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Shorts and tshirts... for me that's what sailing is all
about.. you can forget the salopettes and wet weather gear.. 😀 |
Yee gods, it's the end of 2024 already.. and with Christmas passed, and
New Year fast approaching (at time of writing) that must mean it's time for my
traditional look back at the sailing year..! 😁 I always enjoy putting this
together, it's a good excuse to read all the old posts, and look at the videos
(just one this year, and riveting it is!) and pictures from this years
logs....
Amazingly, this is my twelfth year as owner of Sparrow and apart from the utter confusion as to where those years have gone (it only seems like yesterday that I first drove into the car park in Bosham, saw her at the back, and just knew she was the one I was going to buy 😍), I still have absolutely no interest in parting with her - she does everything I want in spades... so the following is some happy memories of good times, bad times (few or none of those to be honest this year), warm weather, sunshine glinting on the water, and fair weather sailing in shorts and t-shirt... so without further ado...
What was the big thing of the year?
The big event for me this year without a doubt was the tender refurb, for two
reasons... first I bought her home so I could work on her at my leisure
which kept me gainfully employed and therefore 'bored-free' all
winter... but two, because she came out of it looking pretty damn good -
a polished turd maybe, but nicely polished for all that... 😁
Semi before (I'd already repaired and reinforced the skeg in this one):
Semi-before (I'd already sanded, sealed and painted the front and rear thwart in this picture)
...and after - hugely pleased with the garage floor paint, which still looks good even now after a season of pretty hard use...
What was the biggest 'downer' of the year?
Very few issues this year to be fair - it's my second summer of being retired (which I'm now a little more used to the idea of) but ironically it was the summer weather that was probably the biggest downer for this year... it just seemed like at times it was a succession of gales and/or rain, and the good days always seemed to coincide with a lack of tide... chatting to the other owners on lift out days and they were saying the same - it wasn't a stand out summer weather'wise for any of us..
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Maintenance:
As of this moment, although real maintenance work has not really started, as
usual she is scraped and pressure washed, but I have already put two coats of paint on the washboards and two coats on the rubbing strakes and cockpit board; to all intents and purposes she's more than ready to
go back in the water except for a coat of anti-foul. There aren't really any
essential jobs this winter, nothing mission critical, and other than the
aforesaid antifoul she could go back in the water tomorrow if I wanted...
- the washboards which were showing signs of water ingress have remained good despite the bodged repair a couple of years back and there is still currently no need to replace them..
- the gelcoat is beginning to get thin in places - not surprising after almost 55 years of exposure to the elements. I am not painting the whole boat, that way lies madness, but the patch repairs I did the layover before last [clicky] have worked well and I'll be doing more, but with a better colour-matched paint!
- ...the replacement windex (I need (another) windex [clicky]) has held up well though one of the arms has lost it's square/indicator tab so a bodge will be needed.. 😏
Of last winters jobs the one that worked beyond compare well was the
tender repair mentioned above, but the cockpit locker lids, which must be on about the third or fourth iteration,
are at the moment also still behaving... I've taken them off the boat for
the winter and put the temporary ones covered in plastic bags in their
place.
...so, along with a smooth off of the anitfoul, the aforementioned paint patching and new running rigging, I would say it was a good year for maintenance and projects - go on then, 9/10.... 😁
Summary of the season:
Overall I would say I had a reasonable seasons sailing in what was a pretty mixed bag of weather - not the best season I've had either in 'Sparrow' (or my old boat 'Papillon' for that matter). It was way better than the years either side of COVID but still not outstanding... couple of comments though...
One, as mentioned the weather probably took as much as it gave - with the exception of May and August it was largely pants...
- April was stormy - storm 'Kathleen' launched herself upon the south coast (and her straight after storm 'Olive'!) for lift in, the lift in on Sunday was cancelled, the Tuesday lift in was also cancelled due to heavy winds, so my lift in was shifted to Wednesday [clicky]. Not as bad as last year - but a portent of things to come.. the mast didn't go up for two weeks, and the sails didn't go on until a week after that
- May was lovely.. despite going in on the 10th of April, May was the first opportunity I'd had for a shakedown sail (four weeks after lift in!)
- June was weather bound - "naff weather, duff tides, and some time away" I logged - just three trips out and I noted it was grey and cold...
- July was windy, also rainy.. was picking my days but lost three weeks in the middle of the month to poor weather and duff tides..my missus was bemoaning the jet stream
- August - probably my second best month for trips out, but weather continued to be changeable - we had a lot of northerly's
- September - nothing like last years Indian Summer - instead "a weird mix of heavy winds, light winds, rain and duff tides", I logged. My last sail was the 16th and four weeks later there had been no opportunity to get out again and the mast came down for lift out.. 😏
Second, I had a huge (compared too previous years) number of trips out with
the Jolly Boys - always good fun, and always longer trips than on Sparrow,
we're all retired now so I look forward to that continuing... the
downside though is that also means less time on Sparrow but I can live with
that! We came up with a cunning plan to do some overnighters this year in
addition to the more usual extended cruise which worked very well I
thought...
