I sailed!

Getting off my mooring this year has been almost as rare as an England player scoring a penalty...

Illness has been a problem, I've been wondering if I could cope at all with a boat all to myself, but it was about time I tried!
The forecast was pretty good for Saturday, the wind might pick up before I got back in, but nothing above an F4 was mentioned, so that was it, no more excuses.

I drove over to Saltfleet on Friday, complete with the re-covered headlining to screw back into place, it had got "milldewed" over the winter and hadn't scrubbed up well at all. £20 spent on new vinyl seemed a bargain, all I had to do was to screw it back into place and take a pic...

Commodore Billy turned up, he'd been moving the channel marker buoys during the day, the channel is now on it's third revision this year, it doesn't seem to want to settle at all yet, but, as Tom Jones would tell you, it's not unusual.

He'd be going out early on Sat to put the inner buoy out for the first time this year, not much point so far when the end of the channel keeps moving!

Eventually I settle in for the night, after reading, but not really enjoying "Sea Egg Again", when I get around to sorting out my books, that one will be going...

I woke to the sound of a family of ducks around the boat, quacking constantly. I wasn't to bothered as I wanted to be away around 6am. I was a bit bothered when I realised they were quacking away at 3.15am!

I managed a little more sleep, but was up at 5, all sorted and ready to go at 6.
As I motored down the channel I caught up with Billy in the RIB, on his way out with the inner mark.

Over the winter I'd replaced my dodgy NASA depth sounder display with a possibly dodgy one I'd got off Ebay for a few quid, as I left the muddier parts at the top of the river and started to cross the sands - it settled down and started to work. Result!
A good job really as I've already taken the fishfinder off that I'd been using for the last couple of years...

I left the channel, then after a quick chat with Billy, headed south.
The tide at Saltfleet heads that way for a couple of hours after high tide, so I'd got about 3 hours of favourable tide, and the wind (what little there was) behind me. I gently made my way past the chimneys of Theddlethorpe gas terminal, then Mablethorpe - mostly hidden behind sea defences, accompanied by seals, lots of seals!
As usual, as soon as I lifted the camera they became invisible...
Somehow I caught them out once or twice, usually when they were too far away for a good pic.

As I passed the southern end of Mablethorpe, the tide was beginning to change, my speed had dropped to 1 - 1.5kts, but as I was still making some progress I decided to carry on.
I'd had an alternative plan, to change direction with the tide, head out around Donna Nook bombing range, then drop the hook at the southern edge of the Humber until the tide changed again to carry me back to Saltfleet. This was a bit more ambitious, and depended on how I felt once I'd got out there. I wasn't feeling my best.
After an easy morning, basically just drifting with the tide and enough wind for steerage, I was already feeling weak, and my back was beginning to remind me all wasn't well.

So I decided on the easy option, head south until I'd just got enough of the north-going tide to take me back to Saltfleet, drop the hook and wait for enough water to get back in - probably 4 hours, enough for a rest and a meal, maybe some work on the boat...

I eventually turned round somewhere off Sutton-on-Sea and headed north. The wind had picked up a little, probably F2-3 from the N/E, and after a little playing with the sail position I settled in close-hauled and let go of the tiller, for the next 2 hours I think I gave it a slight tweak twice, the Coro going to windward balanced perfectly. I lay back and stuck my head over the parapet now and again as the Windfarm boats headed south, never coming close enough for a pic..

Even in my state of relaxation, not even having to steer, I was not feeling any better, my back was hurting badly whatever position I tried to sit or lie, and I still had that "weak" feeling.

After a couple of hours I was getting near to Saltfleet, I could see that Billy had got the job done with the inner mark. I decided to anchor somewhere near to it.
The wind had got up a little more now, a good F4. When the time came to drop the hook I wished I'd planned things better and had the anchor in the cockpit as I often do. The trip to the bow was taken very slowly and carefully, I couldn't risk pulling my back any more!

