Time again for the Jolly Boys to go forth upon the ocean one more time.. always an amazement we get home alive.. this time a reduced number since one Dave has knackered his elbow badly (two plates and multiple screws following unforced error on his mountain bike) and is in recovery mode, and t'other Dave we believe was attending either a funeral, or the wake (not clear)....
So it was that the Three Amigos conjoined at 9'ish for a quick and uneventful trip down to AmiLy where first order of the day was to test fly the blue meany.. the last trip out had been partially successful but Rodders had re-rigged the top of the snuffer/swivel/halyard attachment, to allow the sail to one rotate more easily, and two allow the snuffer to deploy more easily.. it was an unqualified success... so much easier..
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| Snuffer popped completely shortly after the phot was taken - typical.. 😁 |
Cleared and tidied away we then dropped the mooring and headed to the harbour entrance - almost dead low so not much water, and one point she definitely smooched the mud, but the channel the ferries opposite the mooring cut with prop wash is metres deep (they push all the mud into Rod's moorings so they have to dredge once a year.. 😏)
Not much going on out ion the Solent , but this thing dominated the horizon all day..
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| Pic courtesy Sky News.. |
...this is Price of Wales, one of the two new carriers (the slightly newer one), that had left for a courtesy visit to the US a few days before, but had then broken down just the other side of the Isle of White.. she was towed back to the big ship moorings in the Solent while the damage was assessed (external propeller coupling on the starboard engine, apparently - dry dock job).
By way of tribute we flew the meany in anger, and we think it was probably good for an extra knot and a half, may be two, as winds were stupidly light, and fluky, and offshore..
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| Bit older than Prince of Wales, this is paddle steamer Waverly taking advantage, to run sightseer trips of the carrier.. |
Sails dropped and in to East Cowes for a cracking lunch, FANTASTIC mooring - right on the very end of the berth holder pontoons, open ended and facing the river, just idled in, and when we were done idled out.. amazing.
Lunch in the Lifeboat, followed by a slow and idle motor back to the mooring, into a very low wind and strong tide - but it was warm, and sunny, and it was still September. Quick drop off at the fuel pontoon to top up the tanks, and we were in the The George pub for a pint on the way home by half seven'ish - brilliant day out, more wind next time, please..
Distance: 27.39 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F2 all day ; Morning NNE/Afternoon SWxS
Sail Plan: Full main / blue meany / motor for return trip
Speed (Max/average in knots): 6.9 / 2.8
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