I'm a bit of a latecomer to sailing, I only took it up as a replacement for mountain walking/climbing after the arthritis set in. This means I haven't been indoctrinated with some of the long-held beliefs that seem to exist throughout the sailing community.
One of these beliefs is that bilge-keelers are the work of the devil, and of no use to "proper" sailors.
I know Roger Taylor (http://thesimplesailor.com/), amongst others, has a different opinion!
The second of these beliefs is that the junk rig is of even less use to windward than bilge keels.
Now, as I said, I've not been sailing very long and cant claim to be any sort of an expert sailor. My boat was rigged by myself from drawings I gleaned from the internet and books, it's still not perfect, but it works......
So know you've got an idea of the setup, a novice sailor using a badly set up junk rig on a bilge-keeled boat (Newbridge Coromandel). According to the "experts" I'd probably be lucky to sail with a force 10 blowing from right behind me!
So now, what I've actually found on the water is a bit different, quite a bit actually....
I was sailing a couple of weeks ago with a more experienced sailor on board, he commented that I was sailing closer to the wind than he would have been able to with his Hurley 22!
I've tried, just out of interest, to see what sort of angle I can tack through. In a F2/F3 I was tacking within 90 degrees. I've offered to take anyone who thinks I'm being less than honest out for a sail, so farI've had no takers!
Right, on to the junk rig itself.
When I decided I wanted my own boat there were a couple of things I had to take into consideration. Firstly, I would mainly be sailing single-handed, secondly my arthritis means that clambering on the coachroof or hanking on foresails wasn't an option. After much reading and suggestions I started to look seriously at the junk rig. A single sail, all lines easily handled from the cockpit, reefing being an almost one-handed job. It looked ideal.
Being new to sailing, and having no interest in fitting in with the "Yacht Club" types it even looked odd enough to attract me!
For the uninitiated, I'll just give you an idea of sail handling.
Being heavier than a "normal" sail due to the wooden battens, the halyard has a 4-1 purchase using blocks, which makes hoisting the sail easy. I've added a winch to my coachroof to help with the job as the arthritis gets worse, but rarely use it yet.
The sheet "zig-zags" from the pushpit anchor point up to each batten and back, in use it gets treated as a single sheet.
The only other lines are the yard hauling parrel, this simply pulls the centre of the yard up and in towards the mast, and the luff parrel which moves the whole sail backwards or forwards in relation to the mast in order to balance the boat.
Hoisting the sail is just a matter of letting all the lines go and hauling the sail up! No need to point the boat into the wind, but better if the wind is forward of abeam as the sail will then "weathercock". Once it's hoisted the sheet is taken in and you're sailing! The other control lines can be altered to suit whenever you're ready......
There's no need to haul the sheet in with the sort of force normally used on a "Bermudan" rig, in fact if the sheet starts to feel heavy it's probably better to ease it back off! The stresses and strains on a junk sail are far less than on most other types.
It's often been mentioned how quiet and relaxed sailing a junk rig is, I couldn't agree more!
Now, a few lessons.
1) Tacking.
Push the helm over. Sail on new tack.
2) Gybing.
Push the helm over. Because part of the sail is in front of the mast (much like a balanced rudder) , gybing is a gentle affair and is a quite normal part of junk sailing.
3) Reefing.
Let the halyard go until the sail drops to the required position, make the halyard fast. Adjust yard hauling and luff parrels.
As an example of how useful the ease of reefing is, a little tale....
I'd been heading back to my home port in strong winds and with the tide, I'd been sailing as slowly as possible for 4 or 5 hours as I couldn't return to my mooring too early on the tide. I'd reefed right down, with just the top "triangle" of sail still working. In this way I'd kept the speed down below 3 knots in an F5.
As I neared the entrance to the river I decided I'd be happier with a little more power "just in case" as it's a nasty spot to get things wrong.
In a few seconds I hauled 2 panels of sail back up and shot into the river at 6 knots!
Once inside the safety of the banks I dropped the sail once more..... back down to 3 knots.
