Bit of maintenance first, though - hot sun and rain don't do boats any favours, and I noticed previously that there were a couple of cracks on one of the cockpit hatches that needed treatment urgently. Mixed up some Gorilla epoxy and with some thin plastic forced that into the cracks, and the surface before clamping between two bits of HDPE (non-stick). Yesterday I slapped on some of my go to paint to cover/protect the damage - they'll need another coat at some point (it's been a long season) but they look OK.
I also needed to sort out my kicker, which was original to when I got the boat but not really man enough (in terms of size)..
.. and the line was beginning to show signs of wear..
...recently got lucky on eBay with the following, so fitted that - only 2:1 compared with the old ones 4:1, but significantly beefier and I may still add a couple of blocks to get it to 4:1..
That done it was time to go sailing... HT was 16:21 and it was a 4.58m tide, so still Springs. Given the lateness of the tide though I aimed to get to the boat for half 12'ish, banking on the size of the tide to result in water arriving quickly. As it happened it worked perfectly, and I was on the boat on plan, though I'd had to launch the tender from the very bottom of the slipway.. 😏
2.5's and 3's all the way down the harbour even against tide, until almost as if someone flicked a switch, and right by Verner - the wind shot up two entire Beauforts, and also swung round 70 degrees! From a nice gentle reach we were over on our ears, tiller under chin, and beating hard to maintain direction..
..rounded it and noticed that the wind had moderated, and also shifted again (gone more Easterly) - so
Log:
Distance: 12.44 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F2 going F4 going F3! ; ExS going S going SE
Sail Plan: Full main and full/reefed genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots): 5.0 / 2.8
Did the aforementioned painting, started the engine, and then dropped the mooring at 13:00'ish to motor into a gentle easterly before putting sails up, and bearing away at the Beacon. An easterly is a God-send as it means a straight reach to the end of the harbour where normally I'd be tacking the whole afternoon, in a light wind, against a strong Spring tide...
The fishing was rod was deployed and almost immediately I got a bite - think the hook must have hit him on the head as it went down.. second one of these I've had this year, and a school (ie. juvenile) bass I think (?) either way - mug shot taken he was returned to the briny, and true to form I never had another bite all afternoon!
2.5's and 3's all the way down the harbour even against tide, until almost as if someone flicked a switch, and right by Verner - the wind shot up two entire Beauforts, and also swung round 70 degrees! From a nice gentle reach we were over on our ears, tiller under chin, and beating hard to maintain direction..
 |
| ...there you go.. 14:15 to 14:25.. 70 degree shift in 10 minutes.. then a 40 degree shift an hour later.. 😏 |
Rolled a bit of genoa in to help with pointing, and then headed off over Pilsea Sands - I was thinking that on a rising tide if I got stuck it would only be for a while, and also, I was out of the tide - as it happened I never saw less than a metre under the keel all the way, and after a couple of long tacks I slid out into the main channel just by the Port marker for the Thorney channel...
Bore away for Camber...
tightened up, rolled the genoa out again, and made Snowhill ('hello old friend') in one board...
... before looping though the boats anchored of East Head, and then bearing away for the main channel, and a long, long, goosewing run up the harbour and home...
Superb day out, but 'changeable' doesn't even begin to describe it!
Log:
Distance: 12.44 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F2 going F4 going F3! ; ExS going S going SE
Sail Plan: Full main and full/reefed genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots): 5.0 / 2.8
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