Took Plum Crazy out with Meric for the last YoBs evening sailing session of the year. There is one Saturday morning then that's it :+(
With little wind I tacked down the river into the bay. Meric took over and we headed over to Viking for some short practice races. All 6 RS Fevas and 3 Wayfarers were out too.
The breeze picked up and the auto bailers started to drain the boat. Guess who for got to fit the bungs ? :+) We made
some good starts and one stinker, we popped round the end of Viking to find Alice in a Feva on Port and in irons. Meric squeezed through but before we made gentle contact I pushed the Feva away at which point they disqualified me for a laugh.
I'm going to miss the Kids in the Fevas as it is a lot of fun just enough summer left to get some big kids sailing in and then pack the boats away.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Sunday, 17 August 2008
2 lots of sailing and Yobs Night
Events of Friday 15th
Sail No. 1
A week off work in the middle of August and it has rained every day ! OK most days. BUT today was good. S0 Tanja and I headed off for a little sail in a Feva.
We get ready in an empty club house, it feels like we are trespassing, being oddly quiet and deserted.
I tell Tanja again there is not too much wind and we set off. Ideal run out into the bay force 2 to 3 and sunny. Happy Days!
Being Friday there a few visiting boats turning up and you just hope they are looking out for dinghies.
We pass O and P heading away from the river mouth into the bay. Not a lot of swell and very few power boats kicking up wash. Tranquil sailing on warm water, I just love it.
After 40 mins we head home as we have more things to do. Dash home pick up Nathan and head back to the club picking up a dry towel on the way (Douglass Adams would be proud)
Sail No. 2
The Y0bs (Youths On Boats) had a good turn out considering it is summer hols and all that.
All 6 Fevas were in use and Phil S had them doing practice starts and then 3 mini races.
Michelle S had a new megaphone and she was having fun yelling with it :+)
Nick and I took Plum Crazy out for a blast round the bay. I sailed out of the river into the bay on a gentle run. Nick put up the spinnaker and started to adjust the port pole down haul as the spinney was not flying right. I am still having trouble sailing up wind balancing the boat during gusts with out Nick throwing himself about.
After scooping a bath full we head off down wind to clear the water. I hand over to Nick and the craziness begins. We capsize and recover then while adjusting the rig the mast gate (angle Ali bracket) is ripped out of the deck by the Mainsail out-haul pulley. Then the the transom flap crack opens up so we are slowly filling up but not as fast as the self bailers are empting.
The Main out-haul appears non functional and during a prolonged spell of capsizing and recovery the bungee on the port pole pinged off the mast and appeared to be another casualty :+(
The pole had flipped over and the missing bungee hook was trailing in the water so we sorted that one.
I grabbed the mast gate bits and stowed them in my bouncy aid pocket and carried on. We tacked and "sank" a few times then we sailed back to the fleet.
At which point Nick asked what would happen if he (on helm) fell out ? I said the usual reply "Man overboard" and he flipped backwards out of the boat. I managed to recover him on the 3rd attempt to mock cheers from the committee boat Viking. I did try to run down Nick a few times to make up for his silliness.
Time to head for home so one last race up the river to the club. We joined in and I started about 3rd but in no time we had over hauled the training boat. Time for a tack and I capsized AGAIN. To make matters worse all the kids passed us :+(
We got P.C. back up and the safety boat gave us a bucket to bail with. Very hard trying to race while Nick bailed a half full boat. We swapped over, me chucking water as we passed the kids up the river and Nick timing his tacks so as to almost hit the harbour wall or moored boats.
In the end we were 2nd or 3rd as the finish of the race was the boat on its trolley on dry land.
Quick shower and then it is off to party. We dropped Nathan off for his party and then we went to Hause (its Spanish and I can't spell sorry).
We park up and We meet the Nickel Coin crew as Hause is sailing with us while he is over here. He has left Spain for month to learn English by working in bars. This is where Norman "picked him up".
We have a great time exchanging stories of drunkenness and stupidity. What I did at the regatta party etc.......
Eventually I drag a merry Tanja home at 1:15. We have to get up a 6 to fetch the other kids from a holiday with their Nan. To cap it all off Nathan is locked out and wakes me at 2 AM after he gets back from his party !
A very busy day.
Sail No. 1
A week off work in the middle of August and it has rained every day ! OK most days. BUT today was good. S0 Tanja and I headed off for a little sail in a Feva.
We get ready in an empty club house, it feels like we are trespassing, being oddly quiet and deserted.
I tell Tanja again there is not too much wind and we set off. Ideal run out into the bay force 2 to 3 and sunny. Happy Days!
Being Friday there a few visiting boats turning up and you just hope they are looking out for dinghies.
We pass O and P heading away from the river mouth into the bay. Not a lot of swell and very few power boats kicking up wash. Tranquil sailing on warm water, I just love it.
After 40 mins we head home as we have more things to do. Dash home pick up Nathan and head back to the club picking up a dry towel on the way (Douglass Adams would be proud)
Sail No. 2
The Y0bs (Youths On Boats) had a good turn out considering it is summer hols and all that.
All 6 Fevas were in use and Phil S had them doing practice starts and then 3 mini races.
Michelle S had a new megaphone and she was having fun yelling with it :+)
Nick and I took Plum Crazy out for a blast round the bay. I sailed out of the river into the bay on a gentle run. Nick put up the spinnaker and started to adjust the port pole down haul as the spinney was not flying right. I am still having trouble sailing up wind balancing the boat during gusts with out Nick throwing himself about.