All went well anyway, and once the hook was down, and I'd made a note of my position on the GPS (not really necessary as I was only 50 metres from the inner buoy!), I settled down for a a rest with around 4 hours to wait for the tide.

An hour later I was woken by the rolling of the boat. Sticking my head out I could see that the wind had picked up to F5 and gone round to the east, the tide was running strongly to the north, and I was sitting beam on to 3ft seas. Oh well, head down and sit it out.

I dropped off again more than once, but was constantly woken by the rolling. This was tiring  and was also doing my back no good at all. I was beginning to wish I hadn't bothered today...

Watching the depth slowly come up, I knew that when it read 7 metres I'd have plenty of water to get right up the channel, in the past I've come in early and bumped my way up channel as the tide rose. I'd decided not to do that today, but to wait and do the whole run in one go.

It became too uncomfortable to lie in the bunk, so I wedged myself into the corner of the cockpit for the last hour, contemplating going forward and pulling the anchor up, not a prospect I was looking forward to...

30 minutes before the dreaded crawl to the bow came, I saw Billy in the RIB, checking the channel markers. After a few minutes he headed out to me. Saved!
He could see I wasn't happy, and thought I was seasick (I wish that's was all it was...). I explained about my back (he knows all about it) and asked him if there was a chance he could help with the anchor. 5 minutes later he was passing it to me in the cockpit.

He headed off in front, with a shout that he'd put the kettle on!

Unusually, near the bar, as the channel is entered, the seas flattened out, so the ride in was easy and pleasant.
With the boat back on the mooring I headed for the clubhouse around 100 metres away, I hardly made it!
I couldn't straighten my back, and had trouble walking at all.

Lots of chatting, and a couple of drinks later, things had eased up.
I tidied the boat and fired up the car for the trip home...

So, I'm still not sure if I'm fit enough for sailing. It could have been that I was having one of my "bad days", I felt the same a few days later without seeing my boat!

On the plus side, the work on the boat over the winter seems to have paid off, the repaired sail worked nicely, although there are a couple of crossed lines to sort out - nothing that makes much difference.
The depth sounder is working properly for the first time ever.

I'm going to have to try again...    

Another job on the list!

An unashamed plug coming up as well!

Due to an unexpected Birthday present (Thanks Mac), I ordered a new VHF antenna a couple of days ago. I'd already done the research, cheapo models are available from about £35 upwards, but the best is a Metz and available from Salty John's website for the bargain price of £49.95 including delivery.

http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/metzmantavhfantennaaerial.htm

As I said, only ordered a couple of days ago, arrived here at 8am today. Thanks John.

Now I've got to drop the mast again, but I'm sure I can handle the 5 minutes that will take!

A quiet weekend, until I got there!

Trying to get the last few jobs finished before the weather is warm enough to sail, I headed for the boat on Saturday. The plan was to finish fitting the shelves into the (non) toilet compartment, swap the NASA depth sounder and log with the one's I'd bought to replace them and generally tidy the boat.
The club AGM was arranged for 10am on Sunday morning, so I'd be attending that for the first time!

I was expecting a quiet weekend, rain was forecast again, which I thought would keep most club members at home.
Pete was already there when I arrived, with the news that 5 boats had sailed up from Wainfleet and were waiting for the tide so they could come in. He left, saying he'd be back in an hour or so. 10 minutes later Billy, the Commodore, arrived. I gave him a hand to get the club RIB out of the container,  he was going to head out and show our visitors the way in.
I eventually got to my boat!

I managed to finish fitting the shelves, and swapping the electronics was a few minutes work. Blowing on the paddle-wheel proved the log worked, at least until it's fitted and clogged with mud and barnacles!

I'd cocked up by forgetting to bring my phone charger, so to make the battery last for the weekend I had to ration it's use. That's my latest excuse for having no pictures again...

