Not a lot done so far on this winters job list - I'll get going eventually (I always do) but she is scraped and cleaned, and to all intents and purposes is ready to go back in the water except for a coat of anti-foul, and besides I have a shed load of other stuff to do!
I would say that once again it's been a "Good" year, probably slightly better than last year, but again only "almost" a classic.... my perception was that one, this was a windy summer, I spent a lot of time under various states of reef and two that it wasn't a stand out summer weather'wise - we had some warm periods but we also had plenty of grey (and cold) dampness....
This was my third year as owner of Sparrow and as ever the learning curve continues but I've been quietly pleased with what I can do with her - she'll go the direction I want, stop when I want, and I can seemingly manage her - lots still to learn, and no one round here is getting over confidant, but I don't think I'm a danger to anyone.... 😏
A poor year for Solent trips (on Sparrow), I was out there on a few occasions but for the first time this year didn't have any Solent destinations marked off... no Bembridge/Seaview/Nab. All my major Solent outings this year were either on "Ocean Waves" or "Ami Ly" where in addition to the stand out "Jolly Boys Outing" we also had an absolutely blinding couple of days on Ami Ly - one watching the America's Cup, and a few weeks later a blast under the big blue meany back from a bucolic lunch in Cowes....
Of last winters jobs [clicky] the big ones were the cockpit lids [clicky], and the new genoa cam cleats [clicky]). Of the two the standout was the cam cleats - they've worked faultlessly all summer and are a huge step forward. Over the winter I'm going to change the genoa sheets back to a non-matt finish so they feed quicker through the blocks, but they are a delight to use after the old ones. The cockpit locker lids however, were not such a success; poor preparation on my part has lead to them splitting on one edge - this winter I'll glue and re-paint... mea culpa...
Last summer I replaced two forms of motive power; the outboard, which after those initial teething problems [clicky], has done sterling service this year, I'm absolutely delighted with it and long may it continue to do so. The other replacement was the foresail, or genoa ("big bastard") [clicky] which I'm still learning to manage. There is no doubt that this is a big sail - she's a handful when close tacking is required, and 8 times out of 10 I usually have a few rolls in to make managing it easier. I'm not quite ready to admit she needs to be re-cut (the few occasions I had the use of the whole sail were very useful) but we'll see what difference the non-matte sheets will make.. and either way, regretfully, Arun Sails went into liquidation this year... a real shame as I was also considering asking them to make me a main this coming year.
So all in all that rates as a good year.... 8 out of 10..
Like a spider dipped in blue ink and left to wander all over Google Earth - here's where Sparrow went this year - looks like the east of the harbour was my chosen stomping ground this year:
...and the following in (the new) "Ocean Waves" this summer on the outrageously entertaining Jolly Boys Outing [clicky]
...which was a brilliant three days in the Solent - the highlights being my first visit to Newtown Creek, the midnight visit(I laughed so much my teeth ached), and once again Smithy's missus's carrot cake... legendary....
We had some
superb sailing - the new boat is heavy, but fast...
Total distance sailed: 141.29 miles, which compares with 137.98 miles last year. Third year in a row of mileage increases - granddad baby sitting duties chomped a bit of time, rather delightfully I'll admit..
...work has put me on call one week in four from this year and that stymied a couple of weekends.. 
Nights on board: None - no need really, I know she's comfortable enough, just never had the burning desire to swap nice warm wife & bed for down-market camping...!
Crew on occasion: One... once... youngest knocked me over with a feather and came out for the day and it was brilliant...
 |
| Youngest on the helm - me getting an entirely new view of Sparrow under way.... |
Biggest Cruise: Prinstead [clicky] with the youngest.... it was just shy of 17 miles on a single tide, not bad! A sunny
day that had some good breezy sailing in it, with plenty of laughs and chats....
Best Cruise: Choices, choices... Prinstead (already mentioned), the first sail of the year, the first anchoring session, that day drag racing up and down the harbour; I'm going to go with Prinstead again.. sunshine and breeze, lots of laughs, food, and an overwhelming remembrance of everyone smiling - a good day.....!
Worst cruise: This one [clicky] - bloody awful day (see next piccie).....
Oddest cruise: Probably a tie with the worst cruise, but this one [clicky] wasn't specifically odd, just frustrating...
!Best anchorages: Only one this year, my first ever, so a definite shoe-in for best anchorage as there was no other competition... delightful hour or two watching the seals... she didn't drag but then again the weather didn't really put up anything that might cause her too..
Best mooring: ...my club mooring .. It continues to be a delight; water 3.5+ hours either side of high tide...
Worst mooring: None really... they all provided function/service.... if I had to choose probably the one I used on the worst cruise day, but only because it was such a rubbish day!
Plans for next year: The America's Cup comes back to Portsmouth in July 2016, so that's a definite if I can persuade Rod to take "Ami Ly" out again. Next year it really would be good to get to some Solent cruising in but I've given up making plans and resolutions.. too much pressure..