Further upriver I hauled up some more sail as the wind dropped, eventually dropping it altogether and starting the engine.
I can't imagine being a happy chap if I'd had to do that single-handed on anything other than a junk-rigged boat!
The benefits are not just confined to heavy weather or changeable conditions. Earlier the same day I'd been drifting along with barely enough wind to sail. Although it was, at least, right behind me! With the sail fully up and the sheet tied off I barely had to touch the tiller for an hour. the sail just sat there waiting for little gusts, no flapping, no filling and emptying..... my girlfriend dropped off to sleep, I almost did the same!
Half a mile or so closer inland was a friend in a slightly bigger boat, with 2 crew, vastly more experience and a big spinnaker. Over the course of an hour or so he pulled slightly ahead of me, often having to "play" with his big sail to keep it under control. After a while he gave up and dropped the headsail, within a few minutes I'd caught him up and, after a couple of pics, left him behind!
He told me afterwards that he had to suffer "stick" from his crew all day about it!
So upwind, downwind, ease of use, lack of stress, I'm still trying to discover the drawbacks.....
Ken.
Monday 18 May 2009
The crew.....
I mentioned in a previous post that Ali was completely new to sailing, an hour on the river was all she'd had so far.
I was a bit worried to be setting off on a long trip without knowing if seasickness would be a problem, only way off the boat would be by heading back to Boston after all day onboard!
To say I was impressed is an understatement, not only no sickness, but she actually had a bigger appetite while sailing!
She helmed the boat for long periods, and soon picked up the "feel" for what was happening in less than perfect conditions.
She even managed to pretend not to be bored when I was explaining tides, winds, depths and bouyage, in fact I think she really was interested. Lol! She seemed to be taking it in and understanding what was going on. She was impresssed that the sea state calmed after the tide turned as I predicted. I was impressed that she understood why!
The only downside to this is that I might not get to sail single-handed as often as I like to, but that's a small price to pay!
I was a bit worried to be setting off on a long trip without knowing if seasickness would be a problem, only way off the boat would be by heading back to Boston after all day onboard!
To say I was impressed is an understatement, not only no sickness, but she actually had a bigger appetite while sailing!
She helmed the boat for long periods, and soon picked up the "feel" for what was happening in less than perfect conditions.
She even managed to pretend not to be bored when I was explaining tides, winds, depths and bouyage, in fact I think she really was interested. Lol! She seemed to be taking it in and understanding what was going on. She was impresssed that the sea state calmed after the tide turned as I predicted. I was impressed that she understood why!
The only downside to this is that I might not get to sail single-handed as often as I like to, but that's a small price to pay!
Saturday 16 May 2009
Wells to Boston.....
After a couple of beers and an Indian (due to early closing chip shop!) we were soon in the "Land of Nod", not the one near Whitby, just the contented, knackered one you get after a great, but long, day!
I woke in the early hours and could tell that the boat was sat on the bottom, but nice and level, so soon dropped off again. I eventually crawled out around 5am to be met by a beautiful sunrise and flat calm conditions. I had a stroll around taking a few pics.....
A little later I heard the unmistakable sound of a fishing boat chugging out of the east towards us, this turned out to be Max heading out for an early start!
After some breakfast, and use of the excellent facilities above the Harbour Master's office, we said our goodbyes and, with a little help to turn the boat around to face the ebbing tide, made our way back out to sea.
Some of the locals were already on the beach!
Once out of the channel the wind was very light, but from the east, so ideal for us. With the sail up we were making something like 2 knots through the water, it was, however, slightly annoying to see the coast moving the wrong way! We would have a foul tide for an hour or so, but the conditions were so pleasant we were more than happy to put our feet up and relax. As the tide turned we gradually picked up a little more speed and were soon past Burnham (which actually still had water in the channel!) and Brancaster.
Alex, on his Macwester, heading back for Wainfleet, had been closer inshore. Over the course of an hour or so he eased ahead, until he dropped his unruly headsail, I then caught him quickly, took a pic or 2 then left him to take stick from his crew!
