Off out to see my folks just outside of Barcelona shortly.... while we're out there, we've got a 28' sailing boat for a day, from the port of Palamos....
Only a day, so we won't be doing any great distance, but it'll still be nice to sail in some clear blue water for a while!
Thursday 30 July 2009
Sunday 26 July 2009
Crouch cruising
This weekend had been in the planning for some weeks, so the weather was a totally lottery...
A group of us had agreed to meet up at Fambridge marina, well up the river Crouch, and have a BBQ on the shore.
And the weather turned out not too bad at all!
We had to time our departure and return around tide times given the fact that we were travelling along the coast, either directly into, or directly with the tide... so this saw us leaving Shotley at 08h00 Saturday morning, into a gentle F2, coming from the west...
By the time we'd left Harwich, it had increased to a F3 touching F4, and was across the beam all the way out to Walton headland, meaning that for the first time in a while, the engine could be off without us either drifting, freezing, or reefing down to tiny sails!... Even better, the sun was shining... and it was pleasantly warm... we shot down to Walton at a very decent speed
As we rounded Walton Headland, it became apparent that the wind angle was such that we could sail a single leg, without tacking all the way to the Spitway buoy, which marks the channel through to East Swin, or more accurately the top of the Whittaker channel which is the route into the Crouch.
What's more.... the wind even shifted just a few degrees, so that we could just free off the sheets a little, and suddenly Morgana was flying along.... with what had become a consistent F4, touching F5, we made extremely fast progress, and before we knew it, we were through the spitway, and entering the Crouch...
The trip up the Crouch was bang into the wind, so we dropped the sails and motored the last few miles up the river....
Even so, after exiting the lock at Shotley at 08h30, we were tied up in Fambridge at 13h00.... which for those that know the area, will be recognised as a very fast passage... the huge spring tide had helped enormously.... at times we hit 9.5kts over the ground travelling up the Wallet.... and rarely dropped below 8kts...
Tying up at Fambridge was 'interesting'.... with 2.5kts of tide ripping past the pontoon, and a slot just 3 feel longer than the boat, I tried to feery glide in.... but the wind direction made it very tough.... so in the end, I stuck the stern into the wind and tide, and reversed in.... well kind of... more swept in by the tide, but used reverse to slow her down as we went in.... not elegant, but it worked.... and we didn't hit anything!
The evening was a grand affair... a georgeous summer evening, and a real treat to just sit on the grass and relax with good company
Sunday was an early start.... up at 05h00.... I was somewhat dissapointed to see the tide already ripping past the boat.... we had a raft 2 deep astern, and one in front... again with no more than 2 foot of space at either end....
The tide was coming from the stern.... so after getting rid of the springs, we moved the bow line back to the centre on the pontoon, to stop her moving forward, gently engaged reverse to take the load off the stern line, slipped it, and let the stern sweep out into the river under the force of the tide.... as it swung out, we engaged hard astern, slipped the bow line, and exited under complete control.... perfect!
Just a few hundred yards up the Crouch, the main was out, and we were again flying along with a spring tide assisted sldeg ride...
in less than an hour, we had passed 'inner crouch' mark, which is where the land 'stops' (at least the land that never gets water over it anyway), and the genoa was unfurled, and the engine off.... for the two or three minutes that we had the geno out and the engine still running, we hit 10.4kts over the ground...
It was however, nice to have some silence, and we enjoyed a very pleasant sail out to Whittaker No. 6.
By now, the wind had built a fair bit, and we rounded up and stuck a reef in the main, and furled a few turns on the genoa.... as we headed for the Spitway, it continued to build, and before long we had a decent F5, but potentially for the wallet, it'd be right up the chuff.... at this point in time it was a beam reach... and we were flying again!
It wasn't however bad in the Wallet, as it was still a pretty flat sea... but it was very deep, so a certain amount of concentration required to avoid a gybe.... but again, not slow....
Before we knew it, we had rounded Walton headland.... and the gybe towards Harwich left us with the main doing all the work, and the genoa flapping and filling aimlessly, threatening to do damage to the sail... so we pinned the main in, furled the genoa, and motored the last 3nm into Harwich....
In and tied up by 12h30..... marvellous..... what a great weekend.... brill weather Saturday.... OK weather Sunday, but fabulous wind... not bad at all!
Miles logged 64nm
Miles this season 415nm
Miles since this blog started 4,312nm
A group of us had agreed to meet up at Fambridge marina, well up the river Crouch, and have a BBQ on the shore.
And the weather turned out not too bad at all!
