November Sailing

[ash]

Our 2011 season finished rather early due to a combination of weekend work commitments for me and poor weather with our last sail being the Scuttlebutt weekend on 15/16/17 September 2011.

This year has been a bit better, but not by much. Since Scuttlebutt we've had 1 weekend in September and 1 at the beginning of October but nothing since due to work.

We had the weekend free so were looking forward to getting a (maybe the last) sail in.

At lunchtime on Friday, XC Weather was predicting 11 / 12 Kt winds with 16 / 19 kt gusts for Saturday afternoon. I confess that I didn't check anywhere else or anything more up to date before heading out at lunchtime so the biggish waves and white horses came as a slight shock.

Hoisted the main with the first reef in and left a few rolls on the genoa and set off upwind. We were going OK but after a couple of tacks the crew commented that it didn't feel much like fun, and that we weren't trying to reach any particular destination anyway. I did advise that motoring home at the end of the afternoon against the wind and waves might not be very pleasant either before turning round and heading for the Cloch.

Kept the same sailplan and alternated between having the wind over the starboard quarter and goosewinging with boat speeds in the 6's. One combination of waves provided a mini surf which the GPS recorded as a max speed of 7.8 Kts.

Once round the corner, the seas were flatter and the wind more on the beam so it was good sailing along to Kempock Point and back.

Conditions were just starting to build again as I met Ali Cat and one of the red ferries at the same time. Ali Cat was 45deg off my starboard bow and aiming to pass in front of me whilst the red ferry was on my starboard beam and aiming to pass both behind me and Ali Cat. I was just trying to hold my course!

Met Spirit of Fairbridge just after, she was heading in towards the river.

Rolled away the genoa and motorsailed in tight tacks towards Kip. Keeping some sail up seems to hold the bow down, or maybe motorsailing means that I'm at a better angle to the waves. Motoring head on into short steep waves without any sail has the bow rising higher with each successive wave till it crashes down on the 3rd or 4th. On this occasion the bow was staying down and breaking through the waves such that now and then the spray was flying the full length of the boat.

Listened to the forecast on Sunday morning and the CG were talking of Strong Wind warnings. We weren't planning to go out as we were going home early but we had a walk along the shore road from the garden centre to Clock lighthouse first and it was all very calm.

We're planning to use the boat as a caravan for few weekends this month and maybe get a sail on 16/17 before winterising in December.

Ash

[Aja]

Saw you being squeezed between Ali Cat and the red ferry, just before you rolled away the rest of your genoa. Looked as if you were having a great sail.

Was a bit quieter in towards Cloch point...

Regards

Donald

[ash]

Saw you being squeezed between Ali Cat and the red ferry, just before you rolled away the rest of your genoa. Looked as if you were having a great sail.

Was a bit quieter in towards Cloch point...

Regards

Donald

Didn't realise that we'd been spotted - Hope that we were doing everything correctly - Didn't have our BlueMoment budgie up - Sorry Nick.

It was a good sail.

So, where were you?

Ash

[claymore]

"where were you?"

Jings - yer talkin aboot the alternative CG - misses nothing. Eyes everywhere...

[sahona]

"where were you?"

Jings - yer talkin aboot the alternative CG - misses nothing. Eyes everywhere...

So Rosie & co can depart in December satisfied that they are leaving us in good hands?

[claymore]

Absolutely - so long as yer in line of sight....

[Aja]

We miss nothing between Cloch Point right round to Kilcreggan on the other side.



Regards

Donald

[claymore]

Lovely Lawnwork Donald - do you push or have a ride on?

[Aja]

It's Sheena's pride and joy. Mainly moss though.

Regards

Donald

[ash]

We miss nothing between Cloch Point right round to Kilcreggan on the other side.


Regards

Donald

I was wrong footed by your profile

Location Kames

, but then when I read through a number of your posts, I realised that Kames was the location for the Moody's mooring.

Using my free search of 192.com, I think that I may have located your view point. Is there an Academy just east of you?

Your internet stalker, Ash

[sahona]

So, a Scotsman's home can also be a castle...

[Aja]

Bill - spot on....., maybe.

Sorry Ash, but no cigar!

Regards

Donald

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Ash why are you telling us about last years sailing? or do you mean 2012?
C_W

First night on the pc for five weeks as I have just returned home after completing the construction of a dormer conversion on the flat in Millport.
Nearly four wks of hard graft (over a week lost due to bad weather) but well worth it for a double room.
C_W

[ash]

Sorry Ash, but no cigar!

Regards

Donald

I did think that your pic didn't tie in with google pix. Also sheena wasn't listed at the address. So there is another Donald Beaton in the same area!

Ash

[ash]

Ash why are you telling us about last years sailing? or do you mean 2012?
C_W

Clue

Our 2011 season finished rather early due to a combination of weekend work commitments for me and poor weather with our last sail being the Scuttlebutt weekend on 15/16/17 September 2011.

This year has been a bit better, but not by much. Since Scuttlebutt we've had 1 weekend in September and 1 at the beginning of October but nothing since due to work.

We had the weekend free so were looking forward to getting a (maybe the last) sail in.

Ash