As we got closer to "The Bays" the wind had increased to F4 and I'd reefed a little as we had plenty of time in hand. Back into The Wash and I was trying to decide whether the dot on the horizon was Boston Stump or Roaring Middle bouy, both these would be on a similar bearing so I headed towards the dot....
After about 15 minutes I could see "the dot" was actually a fishing boat, so looked at the compass instead. Back on course, I'd been about 20 degrees further south than I wanted, not a problem, as there was plenty of room to spare, but lesson learnt!
Once out into The Wash, the wind picked up a little more and the sail came down a little to match. With 1.5m seas rolling in from astern and gusty winds it became a full-time job to keep a straight course, but not unpleasant. The tide was on the last of the ebb, I was hoping that once it turned in our favour that the seas might flatten out a bit. As we got closer to the Freeman channel, where we would have to take the waves more on the beam, it did just that! I still got an earful of water now and again....
The only problem I had now was that I would be back in Boston too early, this would make it difficult to get onto my mooring, so it was more reefing and actually trying to sail it badly and keep the speed down! Spring tides meant that towards the western end of the Freeman I was still doing 4 - 5 knots over the ground with just 2 panels of sail up. I dropped the sail to almost nothing and while heading towards Black Bouy I was sailing as badly as possible, but now down to 2.5 knots, just keeping enough way on for steering!
I pulled the sail back up a little and got some drive as I neared Tab's Head, I wanted some power here as it's not a good place to get things wrong! Entered the river at just over 6 knots!
Once inside I dropped the sail again for a gentle sail upriver until I finally gave in and started the engine, the first time since leaving the channel at Wells.
We were still a little early to the mooring, 2 hours before high water, so the tide still tried to push me past, but got in first time and without hitting anything!
I have a new problem now, sailing single-handed (something I really do enjoy) might not be possible, as Ali can't wait to go sailing again!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lifeboat I mentioned on Sat turned out to be heading to help a good mate of mine! Unknown to me, he'd sailed from Fosdyke a little later than I'd left Boston. In tricky conditions he'd grounded near Black Bouy. Thankfully, it ended safely, no damage to boat or crew.....
I woke in the early hours and could tell that the boat was sat on the bottom, but nice and level, so soon dropped off again. I eventually crawled out around 5am to be met by a beautiful sunrise and flat calm conditions. I had a stroll around taking a few pics.....
A little later I heard the unmistakable sound of a fishing boat chugging out of the east towards us, this turned out to be Max heading out for an early start!
After some breakfast, and use of the excellent facilities above the Harbour Master's office, we said our goodbyes and, with a little help to turn the boat around to face the ebbing tide, made our way back out to sea.
Some of the locals were already on the beach!
Once out of the channel the wind was very light, but from the east, so ideal for us. With the sail up we were making something like 2 knots through the water, it was, however, slightly annoying to see the coast moving the wrong way! We would have a foul tide for an hour or so, but the conditions were so pleasant we were more than happy to put our feet up and relax. As the tide turned we gradually picked up a little more speed and were soon past Burnham (which actually still had water in the channel!) and Brancaster.
Alex, on his Macwester, heading back for Wainfleet, had been closer inshore. Over the course of an hour or so he eased ahead, until he dropped his unruly headsail, I then caught him quickly, took a pic or 2 then left him to take stick from his crew!
As we got closer to "The Bays" the wind had increased to F4 and I'd reefed a little as we had plenty of time in hand. Back into The Wash and I was trying to decide whether the dot on the horizon was Boston Stump or Roaring Middle bouy, both these would be on a similar bearing so I headed towards the dot....
After about 15 minutes I could see "the dot" was actually a fishing boat, so looked at the compass instead. Back on course, I'd been about 20 degrees further south than I wanted, not a problem, as there was plenty of room to spare, but lesson learnt!
Once out into The Wash, the wind picked up a little more and the sail came down a little to match. With 1.5m seas rolling in from astern and gusty winds it became a full-time job to keep a straight course, but not unpleasant. The tide was on the last of the ebb, I was hoping that once it turned in our favour that the seas might flatten out a bit. As we got closer to the Freeman channel, where we would have to take the waves more on the beam, it did just that! I still got an earful of water now and again....