We had to time our departure and return around tide times given the fact that we were travelling along the coast, either directly into, or directly with the tide... so this saw us leaving Shotley at 08h00 Saturday morning, into a gentle F2, coming from the west...
By the time we'd left Harwich, it had increased to a F3 touching F4, and was across the beam all the way out to Walton headland, meaning that for the first time in a while, the engine could be off without us either drifting, freezing, or reefing down to tiny sails!... Even better, the sun was shining... and it was pleasantly warm... we shot down to Walton at a very decent speed
As we rounded Walton Headland, it became apparent that the wind angle was such that we could sail a single leg, without tacking all the way to the Spitway buoy, which marks the channel through to East Swin, or more accurately the top of the Whittaker channel which is the route into the Crouch.
What's more.... the wind even shifted just a few degrees, so that we could just free off the sheets a little, and suddenly Morgana was flying along.... with what had become a consistent F4, touching F5, we made extremely fast progress, and before we knew it, we were through the spitway, and entering the Crouch...
The trip up the Crouch was bang into the wind, so we dropped the sails and motored the last few miles up the river....
Even so, after exiting the lock at Shotley at 08h30, we were tied up in Fambridge at 13h00.... which for those that know the area, will be recognised as a very fast passage... the huge spring tide had helped enormously.... at times we hit 9.5kts over the ground travelling up the Wallet.... and rarely dropped below 8kts...
Tying up at Fambridge was 'interesting'.... with 2.5kts of tide ripping past the pontoon, and a slot just 3 feel longer than the boat, I tried to feery glide in.... but the wind direction made it very tough.... so in the end, I stuck the stern into the wind and tide, and reversed in.... well kind of... more swept in by the tide, but used reverse to slow her down as we went in.... not elegant, but it worked.... and we didn't hit anything!
The evening was a grand affair... a georgeous summer evening, and a real treat to just sit on the grass and relax with good company
Sunday was an early start.... up at 05h00.... I was somewhat dissapointed to see the tide already ripping past the boat.... we had a raft 2 deep astern, and one in front... again with no more than 2 foot of space at either end....
The tide was coming from the stern.... so after getting rid of the springs, we moved the bow line back to the centre on the pontoon, to stop her moving forward, gently engaged reverse to take the load off the stern line, slipped it, and let the stern sweep out into the river under the force of the tide.... as it swung out, we engaged hard astern, slipped the bow line, and exited under complete control.... perfect!
Just a few hundred yards up the Crouch, the main was out, and we were again flying along with a spring tide assisted sldeg ride...
in less than an hour, we had passed 'inner crouch' mark, which is where the land 'stops' (at least the land that never gets water over it anyway), and the genoa was unfurled, and the engine off.... for the two or three minutes that we had the geno out and the engine still running, we hit 10.4kts over the ground...
It was however, nice to have some silence, and we enjoyed a very pleasant sail out to Whittaker No. 6.
By now, the wind had built a fair bit, and we rounded up and stuck a reef in the main, and furled a few turns on the genoa.... as we headed for the Spitway, it continued to build, and before long we had a decent F5, but potentially for the wallet, it'd be right up the chuff.... at this point in time it was a beam reach... and we were flying again!
It wasn't however bad in the Wallet, as it was still a pretty flat sea... but it was very deep, so a certain amount of concentration required to avoid a gybe.... but again, not slow....
Before we knew it, we had rounded Walton headland.... and the gybe towards Harwich left us with the main doing all the work, and the genoa flapping and filling aimlessly, threatening to do damage to the sail... so we pinned the main in, furled the genoa, and motored the last 3nm into Harwich....
In and tied up by 12h30..... marvellous..... what a great weekend.... brill weather Saturday.... OK weather Sunday, but fabulous wind... not bad at all!
Miles logged 64nm
Miles this season 415nm
Miles since this blog started 4,312nm
Tuesday 21 July 2009
so... about this water maker...
its all spaghetti!
There is so much plumbing involved its ridiculous....
Of course, it could be much simplet, but me being me decided that it needed to be complex...
There are three main pipes on the water maker....
Sea water in
Brine out
Fresh water (product) out
However, there are a few things that also need doing...
It needs to be flushed with fresh water if its not to be used for approx 7 days.... it needs to be 'pickled' with a special solution if its not to be used within a month or so... the product needs to diverted to go overboard for a while when running after pickling, or after a long stand... and finally, the fresh water flush needs to take water through a charcoal filter, as any chlorine destroys the membrane... got all that?
So what is the result.... well... its four three way valves, all fitted to a plethora of different sized pipes.... so a handfull of different sized hoze tails to fit to the 3 way valves..
