Barnacle madness...

So after the fun and games of 'rounding the cape' it was time to get back to the more usual business with Sparrow, and as July had largely been a washout (either literally because of rain, or tides, or whatever) I was determined August would not be the same. Tides were good, forecast was good, so Monday it was..

First order of business though, new fuel for the outboard to replace the old fuel I drained at the end of the last session - 4 litres of Esso Supreme (E5) added - good to go.

Next order of business, though, a scrub...  Sparrow's been in since the 10th April which is 16 weeks give or take..  roughly 2/3rd's of the season..  so bottom line I'd kind of expect her to have the usual weed growth, and expect to have to give her a scrub from the tender with a stiff brush, but what I hadn't expected was the sheer quantity of barnacles this year. She sits on a mud mooring, and it's fairly usual for her to have a crop on the bottom of the hull just between the keels at the end of the season, but this year they are covering the whole of the hull, and indeed the rudder. As a result the scrub this year was particularly satisfying 😀 

Over the years I have 'perfected' a technique that gives a reasonable scrub (without having to beach her and dry off) - a very stiff bristled brush, reasonable length of a beefy handle (wood not the cheap crap metal one's you get), and if you then rest the handle of the brush on the thwart of the tender for upwards pressure you can saw away to your hearts content, holding the tender in place with the other hand..  this time though I turned the brush over to use the hard edge of the head, and thousands of the little buggers were sent to their demise..  most satisfying..  clouds of disinterred barnacles disappearing off down tide.. 😏   Both sides, end to end, and the rudder and I'm pretty happy most of the problem is dealt with - then turned the brush over and gave the weed a go, not so much of that as I expected..  weird...

After that, time for some sailing - 13:15 spring HT (4.5 mtrs) - I'd managed to get to the boat for 10'ish just so I could get the scrub in, by the time I'd done that, got the boat ready, warmed the engine, and I dropped the mooring just after 11...  

Lots and lots of water sloshing around with a tide that big, but the weather was OK (not as sunny as forecast) but the wind was as expected - mid to upper F4, and the 'usual' SWly so I knew we weren't going to go far as the crow flies, and there'd be a lot of tacking 😏

Rooster tail..

Main up just off Northney, then 90% of the genoa rolled out (I prefer it when I know I have a lot of tacking to do) and bore away on a tightening reach for Sweare Deep, before cranking everything in and down for the first beat just to the south of Emsworth Beacon... 

30 tacks, and 2 hours, later we were just south of Verner, the breeze was generally good, but with the occasional gust causing her to head up, and it was time for me to head home on the very last legs of the flow... lovely very broad reach home in the company of Terror (the Emsworth Oyster boat) before engine on at Sweare Deep, and home..

Glorious..  next time though, she needs a scrub and some TLC - the birds have been crapping copious quantities of partially digested shellfish curry on her. and I want to get some paint on the cockpit hatch covers..

Log:

Distance: 10.32 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F4 ; SWxW
Sail Plan: Full main & 90% genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots):  4.6 / 2.8