Cheeky day off as the weather is too good to waste, and I'm fully booked this
weekend so no time to go out...
Oh man, so pleased I did - what a day... sunny, force 3 with the occasional interesting gust, and the almost ideal direction - lottery winning conditions.... superb....
Half ten HT so on the boat by 0745, was off and running 20 minutes later - 5 minutes of engine and off it went for the duration of the trip apart from the end...
Long run down the harbour, almost to HISC, turned left for a far better look in Snowhill creek, almost got stuck - very shallow and also narrow....
...and then across the channel to Prinstead Creek for a nose up past TISC (Thorney Island SC) where I'd had an idea I might find a mooring for a little snooze/reading time... there were moorings to be had, but I was enjoying the sailing too much...
Turned back to the main channel and then had an hour of almost perfect conditions, gusty F3 right across the beam with some excellent speeds.. the sailing experience is totally different to my old boat... on her I'd have been sheeting in & out all the way up the channel to stay upright and stop weather helm.... Sparrow just picks her heels up and goes; she may only be a foot longer, but she's 30% heavier*..
Got to the entrance of the Northney channel and just for once the conditions were good enough to sail right through to the moorings basin... 5 minutes of engine and I was back on the mooring...
With a bit of time left before the water disappeared, I fitted the jamming block and the new improved kicking strap is now done - very pleased with it - as an added enhancement I'm going to get a small double block for the bottom to allow better leverage, but it's already a million times better - very pleased with it...
Log:
Distance: 14.73 miles (cumulative total in the 2013 mileage tab at the top of the page)
Wind: Force 3 gusting 4.. NNE/NE (cracking direction for travelling long distances in the harbour!)
Sail Plan: Full jib and main - engine for manoeuvring..
Speed: GPS track says max speed was 5.1 knots (under sail) - average speed: 3.2 knots.
* Sparrow is significantly faster, and the GPS proves it... consistent averages of 3 knots, where Pap was doing 2.5... what it means is that I go much (much) further on a day sail/single tide...now I just really, really, want to get the standing rigging done!!
Oh man, so pleased I did - what a day... sunny, force 3 with the occasional interesting gust, and the almost ideal direction - lottery winning conditions.... superb....
Half ten HT so on the boat by 0745, was off and running 20 minutes later - 5 minutes of engine and off it went for the duration of the trip apart from the end...
Long run down the harbour, almost to HISC, turned left for a far better look in Snowhill creek, almost got stuck - very shallow and also narrow....
|
...told you I'd get to it..
|
|
| Exit'ing Snowhill Creek looking back - East Head on the right |
...and then across the channel to Prinstead Creek for a nose up past TISC (Thorney Island SC) where I'd had an idea I might find a mooring for a little snooze/reading time... there were moorings to be had, but I was enjoying the sailing too much...
|
| HISC ahead on the way home - just about to turn left for home... |
Turned back to the main channel and then had an hour of almost perfect conditions, gusty F3 right across the beam with some excellent speeds.. the sailing experience is totally different to my old boat... on her I'd have been sheeting in & out all the way up the channel to stay upright and stop weather helm.... Sparrow just picks her heels up and goes; she may only be a foot longer, but she's 30% heavier*..
Got to the entrance of the Northney channel and just for once the conditions were good enough to sail right through to the moorings basin... 5 minutes of engine and I was back on the mooring...
With a bit of time left before the water disappeared, I fitted the jamming block and the new improved kicking strap is now done - very pleased with it - as an added enhancement I'm going to get a small double block for the bottom to allow better leverage, but it's already a million times better - very pleased with it...
Log:
Distance: 14.73 miles (cumulative total in the 2013 mileage tab at the top of the page)
Wind: Force 3 gusting 4.. NNE/NE (cracking direction for travelling long distances in the harbour!)
Sail Plan: Full jib and main - engine for manoeuvring..
Speed: GPS track says max speed was 5.1 knots (under sail) - average speed: 3.2 knots.
* Sparrow is significantly faster, and the GPS proves it... consistent averages of 3 knots, where Pap was doing 2.5... what it means is that I go much (much) further on a day sail/single tide...now I just really, really, want to get the standing rigging done!!
Wasn't the weather fabulous? We took Bembridge round to Emsworth for coffee at the marina. A perfect day.
ReplyDeleteChris - doesn't get much better... think I spotted you guys by Sweare Deep as I went past Emsworth Beacon on my way back.. blue/white striped blades??
DeleteAhh... there's no greater day than a cheeky day off :) Great to see you're enjoying Sparrow so much.
ReplyDelete