After scooping a bath full we head off down wind to clear the water. I hand over to Nick and the craziness begins. We capsize and recover then while adjusting the rig the mast gate (angle Ali bracket) is ripped out of the deck by the Mainsail out-haul pulley. Then the the transom flap crack opens up so we are slowly filling up but not as fast as the self bailers are empting.
The Main out-haul appears non functional and during a prolonged spell of capsizing and recovery the bungee on the port pole pinged off the mast and appeared to be another casualty :+(
The pole had flipped over and the missing bungee hook was trailing in the water so we sorted that one.
I grabbed the mast gate bits and stowed them in my bouncy aid pocket and carried on. We tacked and "sank" a few times then we sailed back to the fleet.
At which point Nick asked what would happen if he (on helm) fell out ? I said the usual reply "Man overboard" and he flipped backwards out of the boat. I managed to recover him on the 3rd attempt to mock cheers from the committee boat Viking. I did try to run down Nick a few times to make up for his silliness.
Time to head for home so one last race up the river to the club. We joined in and I started about 3rd but in no time we had over hauled the training boat. Time for a tack and I capsized AGAIN. To make matters worse all the kids passed us :+(
We got P.C. back up and the safety boat gave us a bucket to bail with. Very hard trying to race while Nick bailed a half full boat. We swapped over, me chucking water as we passed the kids up the river and Nick timing his tacks so as to almost hit the harbour wall or moored boats.
In the end we were 2nd or 3rd as the finish of the race was the boat on its trolley on dry land.
Quick shower and then it is off to party. We dropped Nathan off for his party and then we went to Hause (its Spanish and I can't spell sorry).
We park up and We meet the Nickel Coin crew as Hause is sailing with us while he is over here. He has left Spain for month to learn English by working in bars. This is where Norman "picked him up".
We have a great time exchanging stories of drunkenness and stupidity. What I did at the regatta party etc.......
Eventually I drag a merry Tanja home at 1:15. We have to get up a 6 to fetch the other kids from a holiday with their Nan. To cap it all off Nathan is locked out and wakes me at 2 AM after he gets back from his party !
A very busy day.
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Crazy Friday
Friday Night was a yobs night. But the wind was gusting over 20 mph and had been 20 gusting 26 !
So the bigger kids were restricted to sailing in the river and only 3 boats were needed.
This freed me up to go sailing :+) Most of the (smaller) kids elected to do games in the yard with Michael S.
Nick innocently suggested that we take the Merlin ! OK I said, trip No 6 in Plum Crazy. We had dire warning from the safety boat crew and much mickey taking from Phil S. about death and carnage.
Nice run out into the bay. But the rudder was pulling like pit-bull. I turned on to a broad reach and we scooped a bath full. We nearly capsized there and then as I has trouble dumping the main. Much scrabbling about and wallowing in the swell followed.
We set off down wind and away from the river water draining as we went. The further from base the less I felt comfortable. (I'm such a wuss)
Then Nick took over and he got the beast plaining. In the gusty conditions I was popping up and down or fully out. Crazy. The waves were hitting the bow and the swooping curves of the hull threw the spray over me but not Nick. (now I know why I am crew)
Then Nicked turned for home and we flipped over. I managed to dry capsize but Nick got dunked then I slipped and fell in :+) We got the old girl up and dry them we turned more carefully for home and it was OK.
We crashed the waves all the way back to the river mouth. Ripping Fun then we sailed up and down the river with the Yobs.
In the calmer winds we played with the spinnaker but it was rigged wrong so we had little control. At this point I was on helm and hauling the kite up while steering is something I need to work on ! Well just add that to the list.
Generally it was wrong to go out into the bay, I was concerned for my boat and myself while out there but it was still fun. Nothing broke and nobody died !
I need to work on my boat handling skills (those Fevas are far too forgiving) and my leg strength.
I just want to do it again in slightly less wind.
Thanks Nick, lets do it again.
So the bigger kids were restricted to sailing in the river and only 3 boats were needed.
This freed me up to go sailing :+) Most of the (smaller) kids elected to do games in the yard with Michael S.
Nick innocently suggested that we take the Merlin ! OK I said, trip No 6 in Plum Crazy. We had dire warning from the safety boat crew and much mickey taking from Phil S. about death and carnage.
Nice run out into the bay. But the rudder was pulling like pit-bull. I turned on to a broad reach and we scooped a bath full. We nearly capsized there and then as I has trouble dumping the main. Much scrabbling about and wallowing in the swell followed.
We set off down wind and away from the river water draining as we went. The further from base the less I felt comfortable. (I'm such a wuss)
Then Nick took over and he got the beast plaining. In the gusty conditions I was popping up and down or fully out. Crazy. The waves were hitting the bow and the swooping curves of the hull threw the spray over me but not Nick. (now I know why I am crew)
Then Nicked turned for home and we flipped over. I managed to dry capsize but Nick got dunked then I slipped and fell in :+) We got the old girl up and dry them we turned more carefully for home and it was OK.
We crashed the waves all the way back to the river mouth. Ripping Fun then we sailed up and down the river with the Yobs.
In the calmer winds we played with the spinnaker but it was rigged wrong so we had little control. At this point I was on helm and hauling the kite up while steering is something I need to work on ! Well just add that to the list.
Generally it was wrong to go out into the bay, I was concerned for my boat and myself while out there but it was still fun. Nothing broke and nobody died !
I need to work on my boat handling skills (those Fevas are far too forgiving) and my leg strength.
I just want to do it again in slightly less wind.
Thanks Nick, lets do it again.
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