I gave a hand to the Wainfleet boats and, once they were all moored up (with one boat moved up to raft with 2 others rather than on the inaccessible berth he'd been put on to begin with), caught up with a couple of familiar faces and met a few more, including their Commodore who sails Bunty, a beautiful 1926 Hillyard yawl.

I thought it worth using the battery power for this!

I decided to have an early night and stayed onboard while the visitors headed to the pub for a meal and "refreshments". I'd had enough of reading by 10pm and dropped off to sleep.

I was woken at "chucking out" time, although I don't think anyone had been chucked out. There was a fair bit of activity as the "refreshed" visitors found it a bit more difficult to get onboard after the tide had gone out!

I soon dropped off again, only to be woken again just before 1am to the sound of rushing water. Now this is a sound I don't associate with Saltfleet, things tend to happen very gently this far upriver.

I stuck my head out of the hatch to see what looked like the river in full flood mode! I worked out that they must be pumping water out of the inland river while the tide was out, something which was repeated on Sunday afternoon. So much for the drought we're supposed to be having!

Another hour later I got back to sleep...

Up at around 6am, I had a stroll round as the visitors slowly came to life. Shortly after 7 they were on their way back to Wainfleet.

I spent a while tidying the boat, loading the car for going home and wishing I was sailing with them!

The Rutland wind charger has been fitted for a while now, but the batteries have been kept at home over winter. Today there was a bit of a breeze, just enough to spin it fast enough to produce some power. I connected my multimeter up to it and found an output of 0.1A in a breeze which was only just enough to keep it moving occasionally. Satisfied it was working, I put one of the batteries back onboard and connected it up.

That reminded me of another job, I've got a charge regulator to fit! 

The AGM was well-attended and it was good to hear that the club is doing well, both in terms of increased membership and financially.

After the meeting we accosted a passing Coastguard vehicle and invited them in for tea and a chat. Nice to meet the men who had helped me last year when I returned from the Tyne engineless!

Fingers crossed that there will soon be a sailing post here... 

A bit of an update.

I guess many sailing blogs are quiet over the winter, this one has been no different.
I've been slowly working through the list, but it's getting close to the time of year that the work has to stop and the sailing starts.
The upholstery has been completed, Ali never wants to see another needle! The foam is from a memory foam mattress, the covering is waterproof, so it should mean some comfortable nights to come.

I've bought a replacement log and transducer, so, as long as it gets cleaned every trip, it might work! I've also got hold of a replacement for the depth sounder, so the fishfinder will be getting the elbow...   

The antenna for the VHF has found it's way to the top of the mast. I still need to spend some cash and buy an antenna, but that can wait. 

I took the outboard control box and cables home, all they needed was a good cleaning and some lubrication.

The sail has had a few repairs. On the trip to the Tyne last year I had a batten continually trying to escape!

The carpet lining for the hull has been finished without too much stray glue.

All I need now is the weather!

I'm still here!

It's winter. No need to explain more than that....

Some jobs are progressing, slowly.

The damaged (both by me and the weather) part of the self-steering has been re-made. It'll be bolted back on nearer to the time it might be needed. I'm still thinking about building a replacement windvane steering system, this one is big and bulky, not a pretty thing to look at, and the weather keeps getting into the wood.
If the Doc can stop the pains in my back, I might just attempt it this year.

The upholstery replacement is coming along. The new foam for the V berth has come from a kingsize memory foam mattress, it's been cut to shape and the material to cover it has arrived. Ali now has her orders!
This pic is from the first "trial fitting".

I've got hold of some normal foam for the rest of the cushions, they rarely get sat on, so no need for the memory foam there.

The lining of the hull with carpet is spreading around the boat, might be a couple of days work left, but looking good.

Still plenty of jobs to do. The transducer for the fishfinder is hanging off the transom, so needs a screw or two.
The VHF antenna still has to go up the mast, but the route for the cable has been decided, just have to do it now!
The engine control cables seem very stiff, so they can come off for inspection and possible replacement.

I could go on.....