The only problem I had now was that I would be back in Boston too early, this would make it difficult to get onto my mooring, so it was more reefing and actually trying to sail it badly and keep the speed down! Spring tides meant that towards the western end of the Freeman I was still doing 4 - 5 knots over the ground with just 2 panels of sail up. I dropped the sail to almost nothing and while heading towards Black Bouy I was sailing as badly as possible, but now down to 2.5 knots, just keeping enough way on for steering!
I pulled the sail back up a little and got some drive as I neared Tab's Head, I wanted some power here as it's not a good place to get things wrong! Entered the river at just over 6 knots!
Once inside I dropped the sail again for a gentle sail upriver until I finally gave in and started the engine, the first time since leaving the channel at Wells.
We were still a little early to the mooring, 2 hours before high water, so the tide still tried to push me past, but got in first time and without hitting anything!
I have a new problem now, sailing single-handed (something I really do enjoy) might not be possible, as Ali can't wait to go sailing again!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lifeboat I mentioned on Sat turned out to be heading to help a good mate of mine! Unknown to me, he'd sailed from Fosdyke a little later than I'd left Boston. In tricky conditions he'd grounded near Black Bouy. Thankfully, it ended safely, no damage to boat or crew.....
Thursday 14 May 2009
First "real" trip of the year.
First "real" trip ever actually!
Two weeks earlier we'd (Me and Mac) been out as far as the Roaring Middle bouy on a day sail, this had been the first trip of any sort this year. That went well, a bit of bumpy stuff at the eastern end of the Freeman channel was the only excitement.
Mac enjoyed the rest of it, which was the main point of the day out, a bit of a confidence-builder for him.
So this was going to be the first "big" trip. Out of The Wash and into a strange harbour, Wells-Next-The-Sea, which is in Norfolk, so obviously a little bit strange!
Biggest worry was that Ali would be coming along. Now she's a rough tough Geordie and happy to have a go at anything (anything but stairs with gaps between the steps.....) but she'd sailed just once before, that was for half an hour and not leaving the river! I'd got no idea how she would cope with a full day at sea.
After piling all the gear onboard, we cast off shortly before 8am on 9th May, a day that might be remembered by a few others for very different reasons (which would include Hunstanton RNLI!).
With the tide already ebbing, the river was behind us fairly quickly, as we left Tab's Head the winds were light S/W and visibility was so good that my stress levels soon went down to zero.
I decided to keep Ali occupied and put her on the helm, she took to it quickly and seemed to be enjoying being "in charge"!
An uneventful couple of hours saw us through the Freeman, where we were passed by the ketch "Cariad" and out into the deep stuff, where depths often get into double figures!!!
Somewhere after the Roaring Middle light had been passed, and closer to the cliffs of Hunstanton, we saw a RIB speeding past, it looked from a distance to be the RNLI. I thought at the time that they might be out training on such a pleasant day. I was wrong, but more of that later....
Approaching "The Bays", the anchorage north of Hunstanton and the eastern corner of The Wash, I turned the laptop on to make certain of my position, plotter program said I was where I expected to be, nice to be able to confirm it though....
Picked up the deeper water of the channel through to The Bays and headed towards Brancaster. We were somewhere near low water now and the wreck on Scolt Head was high and dry on the beach.
Wind had slowly picked up all morning and was now F4 gusting F5 and I dropped the sail a little which made things more manageable and enjoyable.
Past Scolt Head and the entrance to Burnham appeared, a couple of small boats were anchored outside, the only way in at low tide would have been a walk up the beach!
All that was between us and Wells now was Holkham Bay, so I headed a bit further out and straight for the Wells Fairway bouy. It was now blowing a steady F5, but Ali still seemed to be fine with it, although after our early start she'd gone below for a kip.