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| Shepherds Wharf in Cowes on the first night of the extended cruise |
Twenty trips this year (c/w 24 last year) of which six were in the Solent
either on 'AmiLy' (Rod's boat) or 'Kings Ransom' (t'other Dave's boat) so
not included in my mileage totals. The
Jolly Boys (extended) Cruise [clicky] after last years hiatus was on again this year - our usual ride
('Ocean Waves') was for many reasons not available but we all agreed 'AmiLy'
was just about the right size for 4 old blokes and as we'd missed last years
trip we were keen to get away..
Like a spider dipped in
blue ink and left to wander all over Google Earth - here's where Sparrow
went this year.. yeah, not even as far east or south as last year, and certainly not enough Solent venturing, but maybe next year... 😏
...but the following in "AmiLy" and "Kings Ransom" this summer...
...and the hugely enjoyable north west passage trip [clicky] in Smithy's GP14 ... 😀
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Number of visits down to the boat (ie. actually on it): Difficult to say, but about the usual 25+... 12 actual sailing trips c/w 14 last year which is disappointing, but sometimes even sitting on your boat on the mooring (and I did that more than a few times - usually flat calm or the opposite), or even in the car park come to that, is preferable to not being on your boat at all... sometimes you just miss that "boat smell" 😀
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| East Head, err.. ahead.. |
Total distance sailed: Just shy of 103 miles which is rubbish
given I am supposedly retired and therefore able to go sailing at the drop
of a hat... hey ho, I had excuses... 😏
Nights on board: Nada - 'nuff'ing.. I've done it before and
it's usually cold and uncomfortable.. 😏 Plenty on AmiLy of course - 5
nights this year!
Crew on occasion: Just the one on the fantastic day the Grandson came out with me for the second time [clicky].. I was hoping he'd come again after last years little jaunt and I was so pleased when he said he wanted to - and best of all he caught two fish as well! The rest of the time I'm my own good company.. if I start talking to the tiller pilot (who I love by the way) I know I've got a problem.. 😜
Crew on occasion: Just the one on the fantastic day the Grandson came out with me for the second time [clicky].. I was hoping he'd come again after last years little jaunt and I was so pleased when he said he wanted to - and best of all he caught two fish as well! The rest of the time I'm my own good company.. if I start talking to the tiller pilot (who I love by the way) I know I've got a problem.. 😜
Cruising range: Just shy of Eastoke Point to the south, Sandhead and the bottom of the Thorney Channel to the east, and ignoring the fact my mooring is actually further north, the waiting pontoons in the Emsworth Channel to the north..
Biggest Cruise: This one was easy - at just shy of 14 miles on a single tide, 30 tacks to Sandhead [clicky] was a glorious days sail.... despite all those tacks.. 😀
Best Cruise: A few to choose from this year,
Grandsons second trip out [clicky], the 30 tacks to Sandhead [clicky] and the curiously satisfying day I spent
so much time tacking it was a wonder I actually got to Marker [clicky], but probably the 'the shakedown sail [clicky] was my favourite, despite being my first sail of the season, the weather was lovely, and it was so
good to be on the water after a long winter ashore...
...I think without a shadow of a doubt there should also be an
honourable mention for the north west passage trip [clicky] in Smithy's GP14 which was hugely enjoyable!
Worst cruise: Well "cruise" is a
stretch, but the day I retired cold and miserable [clicky] was a contender... yee gods it was rubbish, and I couldn't believe it was also June!
Oddest cruise: None really though I guess there was the trip where I almost went aground up the Emsworth Channel [clicky] but who cares as I caught a fish.. 😀
Best anchorages: None - all moorings and pontoons again this
year..
Best mooring: …the waiting pontoon at the sailing club [clicky] while I waited for my lift out - so warm for October, and a
lovely opportunity to catch up with a lot of members I hadn't seen all
season..
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Worst mooring: I'll nominate/proxy Smithy for this one [clicky] as we ran aground while he was on the helm and while up the NW Passage on our GP 14 trip. Somewhat amazingly I had no bad moorings this year - they were all good... 😁
Plans for next year:
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No Jolly Boys Extended Cruise currently planned for 2025, but few things in life are more certain than that we will go.. the overnight trips worked well as a format... maybe Poole this year??
- Looking forward to getting Grandson out on the boat again
- SailGP is coming to Portsmouth [clicky] next year - would be good to be on the water to see at least one of the days
- Looking forward to going out on Smithy's GP14 again.. maybe some racing?