Mileage:
Click on the date to go to the log entry post....
2015:
| Date | Distance: | Wind: | Direction | Sail Plan: | Max Speed (knots): | Average Speed (knots): | Comments: |
| 4th May | 14.04 | F3 gusting F4 | SW going SE | Full main and reefed/full genoa | 5.7 | 3.3 | First sail of the season, and my first seal sighting |
| 17th May | 4.76 | F1 gusting F2 | SW | Full main and reefed/full genoa | 5 | 2. | Frustrating day trying to reach Marker while getting cold... |
| 24th May | 27.08* | F1 up to F3 | W | Full main/full genoa/mostly motor | 5.7 | 4.3 | Jolly Boys Outing to Cowes on Ami-Ly - lunch at the Folly, long run downwind home |
| 7th June | 8.98 | F3 gusting F4 | SW | Full main and reefed/full genoa | 5.4 | 2.7 | Warm sunny afternoon practising my beating and using the main track to improve pointing angle |
| 14th June | - | Nothing | - | - | - | - | Blechhhhh... |
| 21st June | 13.45 | F5 | WWN to WxS | Reefed main (3 slides) and half the genoa | 6.5 | 4.2 | Very windy Sunday with westerly winds allowing reaching the length of the harbour |
| 28th June | 8.1 | F3 | SSW => WxS | Full main and partially reefed genoa | 4.9 | 2.9 | Run down to Emsworth on a sunny Sunday morning |
| 16th July | 10.7* | F4 gusting F5 | NE | Solent rig (genoa only) | 5.6 | 3.2 | Day out on "Solitaire", lunch in the sun, seal sighted, twin Spitfires, and playing around with reefing.. |
| 23rd July | 19.16* | F4 gusting F5 | SSW | 1st reef in main/full genoa | 5.6 | 2.6 | America's Cup preview day on Ami-Ly - superb! |
| 25th July | 6.43 | F5 gusting F6 | WxS | Reefed main (3 slides) and genoa | 5.5 | 4.1 | Cheeky evening dash to Pilsey and back. Fast sailing, and a handful in the gusts. |
| 31st July | 11.18 | F3 | S => SW | Full main and partially reefed genoa | 5.2 | 3 | A crafty day off and trip to Snowhill/East Head, finished off by painting the hatches.. |
| 2nd August | 12.15 | F4 gusting F5 | ESE => SE | Reefed main (2 slides) and full/reefed genoa | 6.3 | 3.1 | Blowy Sunday and an unusual wind direction to go to Camber - huge tide (5m) and lots of water slopping about! |
| 7th August | 26.72* | F1 up to low end F3 | NW => W | Full main and asymmetric | 7.8 | 3.6 | Sunny weather, low wind trip to Cowes the day before the racing starts - flew the blue meany - no one killed! |
| 22nd August | 11.06 | F4 | SE => ExS | Reefed main (2 slides) and reefed genoa | 4.7 | 3 | Trip to the West Pole on a grey day.... |
| 18th - 21st September | 92.4* | Various | SW'ly | Various | 8.5 | 4 | Jolly boys outing - all points Solent |
| 27th September | 16.21 | F4 gusting F5 | NE => E | Reefed main (2 slides) and reefed genoa | 4.6 | 3.2 | Trip up to Prinstead with daughter - gusty wind, big tide, seal spotted in the moorings |
| 8th October | 8.5 | F1 gusting F2 | NW => W => SW | Full main and genoa | 4.3 | 2.4 | First anchoring (ever), and some seal watching on a beautiful, but light wind, day |
| 11th October | 13.24 | F4 | ENE | Full/reefed main and full/reefed genoa | 4 | 2.5 | Bar Beacon trip, reefs in, reefs out all day. |
| 18th October | 13.19 | F3 | ENE/E | Full main and full/reefed genoa. | 4.9 | 2.7 | Last sail of the season - Chaldock Beacon |
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
NB:
2014 total (in Sparrow): 137.98 miles
2013 total (in Sparrow): 113.73 miles
2012 total (in Pap): 173.29
2011 total (in Pap): 193.41
2010 total (in Pap): 154.23
2009 total (in Pap): 125
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That is a pretty comprehensive review of the sailing year, good idea, I have never thought of doing that on my blog. Your sea miles combining Sparrows and your trips on other boats adds up to a reasonable years sailing - When you add in the quality of your voyages you must be pleased. Any new year sailing resolutions? or are you waiting until December 31st? : > )
ReplyDeleteAlden - no resolutions for next year, all you do is set yourself up for failure! :o))
DeleteYou are right of course - good strategy : > )
ReplyDeleteNo pressure from me... but it would be good to meet up in the Solent again ;)
ReplyDeleteAha, the Kraken awakes... what you been up to then? you've been strangely quiet since Ciao's lift out... :o)
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