So not a classic sailing day, good enough, but not outstanding - we're going through a bit of a grey and damp spot in the UK at the moment, and the weather was not really 'optimal'.. in fact I was in two minds whether to even go, but in the end good sense prevailed, I'd not sailed in three weeks so it was time to get out!
First job then, check the bilges for rain (wettest June on record for the UK) so I was not surprised to find a couple of pints down there... next job, fire up the metal donkey, again two weeks of idleness so I just wanted to ensure all was well... it was. Next job, roll out that massive reef I put in last time, all good.. small adjustment at the out haul end of the boom as I had found the shackle for the main sheet was catching at times when I rolled in a reef.. an extra shackle has put some space between the end of the boom and the main sheet upper block - much better...
Time to go sailing... started warm and sunny, winds westerly, put up the main as quickly as possible so that I could run down the channel.. past the rowers who had congregated at Northney slip today for what I think was a Round the Island competition - hard work, either way!
Either way, that was largely it - turned grey and cold'ish, wind picked up, good fast sailing down the harbour, where I spotted these two classics racing up the channel
The one on the left is Mikado [clicky] the one on the right, I don't know..
...but after I'd got to the bottom of the harbour and turned for a fantastic broad reach back up the harbour, I spotted one of them coming back... what a beautiful sight..
Love this shot..
...bit of alright I'd say...
Made it back just before the rain... funny old day, but damn good to get out at last!
Log:
Distance: 8.96 miles
Wind: W going SW after an hour (just enough to get me to the bottom of the harbour on one tack); F3 going top end F4 as the wind swung round
Sail Plan: Full main and 90% genoa going roughly 75%
Speed: Log says max speed was 5.2 knots (and that was under sail on the broad reach from the bottom of the harbour) average speed was 3.5 knots.
These two beautiful yachts remind me of the K Class fleet that races out of Auckland NZ http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?78829-K-Class-reunion.
ReplyDeleteThe K Class has been compared with the Concordia Yawls on the East coast of the United States.
The two in your photos, the NZ K Class and the Concordias are all a similar size and type of hull.
....and I like the way yacht No 6 (on the right in your first photo) has (probably) been converted to a masthead rig, thus doing away with complicated jumper struts and running back stays that are evident on the yacht No 115.
ReplyDeleteAlden - found out a little more about 115.. she's called "Freyja", check 2:12 out on the following:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OApFpqaMlM