- Sail Sparrow on more occasions next season... 🤞
Riveting video award:
No review of the weeds on the bottom this year as I removed them too
quickly... so you'll have to make do with this one which was taken while on the Emsworth Channel trip... 😏
2024 Mileage:
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NB.* Means mileage not counted in year total... probably because I'm on someone else's boat, or it was all on engine... |
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| Date | Distance: | Wind: | Direction: |
Sail Plan: |
Max Speed (knts) |
Avg Speed (knts) |
Comments: |
| 7th May | 10.18 | F3 | NE going SxW | Full/reefed main; full/reefed genoa | 5.4 | 2.8 | Shakedown sail was remarkably unshaky |
| 11th May | 8.75 (18.93) | F4 going F3 | SE going SExS | Reefed main and genoa | 5.4 | 3.1 | HISC in a glorious warm SE'ly |
| 23rd May | 26.97* (18.93) | F3 going F4 | WxN going NWxN | Full/reefed main; full genoa | 8.3 | 2.9 | The Jolly Boys first trip to Cowes in 9 months |
| 25th May | 13.89 (32.82) | F3 | SSW going S | Full main/90% genoa | 5 | 3 | 30 tacks to Sandhead - furthest east this season |
| 6th June | 9.94 (42.76) | F4 going F3 | WxS going SWxW | Full main/full genoa | 5.2 | 2.9 | D-Day anniversary sail to Eastoke Point - furthest south this season |
| 9th June | 5.1 (47.86) | Both ends of a F4 | NW | Reefed main and genoa | 5.3 | 3.5 | Short sail before retiring cold and windswept |
| 23rd June | 8.42 (56.28) | Top F3 | SWxS | Full main/90% genoa | 4.5 | 2.7 | 30 tacks to Marker - Smiffy makes an appearance |
| 1st to 4th July | 59.04* (56.28) | F3 to F6 | N and W mostly | Full/reefed main; full/reefed genoa | 8.3 | 5 | The 2024 Jolly Boys Cruise - Cowes/Lymington/ Hamble.. and dolphins! |
| 27th July | 5.1 (61.38) | F4 gusting F5 | WxN | Full main/90% genoa | 6.5 | 3.2 | Hugely overpowered power reach to Marker and back - exhausting! |
| 1st and 2nd August | 83.01* (61.38) | F1 to F6 | WxS | Full/reefed main; full genoa | 12.4 | 3.9 | Fun and games off St. Catherine's with the Jolly Boys post curry! |
| 5th August | 10.32 (71.70) | F4 | SWxW | Full main/90% genoa | 4.6 | 2.8 | 30 tacks to Verner and a clear off of the barnacles |
| 10th August | 9.52 (81.22) | Both ends of a F4 | WxN | Reefed main and genoa | 5.7 | 3.4 | Westwinner on a single tack! |
| 17th August | 27.39* (81.22) | F1 going F4 later | N going WxS | Full main/full genoa | 7 | 2.9 | Reduced Jolly Boy contingent goes on a low key motor sail to East Cowes for lunch. |
| 30th August | 4.0 (85.22) | F2 occais. F3 | ExN | Full main/95% genoa | 5 | 3 | The Grandson comes fishing and catches two! |
| 3rd September | 10.12 (95.34) | F3 going F4 | WxN | Full main/full & 95% genoa | 4.8 | 3 | Two beauty's on the water and a beer with Dave |
| 16th September | 7.38 (102.72) | F3 gusting F4 | Between ENE and ExN | Full main/full and 75% genoa | 4 | 2.4 | Emsworth channel meander |
| 17th and 18th September | 55.44* (102.72) | F4 to F6 | ENE | Full/reefed main; full/reefed genoa | 7.9 | 4 | Jolly Boys go to Yarmouth and blow the cobwebs out |
| 4th October | 9.25*(102.72) | F3 gusting F4 | SSE going SxW | Full main/full jib | 3.5 | 9.3 | NW passage in a GP14 - cracking day out. |
| 7th October | 4.44* (102.72) | - | - | Engine | 3.5 | 4 | AmiLy delivery trip |
| 18th October |
15.32* (102.72) |
F2 | SW | Genoa only | 3.3 | 6.2 | Kings Ransom delivery trip |
Summary:
2024 total (in Sparrow): 102.72 miles
2023 total (in Sparrow): 115.75 miles
2022 total (in Sparrow): 124.72 miles
2021 total (in Sparrow): 44.5 miles
2020 total (in Sparrow): 0 miles (COVID)
2019 total (in Sparrow): 77.59 miles
2018 total (in Sparrow): 151.12 miles
2017 total (in Sparrow): 141.91 miles
2016 total (in Sparrow): 138.29 miles
2015 total (in Sparrow): 141.29 miles
2014 total (in Sparrow): 137.98 miles
2013 total (in Sparrow): 113.73 miles
2012 total (in Papillon): 173.29 miles
2011 total (in Papillon): 193.41 miles
2010 total (in Papillon): 154.23 miles
2009 total (in Papillon): 125 miles
2021 total (in Sparrow): 44.5 miles
2020 total (in Sparrow): 0 miles (COVID)
2019 total (in Sparrow): 77.59 miles
2018 total (in Sparrow): 151.12 miles
2017 total (in Sparrow): 141.91 miles
2016 total (in Sparrow): 138.29 miles
2015 total (in Sparrow): 141.29 miles
2014 total (in Sparrow): 137.98 miles
2013 total (in Sparrow): 113.73 miles
2012 total (in Papillon): 173.29 miles
2011 total (in Papillon): 193.41 miles
2010 total (in Papillon): 154.23 miles
2009 total (in Papillon): 125 miles
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| Picture courtesy Sue Rose on the Stunning Hampshire Farcebook page.. |
