On Friday I collected the staysail from SO31 Ltd in Hamble, who had done an excellent repair job, including replacing the very worn UV strip. I was joined in the evening by friends Steve, Janey and Isabella. Two weeks previously I had sailed with them on their boat on the River Orwell: today they had driven across from Essex. I brought them out by tender to Toucando's pontoon. where we had 7 vegetable tagine and various other bits and pieces, washed down by Toucando's stock of Guinness.
In the morning we had a leisurely cooked breakfast on a mirror smooth River Itchen, watching the seaweed and flotsam rising with the tide. We fed the seagulls stale bread, Isabella spotted the cormorant, my visitors walked along the pontoon to see the dunlins who take their morning rest a bit further along. I put the staysail back on, and furled it so the UV strip could be admired. It was a very good match with the Egyptian cotton (colour) of the original.
Eventually the tide turned. We got ready to leave and set off down towards Southampton Water. We were duly impressed by the size of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen car carrier that left her mooring just as we passed. It had looked as if there would be little or no wind: in fact there was a very good sailing breeze. We raised the main off Weston. then unfurled the staysail and sailed down the channel on a comfortable starboard tack. It got even breezier out in the Solent, although it was variable. We more or less held our course, heading towards Ryde, admiring Osborne House, before turning west towards Cowes. We dropped our sails in good time and motored through the bottleneck that is the entrance to the River Medina.
Cowes Yacht Haven was full, so was Shepards Wharf: it was another busy weekend as people took advantage of the fine September weather. Fortunately there were still spaces at East Cowes, one of which was allocated to us. Some of the party took advantage of the excellent showers, whilst others headed straight to The Lifeboat pub where we sank some Guinness and Goddards.
Eventually we were all ready for a walk into town, via the chain ferry. We checked out a number of us and restaurants before settling on The Red Duster where we enjoyed an evening meal of island fayre. Eventually it was time to go home, so we caught the water taxi.
It was a leisurely start in the morning. The weather had changed somewhat. It was cloudier and colder, but at least to begin with there wasn't a lot of wind. We topped up Toucando's water tanks and prepared to depart. Getting off the pontoon went very smoothly and we motored north along the Medina to the Solent. The wind was very variable in terms of strength. In the interests of a quick and comfortable return passage we motor sailed on the jib and staysail, getting back to Toucando's home pontoon for a late lunch, so that our visitors could get on the road for their return trip to Essex.
Thanks to all three of them for crewing, and a special mention to Janey for breakfast cooking and washing up, and to Isabella for some expert renditions of the Essex vernacular.
Thursday 20 September 2012
Monday 10 September 2012
Old Gaffers' Annual Race and Rally 2012
For something like 54 years old gaffers have gathered in the Solent for a race and rally. This year the event started in Lymington on Friday evening, with a race to Island Harbour on the Medina on Saturday. Toucando's crew on this occasion all happened to be based on the Isle of Wight. They came over on the Red Jet on Friday morning and joined Toucando at Shamrock Quay for lunch before we set off. We motor sailed most of the way (there wasn't a great deal of wind, and as usual it was from the wrong direction), although we did do a bit of sailing in the western Solent. We were also slightly hampered by the lack of a staysail - it is being serviced by SO31, who are putting on a new UV strip. We had a comfortable passage and crept into the Lymington River between the large ferries which ply between the mainland and Yarmouth. We saw a lone gaffer sailing out by a minor channel as we went past the Enticott starboard post:
We got to the Dan Bran pontoon where we moored alongside Rula (Aeolus later moored outside us). We were just in time to get ready to go ashore for our evening meal of fish pie at the Lymington Town Sailing Club. There were a few announcements about the race, some music from a local band, and from the gaffers increasingly good shanty singers.
We were not taking part in the race, which meant we could have a leisurely start in the morning, enjoying the fine weather on the pontoon.
We were joined by John, a friend of Carole and Paul, so we had four on board when we set off. It was a light airs morning. We got the sails hoisted east of Lymington and had a good couple of hours sailing in the western Solent, practising tacks and gybes, and being carried ever closer to our destination by the rising tide.