Firstly, the brine out.... this goes to the first 3 way valve, which diverts the water either overboard (through a tee that I have put in an existing 'above the water line' through hull fitting, or the other way to a hose that is just loose for now, and will go into a bucket when pickling is underway...
Next the sea water in.... this goes firstly to a 3 way valve that selects on one side another loose pipe to go in the pickling bucket (in and out in the bucket see?)... and on the other side to another three way valve that selects either sea water (will be teed into the engine water intake with a one way valve to stop the engine trying to scavenge water from the watermaker), and on the other side to a fresh water supply.
This fresh water supply must go through the charcoal filter and also be on the pressurised side of the system.... but rather than just putting it in line, i'm fitting the water filter by the main tank feed into the water system, so that the whole boat benefits from filtered water.
Finally, the product out goes to another 3 way valve which on one side is teed into the tank breather, allowinf fresh water to enter the tank, and on the other side to a small tank vent which I need to fit to the transom, so that wtare can be pushed overboard to start with....
This weekend, with a concerted effort I've got this mostly plumbed in bar the fresh water filter, the skin fitting for fresh water dumping, and the tee into the engine water intake...
and take a deep breath.... and remind yourself to plan carefully when you buy your own watermaker... buying the right plumbing bits first time will qualify you for Mensa....
There is so much plumbing involved its ridiculous....
Of course, it could be much simplet, but me being me decided that it needed to be complex...
There are three main pipes on the water maker....
Sea water in
Brine out
Fresh water (product) out
However, there are a few things that also need doing...
It needs to be flushed with fresh water if its not to be used for approx 7 days.... it needs to be 'pickled' with a special solution if its not to be used within a month or so... the product needs to diverted to go overboard for a while when running after pickling, or after a long stand... and finally, the fresh water flush needs to take water through a charcoal filter, as any chlorine destroys the membrane... got all that?
So what is the result.... well... its four three way valves, all fitted to a plethora of different sized pipes.... so a handfull of different sized hoze tails to fit to the 3 way valves..
Firstly, the brine out.... this goes to the first 3 way valve, which diverts the water either overboard (through a tee that I have put in an existing 'above the water line' through hull fitting, or the other way to a hose that is just loose for now, and will go into a bucket when pickling is underway...
Next the sea water in.... this goes firstly to a 3 way valve that selects on one side another loose pipe to go in the pickling bucket (in and out in the bucket see?)... and on the other side to another three way valve that selects either sea water (will be teed into the engine water intake with a one way valve to stop the engine trying to scavenge water from the watermaker), and on the other side to a fresh water supply.
This fresh water supply must go through the charcoal filter and also be on the pressurised side of the system.... but rather than just putting it in line, i'm fitting the water filter by the main tank feed into the water system, so that the whole boat benefits from filtered water.
Finally, the product out goes to another 3 way valve which on one side is teed into the tank breather, allowinf fresh water to enter the tank, and on the other side to a small tank vent which I need to fit to the transom, so that wtare can be pushed overboard to start with....
This weekend, with a concerted effort I've got this mostly plumbed in bar the fresh water filter, the skin fitting for fresh water dumping, and the tee into the engine water intake...
and take a deep breath.... and remind yourself to plan carefully when you buy your own watermaker... buying the right plumbing bits first time will qualify you for Mensa....
Sunday 19 July 2009
Breezy weekend
The BBQ summer certainly hasn't kicked off yet!
With M off dinghy sailing with Sea Cadets, we have C and her friend L along.... it was noticeably quieter than normal!
After arriving Friday arounf 21h00, we soon settled in for the night, and awoke Saturday to a clear but breezy day.... after procrastinating for a few hours, we finally locked out around 11h30, into a stiff breeze.... as we got out into the Stour proper, its was blowing 25kts and gusting a bit more... a good solid F5, touching 6, so we decided to stay in the river.... which proved a good call... it was Pin Mill Thames Barge match, so we motored slowly up the river, carefully avoiding the barges tacking against the wind and tide, getting some great photos in the process.... and by the time we almost reached the Orwell bridge, we turned round, hoisted a bit of genny, turned the engine off, and had a brilliant sail back down the river to Shotley.... we were only out for 2.5hrs, but it was a good 2.5hrs....
We then enjoyed a good meal onboard, and had an evening of card games and chat, followed by watching 'Hancock' on DVD...
Sunday was worse...
Not only was it equally as windy, but it was raining too.... so SWMBO and the girls ventured off into Ipswich shopping while I got on with a few jobs...