I reached the Fairway bouy a little early for entry to Wells, a couple of hours early, and the outer part of the channel had moved to face N/E rather than N as shown on the chart and the Wells Harbour website. I had a half-hearted look at going straight in, but the breaking waves near the first 2 bouys did nothing for my confidence and I chickened out!
Back round and dropped the anchor near the Fairway bouy. I found out later that this was probably the worst place I could have stopped! The boat pitched and rolled horribly as I tidied the sail away.
After 10 minutes of this I watched the "Cariad" head up the channel and into Wells, closely followed by 2 fishing boats, I didn't need any more encouragement and pulled up the anchor to follow them in!
As soon as we were in the lee of the beach things got a lot more pleasant again, not a lot of water in the channel, but that was what I've been used to after a few years of sailing in The Wash, and a lot better than being on the anchor outside!
Arrived at the quay and promptly ran aground as I went to turn to the pontoon, quickly backed off and turned again. I could see the water flowing quickly past the pontoon and thought it would make a nice ending to the day to ferry-glide into the berth. What I didn't know was that for about 15-20 mins on each flood the current runs around the back of the pontoon and out underneath it just where I was trying to get in! This was that 15-20 mins....
First attempt was going well unil I got into this sneaky bit of current and I was pushed back out, narrowly missing the rudder of a nice catamaran whose owner was doing his best to help me moor up...
I had to back off and wait while a fishing boat went past and the much larger "Goosander" which had come up the channel behind me turned and fired itself at the pontoon, hitting it at maybe 4 knots. At least he got in!
Next attempt was at a steeper angle (after shouted instructions from the Harbourmaster) which got my nose in against the current, grabbed and manhandled towards the pontoon by said Harbourmaster, Bill - owner of the cat I almost hit and, as I found out later, someone I'd known in the "internet world" for a while but never met, Max, better known as ggt.
Tied up, introductions made, we headed off for a look around, followed by a pint on the "Albatross".
Later we met up with Max, who took us for a stroll around and a visit to "ggt" herself, then a couple of drinks in the company of Max, joined by Bill and Sandra for an hour or so until the music was turned up and we headed for some food and bed.
One tip for visitors to Wells, which isn't in the website or pilot book, the chip shop shuts at 9pm! The Indian isn't far away though......
First "real" trip ever actually!
Two weeks earlier we'd (Me and Mac) been out as far as the Roaring Middle bouy on a day sail, this had been the first trip of any sort this year. That went well, a bit of bumpy stuff at the eastern end of the Freeman channel was the only excitement.
Mac enjoyed the rest of it, which was the main point of the day out, a bit of a confidence-builder for him.
So this was going to be the first "big" trip. Out of The Wash and into a strange harbour, Wells-Next-The-Sea, which is in Norfolk, so obviously a little bit strange!
Biggest worry was that Ali would be coming along. Now she's a rough tough Geordie and happy to have a go at anything (anything but stairs with gaps between the steps.....) but she'd sailed just once before, that was for half an hour and not leaving the river! I'd got no idea how she would cope with a full day at sea.
After piling all the gear onboard, we cast off shortly before 8am on 9th May, a day that might be remembered by a few others for very different reasons (which would include Hunstanton RNLI!).
With the tide already ebbing, the river was behind us fairly quickly, as we left Tab's Head the winds were light S/W and visibility was so good that my stress levels soon went down to zero.
I decided to keep Ali occupied and put her on the helm, she took to it quickly and seemed to be enjoying being "in charge"!
An uneventful couple of hours saw us through the Freeman, where we were passed by the ketch "Cariad" and out into the deep stuff, where depths often get into double figures!!!
Somewhere after the Roaring Middle light had been passed, and closer to the cliffs of Hunstanton, we saw a RIB speeding past, it looked from a distance to be the RNLI. I thought at the time that they might be out training on such a pleasant day. I was wrong, but more of that later....
Approaching "The Bays", the anchorage north of Hunstanton and the eastern corner of The Wash, I turned the laptop on to make certain of my position, plotter program said I was where I expected to be, nice to be able to confirm it though....
