| Date:- 19.05.11 Name: Morgen Crew: RD (Richard Dempster), Freddie From: Salcombe To: Plymouth Comments: Easy start rough finish | Wind Strength / direction: Westerly Force 3/4 Distance: 24.3 nautical miles Time Taken: 6hours five minutes |
This seems to be becoming a repeating theme. The weather was very still to begin with but again built up to a good strong force 3 to force 4. But this time the sea was much flatter and so a really good enjoyable sail. It did however seem to be a very long day for some reason, perhaps I’m getting tired and things are taking that much more effort to achieve. Freddie was very good today curling up in the cockpit and being very calm so all in all a good day.
There was another yacht about half a mile away from us and heading in the same direction. Both yachts looked about the same size and both yachts were beating in to the prevailing westerly wind. To begin with I was tacking back and forth reasonably often, every 5 to 10 minutes the other yacht was sticking to his line for about 20 to 30 minutes before turning but Morgen was always just ahead after each couple of tacks. Which tactic was going to pay off I didn’t know. About half way to Plymouth though I hit a hole in the wind and slowed right down the other boat came in from the sea towards a headland and obviously had picked up a good bit of wind coming in close to the land. I needed to change my tactics if I were to keep a lead on them.
I tacked out to sea thinking that if the wind picked up it would pick up further out to sea. So I turned on to a slow heading out to sea. The other boat had decided to hug the coast as it seemed to be working for him. I carried on out to sea for quite a long time until the speed started to pick up and the wind had become a strong steady force 3 to force 4. I turned and headed more directly towards Plymouth but as the wind had increase it also moved slightly towards the south and I could keep on a broad reach (the fastest wind angle) I could see the other boat in the distance but I thought not quite as far ahead as it was, and bit by bit I slowly hauled him in and instead of seeing the rear of his boat I could see the side of the other boat and then the front of the other boat this means I was again ahead of him. I carried on with Morgen heeled well over and reaching 7 knots in about 13 miles of wind. I cant help being competitive. But anyway I reached Plymouth
Once in to the harbour the water became flatter as there is a huge breakwater across the width of the harbour. Once in to the final approach it was time to drop the main sail. I could see other yachts still with both sails up but I don’t know the area and being single handed means it takes me longer to do all the jobs that need to be done. So I tend to drop the main early and finish with just the jib out as I know I can pull this in quickly and have the engine running so I can avoid other boats and obstacles.
I approached my berth very slowly and I thought it was going to be a perfect stop. But just as I came in to the finger of the pontoon the wind gusted and it blew me away. So looking like a beginner I had to reverse back out and point in again for another attempt. This time though a couple from another yacht had seen me coming in and came over to catch a line and pull me in. Some people are just nice. Once moored, Freddie needs to be walked. No rest for the wicked.
Once again Freda and Alan were able to visit on the Saturday and we were able to go sailing in very nice conditions with reasonable wind. Freda is overcoming her fear of the water and the accompanying sea sickness (probably for Alan’s sake). Alan I think wanted to try his hand at sailing in a slightly stronger wind that last weekend. And to have both sails up. We had a couple of cups of tea and then started to prepare the boat for sailing, taking off sail covers attaching halyards etc. As it was a stronger wind than last week I thought we should all wear life jackets so I went to the forward locker and got three life jackets out and of course Freddies doggy life jacket. I passed them up the gangway to my sister whom I have always called by her nick name of Fred. I said heres Freddies jacket and ours or something like this. I then continued tidying things away down below. A few minutes pass and I hear my sister Freda call out how do you do the life jackets up. I said I will show them how to do this when I come up to the cockpit. When I eventually go up the stairs to the cockpit I found my sister Fred wearing Freddies life jacket and complaining it was quite tight! ‘O MY GOD’ and I’m taking her out to sea!