The ball bearings were fitted to the boom car... a great tip from YBW... I used shaving foam to keep them in place as they were inserted one by one.... and then a quick wash out, and the foam was gone... worked beautifully..
And then I started plumbing in the Watermaker.... well on the way by the time the girls got back... more on that later...
We packed up and set off home... not great weather, but still an enjoyable weekend...
Miles logged 13nm
Miles this season 351nm
Miles since this blog started 4,248nm
With M off dinghy sailing with Sea Cadets, we have C and her friend L along.... it was noticeably quieter than normal!
After arriving Friday arounf 21h00, we soon settled in for the night, and awoke Saturday to a clear but breezy day.... after procrastinating for a few hours, we finally locked out around 11h30, into a stiff breeze.... as we got out into the Stour proper, its was blowing 25kts and gusting a bit more... a good solid F5, touching 6, so we decided to stay in the river.... which proved a good call... it was Pin Mill Thames Barge match, so we motored slowly up the river, carefully avoiding the barges tacking against the wind and tide, getting some great photos in the process.... and by the time we almost reached the Orwell bridge, we turned round, hoisted a bit of genny, turned the engine off, and had a brilliant sail back down the river to Shotley.... we were only out for 2.5hrs, but it was a good 2.5hrs....
We then enjoyed a good meal onboard, and had an evening of card games and chat, followed by watching 'Hancock' on DVD...
Sunday was worse...
Not only was it equally as windy, but it was raining too.... so SWMBO and the girls ventured off into Ipswich shopping while I got on with a few jobs...
The ball bearings were fitted to the boom car... a great tip from YBW... I used shaving foam to keep them in place as they were inserted one by one.... and then a quick wash out, and the foam was gone... worked beautifully..
And then I started plumbing in the Watermaker.... well on the way by the time the girls got back... more on that later...
We packed up and set off home... not great weather, but still an enjoyable weekend...
Miles logged 13nm
Miles this season 351nm
Miles since this blog started 4,248nm
Monday 13 July 2009
what to do, where to go....
A full weekends sailing coming up...
M is away with Sea Cadets, dinghy sailing, so we've got C and her friend L along....
We are hoping to go sail a bit, but the tide times aren't great...
If we go south, then it'll mean a punch against the tide heading back.....
If we go a decent way north to Southwold, it'll mean punching the tide all the way north, and leaving at 'Oh-my-god' O'clock on Sunday morning...
Only viable option is the Deben, which we can't get into much before 17h00, and will need to leave before 10h00 on Sunday....
I'm not really sure what to do at all!
M is away with Sea Cadets, dinghy sailing, so we've got C and her friend L along....
We are hoping to go sail a bit, but the tide times aren't great...
If we go south, then it'll mean a punch against the tide heading back.....
If we go a decent way north to Southwold, it'll mean punching the tide all the way north, and leaving at 'Oh-my-god' O'clock on Sunday morning...
Only viable option is the Deben, which we can't get into much before 17h00, and will need to leave before 10h00 on Sunday....
I'm not really sure what to do at all!
Friday 10 July 2009
spending money is easy
The new bearings for the boom car are ordered.... surprisingly low priced...
However, I also needed to pay for a few things marina related.... the winter lift out/cradle/lift in payment was well overdue, winter and spring electric bills, fuel from early in the season, and a fill up last week, and a couple of gas bottles... all added up to £890 plus a few pence.... ouch...
Still got to keep saving otherwise the standing rigging will need to do another season, and the sails will have to do the same.... fair chance that the sails will have to do another season anyway unless I win the lottery in the mean time!
However, I also needed to pay for a few things marina related.... the winter lift out/cradle/lift in payment was well overdue, winter and spring electric bills, fuel from early in the season, and a fill up last week, and a couple of gas bottles... all added up to £890 plus a few pence.... ouch...
Still got to keep saving otherwise the standing rigging will need to do another season, and the sails will have to do the same.... fair chance that the sails will have to do another season anyway unless I win the lottery in the mean time!
Wednesday 8 July 2009
proven wrong...
The bearings are 15p each, and I need about 100 of 'em....
Not as bad as i'd expected!
Not as bad as i'd expected!
Tuesday 7 July 2009
track bearings
One thing from this weekend.... I've decided that the bearings on the car that the outhaul pulls out on really do need replacing.... despite removing the broken ones, the lack of bearings means that the car doesn't travel well, and makes the main hard to pull out....
So... I start the hunt for the correct bearings.... only needs about 50 plastic balls.... any guesses how much they'll be?
I reckon on £40..... marine industry rip off.... I hope to be proven wrong!
