Kissing the putty..

Just a quicky - I had a feeling it would before I even left but with the lift out fast approaching (week next Wednesday) and the need to get the mast down (probably next Tuesday), and a long winter of no sailing and dark days approaching it had to be done..

HT 13:59 and another massive Spring at 4.7m, but the forecast was telling me it was going to be a NE'ly which would be good, but unfortunately a F4 gusting F5..  yeah, more wind...😏

...and so it was - the forecast was spot on - and it was a northerly, and I've said it before, they can be a bit fractious, and so was this one...

Chose to go with just the genoa once I got to Sweare Deep, and then do a run down to Marker before I assessed what to do (go further or turn for home) - it worked, but I had to rioll some back in as conditions were indeed fractious...  wind over (considerable) tide was creating a little swelly roll. and I eventually bailed out about a 100 yards short of Marker - I wasn't enjoying it, it was cold, and it was grey - time for a beer..

Gybed and headed back - wanted to see if she'd go under just genoa, and because of the tide we were seeing 4's SOG!

One beat though and it was time to tack, and she (or rather I) missed it.. gah...   too far over, too thin in the water departments, the depth hit minus zero (an ever so helpful "out" message 😁) and the engine went on pronto, the sheets let fly and we revered out successfully..  phew..

...and that was it - slow'ish motor back to the mooring, and home for aforesaid beer... now  can I get one last sail in????

Log:

Distance: 4.85 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F4 gusting F5 ; NE
Sail Plan: Full/reefed Genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots): 4.7 / 2.6