BLUEMOMENT

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Just sunk Silkie's dinghy in Clachan Sound.

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- Nick

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Just you swimming? or did Silkie (the person) have to walk on water again?

At least it wasn't Silkie (the boat) that you sank.

Big hole? or just tipped over?

Ash

Using Cal Macs free WiFi in Rothesay Harbour

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"This is a sailing Forum"

Stood on a valve getting in and broke the outer part off. Leaking slowly, we decided to continue out to Silkie and proceed with the mission - Escape From Clachan Sound - but the skipper soon became concerned that we were venting excessively, and turned back to shore. Instructed to get my enormous bulk off the leaking tube, I moved to the centre only to inadvertantly press on the now exposed valve stem. We were now in the same situation as the Titanic when the fifth watertight compartment flooded. Had the designer of the Avon Redcrest been aboard he would no doubt have told us it was only a matter of time.

The remains of the valve were, it transpired, only being held against the inside of the tube by air pressure. Once the valve fell inside the tube the denouement was rapid. The skipper of the doomed craft moved forward to the still inflated half, paddliong furiously and leaving me floundering in a semi-swimming position as the rear tube filled with water. Operating a paddle from a supine position was proving ineffective, so I swung myself over the now sunken gunwhale searching for the bottom, only to discover that we were in the only part of Clachan Sound that is not at walking depth.

To cut a long story short we ended up at the pub in a very damp condition. Phoning the Balvicar emergency services for rescue, we repaired to Webcraft Towers, then to Fairwinds to procure an alternative Avon. This was then transported up to Donnie Campbell's garden and inflated, and Silkie's skipper went aboard for dry clothes and to switch off the entertainment system and other electronic devices.

A second retreat to the Trousers was made, where we chatted with a nice couple off a Jeanneau 39 (their 'starter boat', we gathered). We drank the Tradewinds.

Tomorrow, Escape from Clachan Sound - Part Deux.

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- Nick

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Makes my day sound quite dull, really. We did inflate our dinghy for the first time since acquiring Cherry Ripe and it stayed boringly inflated. It sounds like quite an achievement, deflating an Avon mid-passage. Perhaps a training course could be provided?

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Ken
Rival 38 Cherry Ripe
Yes, isn't it odd that a boat named like that should be green?

I would be very happy if you could run a training course for my SIPR runners. If they could be taught to get the flubber back to the boat just as it exhales its last gasp it could knock minutes off our time. Would it have been possible to roll it up while it was still in the water?

I almost desisted from asking just how many commands it took Silkie and you to perform this interesting manoeuvre?

I'm glad our first trip in our new rubber-flubber today was a lot drier...

We did learn that although it has proper row locks , it does not pay to over load it with kit and crew when said kit and crew force the rowers knees into the path of the oar stroke.

Was last weekend listening to a talk by a couple of crazy Belgians who landed on Rockall last year. They told of turning their inflatable into a non-inflatable by ripping a great gash in the topsides - a gash torn by Rockall itself as they tried to jump onto the rock at the top of a 4m swell!
They had two inflatables in the water at the time, so a rapid tow back to the ship...
The boat they were on had a repair kit, so they were able to repair overnight and use again the next morning to reclaim the two daredevils who had stayed the night on the rock.
http://www.rockall.be/

Good to hear its not necessary to go all that way to have fun with inflatables at sea.

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Geoff.
"Contender" Rival 32: Rhu and elsewhere.

A natural reaction to finding yourself in a sinking dinghy, I'd have thought.

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Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity - Hanlon's Razor
But don't rule out malice - First Corollary to Hanlon's Razor

So the prudent sailor now carries a Barton Clam Seal http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/37189/Barton-Clam-Seal.html in his pocket as well as the H/H VHF, the miniflares, the pocket knife, the Kendal Mint Cake.

Ash

The Rothesay ferry is parked up, so the toilets in the office block are closed , but the WiFi is still switched on .

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"This is a sailing Forum"

Well Silkie is still in Clachan Sound and is one step further from being ready for the Cruise than she was before the start of the weekend but I'm not one to bear a grudge - for long.

On the up side I already have a complete replacement valve (for which many thanks Ken) but I've just found out the cost of the two-part adhesive and solvent.

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we are star dust

I've got a spare Hypalon repair kit, which I used to make one small patch for an Avon I don't have any more. If you want it, just say.

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Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity - Hanlon's Razor
But don't rule out malice - First Corollary to Hanlon's Razor

Erm . . . would just like to point out that Silkie was offered an assisted passage out of Clachan Sound this afternoon, free delivery to Dunstaffnage and unlimited free Avon hire while I repaired the damage.

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- Nick

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Oh so you release your frustration on us because you cant release your bowels!
Away up to the Gluepot and get yer arse stuck to the pan
C_W

Thanks for the offer Ian but the repair kits usually contain the straight adhesive (I've got one myself, out of date) and I think I need the two-part stuff which has a pretty short shelf life I learn.

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we are star dust

I spent a couple of hours yesterday in a sinking (well flooding) dinghy as well , but it was in the warmish waters of Alicante harbour, in a converted rib with a home-made oppy rig. Unfortunately it appears only one of the sponsons was attached to the rib base, so the correct tack was required - unfortunately again, there wasn't really enough wind to maintain a course on either tack, but the wine was good. Home again now. Getting ready for Friday.

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Just because you're paranoid
doesn't mean they're not out to get you.