancy the Merlin Rocket for his first sail with me so we took one of the club's RS Revas.
Light winds of 6 gusting 10, perfect for a nervous crew. Like Yesterday, we gull winged down the river and out into the bay.
With Ben on the tiller and me operating the main, jib and balancing the boat we started to do large circuits of a 3 masted tall ship anchored in the bay.
After 30 - 40 minutes it was time for the highlight of the day Ben's first capsize. He had been flapping about this all day. So when he was ready I capsized the boat. after the initial shock for Ben he was OK. I righted the boat and hauled him in and we headed home.

Tacking up the river has not fun the wind had picked up and was gusty with it. Well we missed the slipway on the first attempt but managed it on the second. When we were over the slip I jumped in as Ben was having trouble with the dagger board, the boats are only 3 months old and I don't want to be the first to break one.

Home safe and sound and best of all Ben is no longer afraid of capsizing :+)

Today we sailed

A dry bright day. Nat and I went down to the club and rigged the boat.

James M-S was launching his Melgies 28 (Check length) and he was please I had a Melin. James and his wife popped down to the slipway just as were about to launch for the first time. With a few practical words (thanks for that) of advice from them we were off !

In a 10 gusting 15 we gull winged down the river and out into the bay. Nat and I were actually sailing Plum Crazy ! I have been dreaming and scheming for this day for over 2 years.

We mouched about the D mark for a bit and as the lifeboat went past turned smartly to cross its wake head on. The first large (ish) swell we had seen. we then headed towards the beach away from all the traffic heading into Weymouth.

The wind was picking up from a nice breaze to "oh dear this is a bit much". At this much we took on a lot of water and the baot was not so much fun. The self-bailers didn't appear to work very well. A little worried and a bit fatigued we headed home. Tacking up the river with motor boats coming down was OK and we got onto the slip without any trouble.

We went out, we sailed, we returned No capsize No Worries A Good Day !

Robin C-D popped by to see how we were going. I had rung him about the out haul problem...
He pointed out our mistake with the bailers and was very encouraging.

We helped my mate Phil get his Wayfairer up the slip while it was full of water. And we helped John with his mooring chains.

Well lets see what tomorrow brings we might get out again.

Progress

Nigel answered my E-mail apparently there is a pulley block kicking around in the boat I have to tie the out haul to.

I will give it a try tomorrow, the kids have a cadet evening and I can pop down the yard to my boat for a few minutes.

Wet Thursday

Race canceled wind too strong 35 gusting 45, so I had a chat a pint and went home.
Didn't bother to take the cover off the boat just tipped the water off it. :+(

No Progress today

Went down to the boat and dragged the dinghy fleet captain over to look at the out haul problem. He said ring the Nigel the previous owner. So an E-mail was sent.

I had Tanja with me and so I only spent 20 minutes at the boat.

Will try again tomorrow.

Tuesday progress

I bought a shackle for the kicking strap and a spare today. Also splashed out on some S-Steel split pins for the launch trolley as a bit of twisted wire will simply not do for my boat. (Note this mania will not last)

I rigged the jib after I worked out where the jib halyard muscle box tied on to. Note not many ropes left now, may be 100 k.

I just have to work out the main sail out haul and the spinnaker, the Cunningham is in the bag well I think I know how it goes. But out haul is first. I am not ready for the spinnaker so that can wait.

The cover had a puddle of water on it and there was water in the boat so I need to store it with the bow higher up in future. Beer crate any one ?

Monday progress

I race on yachts on Mondays and Thursdays in the summer. So when I got the text message that Nickel Coin was not sailing I want round the office looking for a ride.

My mate Adrian was happy to have an extra pair of hands to help as the weather looked iffy. He also sailed a Scorpion in his youth so he offered to look at the 2M bit of rope before the race.

The missing shackle was from the kicking strap paraphernalia so we jury rigged it with a bit of string to trace the ropes. That sorted that load of rope so the covers went back on and we went off to have a race.

We had left it late so we rushed to the start line jeering at Cloe for having 2 reefs in her main. Well the furling genoa blew out and the main was too big. It was rough and I am covered in bruises from the gusty winds throwing the boat about.
We managed to put a second reef in and pull the genoa in but the race was lost :+(

Over a beer in the club house we talked about the 1 million remaining ropes. Phil S split his tiller so he retired. He therefore gained a valuable "war story" for future use. I told him of my acquisition and he said great one more boat taking the club cadets out on Friday. Remember there are still 1 million ropes to sort out AAAArgggg.

Sunday Fun

Sunday was windy but dry. I headed to the sailing club with the youngest, the in-laws, Tanja and a boat in tow.

We pulled up at the sailing club and immediately upset the river ferry man. We found a place and then tried to separate the trailer from the launch trolley. This would have been easier if there was not 100 kg of boat on top !

Well I pulled a muscle in my back doing this. We then found out that I am not good at giving directions with a crowd of family watching.

Tanja and I managed to step the mast attach the shrouds and the forestay. We then fitted the over cover and went for a pint of Palmer's in the bar.

Thoes 2 million bits of rope still praying on my mind....

Driving it home

Well this was not a good experience.
I bought the boat from an nice bloke called Nigel and he de-rigged it in front of me. We prepared it for the 250 mile drive home.

The only problem is that this Merlin Rocket has 2 million bit of rope and I just didn't take it all in. Well that is a problem for another day and another posting.

We set off at 13:30 in rain (normal for Manchester) and the rain didn't stop until after we got home at 19:30. On the way a shackle pin dropped off the mast on to the car roof, that woke up the kids in the back of the car. Now when the shackle hit the roof 3 minutes later we stopped the car. But no missing boat bits or damage to car could be seen so we continued home.

On arrival my in-laws had a look at the boat and said they liked it and that I am totally mad. We up ended the boat to tip out the 20 gallons of water collected on the drive home.

Well it all started with a boat

Last Saturday I found myself at Leigh & Lowton sailing club. And I was buying a boat!

The build up to this has taken some years. This blog will try to explain it and log my progress in a 25 year old Merlin Rocket.