Quick run out today just as a warm up to make sure everything is doing what it should do, and is in the right place, and is working, before heading out for a longer run the next time.. so just a brisk (bloody brisk!) 4 or 5 miles...
Delighted to say all on Sparrow was working as it should.. having waited two years for it, not surprisingly, the magic wand (autopilot) was switched in and attached about 20 yards after leaving the mooring and worked faultlessly... my intention for this is to use it mainly when I'm motoring as it allows you to whack the revs on and get on with sorting sails and the like, either on the way out, or the way back, and so it was today... HUGELY pleased with it, no issues, not overly thirsty (still had 14 volts on the battery when I finished), and worked well... when I'm not using it it sits nicely resting on the transom so I'll fit a bungee there to hold the end in place...
Next was the main, which I raised just off Northney, in the brisk and northerly, conditions.. I toyed with the idea of reefing but decided in the end not to bother as I knew I wasn't going to be out for long given the conditions and the cold, also with a northerly most of the sailing should have been reach/run which is easier overpowered than when close hauled... new mods were perfect as it also allows me to set the sail slightly lower meaning the head board clears the topping lift.. it was a warm up so nothing goes entirely to plan and in this case the pin that holds the tack had come loose, sorted that when motoring back on auto pilot...
Next was the jib, which was a... transformation. I reckon it's about 10-15% smaller but either way I sailed with all rolled out and didn't feel the need to roll any away other than I would have done anyway given the conditions... very pleased. Also very pleased with the stand up cleats, tacks were noticeably quicker
So all in all, good trip**, job done ... prefer it warmer next time, please..
** As is the way of these things the row back to shore was not quite so error free... one of the rowlocks tore out of the thwart of the tender due to some hidden rot.. I was lucky, it was within a foot of the shore when it went, so that looks like tomorrow is taken care of!
Log:
Distance: 4.51 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): Top end F3 gusting F4; NxW through NxE
Sail Plan: Full main and jib
Speed (Max/average in knots): 6.0 / 3.8 (some tide assist in there for sure!
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I'm seriously jealous,still a few weeks away from getting Joanne's arse wet.......
ReplyDeleteHa... don't be... was cold and miserable... :o)
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