Monday Series 1

Met Nat at the club and the wind was 18 gusting 22 from the West.
As this is top whack for me and my level of experience in a Merlin. I must have put out a vibe as Nat was not happy too. I have been out with Nick in worse but he was driving and the fact that he is mental helps

I didn't want to push my luck with my crew so we took the soft option of one of the club's RS Fevas.
Now this is a fine line here. Too windy for my dinghy but its OK to take a club boat ? Well it was not wind speed but the confidence of my crew.

YoBs were cancelled as it was a bit blowy.

Well we togged up and pulled out a Feva that was not pre booked by one of the kids. We launched and ran down the river in a nice breeze. Out in the bay is was just the same. No swell and a kind breeze. Not what the wind indicator said 40 mins earlier. Why didn't we take Plum Crazy ?

Well we were the only dinghy out so 10 mins before our start we were ready to pack it in and head home when out comes a dinghy with spinaker up coming our way. It was James and Nick in a classic Int 14. They casually dropper the kite, read the course, turned to starboard and started on time. So now we had to race as they had made the effort.

Well a training dingy with small sails and a mast head float against a racing dinghy... we lost them in the setting sun. We did one circuit and were jolly glad to finish as we were both getting cold.
A long(ish) beat back didn't help in dropping winds. Oh thank the club for awsome hot showers.

In the end the club computer program was playing up and I don't know the result.

Very tired. Need to go to bed now. :+)

The Boat is Back

Finished fitting the rudder fitting to the transom and I applied the sealing tape.
The tape does not look good :+( We may have a leak.

Nathan and I pached the boat and we drove down to the club on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Met Phil Norris down there rigging his Weyfairer and James and Helen with a National 12 (?).
I was then introduced to a couple that have a nice shiny Merlin and they were very friendly.

We got the mast up and all the control lines connected. I even worked out how to fit the shrouds with less trouble.

Cover on and all set to sail tomorrow. We drove home it style because I had forgotten the trailer ! Will pick it up tomorrow.

The road to glory begins right here !

Winter Maintenance 06

OK time to get the boat in the water. Plum Crazy is looking OK. I didn't get the centre board sorted nor the mast gate or the transom flaps. But it IS ready to sail. Well I need to fit the flaps.

I tried to locate free perspex all winter but no luck. I had an offer of board used for signs but it is opaque and I need (want) transparent. The it turns out my Step Father has some. Cheers David.

Too late I need to fit the old ones (one leaks as it is cracked) I need to launch the boat and start sailing. I will pick up the perspex and make a flap when I get time.

Friday we take the Yob's boats out of storage and get them ready for the season and Saturday I am assistant R.O. Let the fun begin. Oh and its my birthday tomorrow too :+)