So... I start the hunt for the correct bearings.... only needs about 50 plastic balls.... any guesses how much they'll be?
I reckon on £40..... marine industry rip off.... I hope to be proven wrong!
Monday 6 July 2009
Pirates spotted!
As usual, the pirate weekend was a roaring success, with everyone seeming to have a great time....
Only this year, the sun came along to play too!
We dashed out of Harwich Friday evening, partially to get a spot in the anchorage, partially because we wanted to prep a little for the weekend, and partially because we had been looking forward to it so much that we just wanted it to start...
Arriving in the anchorage at around 21h00, we were delighted to see half a dozen boats already in-situ, with Jolly Rogers flying.... CliveG beckoned us over, and suggested that he weigh anchor, we take his spot, and he would hang off us... ideal!
So by 22h00, we are in, settled, flags raised, and chilled.
Neville and Janey pop over for a drink.... we chat and before we know it, its midnight.... time for bed...
And so we awoke Saturday morning (nice and early) to find a boiling hot day, clear blue skies and strong sun...
By midday we are on the beach, and slowly being joined by more and more boats and pirate crews....
By 20h00, the fire is lit, the pirates fed, and we are being entertained by guitarists, saxophonists, and general good company.... 75 pirates was the final count... just fantastic...
Somehow we make it back to the boat (under the watchful and considerate eye of Full Circle), and after falling into our beds, Sunday morning is upon us...
A slow and steady sail back into Harwich, a little burned (but not too serious!), and thoroughly relaxed...
So... next year... how do we trump it?
(and a personal commitment to a little less alcohol next year too)
Miles logged 12nm
Miles this season 338nm
Miles since this blog started 4,235nm
Only this year, the sun came along to play too!
We dashed out of Harwich Friday evening, partially to get a spot in the anchorage, partially because we wanted to prep a little for the weekend, and partially because we had been looking forward to it so much that we just wanted it to start...
Arriving in the anchorage at around 21h00, we were delighted to see half a dozen boats already in-situ, with Jolly Rogers flying.... CliveG beckoned us over, and suggested that he weigh anchor, we take his spot, and he would hang off us... ideal!
So by 22h00, we are in, settled, flags raised, and chilled.
Neville and Janey pop over for a drink.... we chat and before we know it, its midnight.... time for bed...
And so we awoke Saturday morning (nice and early) to find a boiling hot day, clear blue skies and strong sun...
By midday we are on the beach, and slowly being joined by more and more boats and pirate crews....
By 20h00, the fire is lit, the pirates fed, and we are being entertained by guitarists, saxophonists, and general good company.... 75 pirates was the final count... just fantastic...
Somehow we make it back to the boat (under the watchful and considerate eye of Full Circle), and after falling into our beds, Sunday morning is upon us...
A slow and steady sail back into Harwich, a little burned (but not too serious!), and thoroughly relaxed...
So... next year... how do we trump it?
(and a personal commitment to a little less alcohol next year too)
Miles logged 12nm
Miles this season 338nm
Miles since this blog started 4,235nm
Thursday 2 July 2009
500 not out
Well, its had to happen eventually.... the 500th entry on this blog.... thats an awful lot of drivel for one person....... along the way i've had hundreds of e-mails and messages about it, ranging from "can you tell me more about XYZ", through "great blog, one of my favourites", to "the worlds most boring blog"... thank god we're all different!
Anyway... a fitting time to post about this coming weekend, which is the 3rd annual Pirate weekend at Stone Point in the Walton Backwaters.... the forecast is looking utterly fantastic, with sun and heat aplenty, and we have somewhere in the region of 60 or 70 people coming along.... funny how an event built around dressing up like a pirate, lighting a fire and generally making a bit of an idiot of yourself has had such a positive reception...
If it carries on like this, we'll need to find a different venue for 2010, as we're rapidly running out of space.... as it is, with the warm weather forecast, then I suspect it'll be tight this weekend, as loads of other boats will be there.... we may end up ferrying people from Hamford Water....
Anyway... a fitting time to post about this coming weekend, which is the 3rd annual Pirate weekend at Stone Point in the Walton Backwaters.... the forecast is looking utterly fantastic, with sun and heat aplenty, and we have somewhere in the region of 60 or 70 people coming along.... funny how an event built around dressing up like a pirate, lighting a fire and generally making a bit of an idiot of yourself has had such a positive reception...
If it carries on like this, we'll need to find a different venue for 2010, as we're rapidly running out of space.... as it is, with the warm weather forecast, then I suspect it'll be tight this weekend, as loads of other boats will be there.... we may end up ferrying people from Hamford Water....
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