Picked up the deeper water of the channel through to The Bays and headed towards Brancaster. We were somewhere near low water now and the wreck on Scolt Head was high and dry on the beach.
Wind had slowly picked up all morning and was now F4 gusting F5 and I dropped the sail a little which made things more manageable and enjoyable.
Past Scolt Head and the entrance to Burnham appeared, a couple of small boats were anchored outside, the only way in at low tide would have been a walk up the beach!
All that was between us and Wells now was Holkham Bay, so I headed a bit further out and straight for the Wells Fairway bouy. It was now blowing a steady F5, but Ali still seemed to be fine with it, although after our early start she'd gone below for a kip.
I reached the Fairway bouy a little early for entry to Wells, a couple of hours early, and the outer part of the channel had moved to face N/E rather than N as shown on the chart and the Wells Harbour website. I had a half-hearted look at going straight in, but the breaking waves near the first 2 bouys did nothing for my confidence and I chickened out!
Back round and dropped the anchor near the Fairway bouy. I found out later that this was probably the worst place I could have stopped! The boat pitched and rolled horribly as I tidied the sail away.
After 10 minutes of this I watched the "Cariad" head up the channel and into Wells, closely followed by 2 fishing boats, I didn't need any more encouragement and pulled up the anchor to follow them in!
As soon as we were in the lee of the beach things got a lot more pleasant again, not a lot of water in the channel, but that was what I've been used to after a few years of sailing in The Wash, and a lot better than being on the anchor outside!
Arrived at the quay and promptly ran aground as I went to turn to the pontoon, quickly backed off and turned again. I could see the water flowing quickly past the pontoon and thought it would make a nice ending to the day to ferry-glide into the berth. What I didn't know was that for about 15-20 mins on each flood the current runs around the back of the pontoon and out underneath it just where I was trying to get in! This was that 15-20 mins....
First attempt was going well unil I got into this sneaky bit of current and I was pushed back out, narrowly missing the rudder of a nice catamaran whose owner was doing his best to help me moor up...
I had to back off and wait while a fishing boat went past and the much larger "Goosander" which had come up the channel behind me turned and fired itself at the pontoon, hitting it at maybe 4 knots. At least he got in!
Next attempt was at a steeper angle (after shouted instructions from the Harbourmaster) which got my nose in against the current, grabbed and manhandled towards the pontoon by said Harbourmaster, Bill - owner of the cat I almost hit and, as I found out later, someone I'd known in the "internet world" for a while but never met, Max, better known as ggt.
Tied up, introductions made, we headed off for a look around, followed by a pint on the "Albatross".
Later we met up with Max, who took us for a stroll around and a visit to "ggt" herself, then a couple of drinks in the company of Max, joined by Bill and Sandra for an hour or so until the music was turned up and we headed for some food and bed.
One tip for visitors to Wells, which isn't in the website or pilot book, the chip shop shuts at 9pm! The Indian isn't far away though......
Friday 8 May 2009
All I need......
.... is a place to keep a record of the things I get up to in my Coromandel, well, the things I'd mention in public anyway!
Bought, kitted out and used on a budget of just less than bugger all, I've been extremely lucky to have a very capable little boat and I'm extremely grateful to have had lots of complete strangers (most of whom are now friends) help me along the way.
I might do a bit about the main ones later just to give you an idea of how I got to know what I'm talking about when I talk sailing......
Maybe this blog can help to pay them back in some small way.
It's not going to be updated regularly, I'm far too disorganised for that, but it might just be worth having a look once in a while, when you get really bored, to see if I've made any progress!
Bought, kitted out and used on a budget of just less than bugger all, I've been extremely lucky to have a very capable little boat and I'm extremely grateful to have had lots of complete strangers (most of whom are now friends) help me along the way.
I might do a bit about the main ones later just to give you an idea of how I got to know what I'm talking about when I talk sailing......
Maybe this blog can help to pay them back in some small way.
It's not going to be updated regularly, I'm far too disorganised for that, but it might just be worth having a look once in a while, when you get really bored, to see if I've made any progress!
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