Eventually the tide dropped to virtually nothing, and we were happy to drift while we had lunch enjoying the view of other gaffers trying to race.
We dropped the sails off Gurnard and motored into the Medina. Island Harbour has a lock, and because we wanted maximum flexibility regarding departure times we decided to moor on one of the Folly Inn's pontoons.
We caught the water taxi ashore and joined the festivities at Island Harbour... starting off with some excellent beer aboard Susan J, a 28' Falmouth Working Boat. Like Toucando her hull was built by Martin Heard of Gaffers and Luggers in Mylor, and also like Toucando the remaining work was done elsewhere. Mike and Dan Shaw (respectively the National and Area Presidents of the Old Gaffers' Association) sailed Susan J around the UK and actually saw Toucando being built in Howth.
After the boat party we went to the Breeze Restaurant, where prizes were awarded, Miss Ningi an 18' open boat skippered by Bernard Bowes, coming first overall. We enjoyed a chilli and were entertained by a bluesy cover band. Eventually we caught the water taxi back to Toucando's pontoon.
On Sunday we left the Medina in very light winds and motored round to Osborne Bay where we dropped the anchor, enjoyed the view and had lunch. Whilst we were doing so the wind gradually picked up, to a Force 4 in the bay, which meant it would be stronger out of the lee of the island. We raised the hook and motored back home in a Force 5, gusting 6,with a couple of slight showers thrown in. The main excitement on the way back was some high speed air sea rescue activity at close quarters (practice we presume).
We got back to the Itchen and returned to Toucando's home pontoon. Thank you to Carole and Paul (and John on Saturday) for being an excellent crew.
We got to the Dan Bran pontoon where we moored alongside Rula (Aeolus later moored outside us). We were just in time to get ready to go ashore for our evening meal of fish pie at the Lymington Town Sailing Club. There were a few announcements about the race, some music from a local band, and from the gaffers increasingly good shanty singers.
We were not taking part in the race, which meant we could have a leisurely start in the morning, enjoying the fine weather on the pontoon.
We were joined by John, a friend of Carole and Paul, so we had four on board when we set off. It was a light airs morning. We got the sails hoisted east of Lymington and had a good couple of hours sailing in the western Solent, practising tacks and gybes, and being carried ever closer to our destination by the rising tide.
Eventually the tide dropped to virtually nothing, and we were happy to drift while we had lunch enjoying the view of other gaffers trying to race.
John, Carole, Paul and Andrew aboard Toucando at the Folly
We caught the water taxi ashore and joined the festivities at Island Harbour... starting off with some excellent beer aboard Susan J, a 28' Falmouth Working Boat. Like Toucando her hull was built by Martin Heard of Gaffers and Luggers in Mylor, and also like Toucando the remaining work was done elsewhere. Mike and Dan Shaw (respectively the National and Area Presidents of the Old Gaffers' Association) sailed Susan J around the UK and actually saw Toucando being built in Howth.
After the boat party we went to the Breeze Restaurant, where prizes were awarded, Miss Ningi an 18' open boat skippered by Bernard Bowes, coming first overall. We enjoyed a chilli and were entertained by a bluesy cover band. Eventually we caught the water taxi back to Toucando's pontoon.
On Sunday we left the Medina in very light winds and motored round to Osborne Bay where we dropped the anchor, enjoyed the view and had lunch. Whilst we were doing so the wind gradually picked up, to a Force 4 in the bay, which meant it would be stronger out of the lee of the island. We raised the hook and motored back home in a Force 5, gusting 6,with a couple of slight showers thrown in. The main excitement on the way back was some high speed air sea rescue activity at close quarters (practice we presume).
We got back to the Itchen and returned to Toucando's home pontoon. Thank you to Carole and Paul (and John on Saturday) for being an excellent crew.
Midweek Solent Cruise
Hugh and Colin joined Toucando at lunchtime on Wednesday 22nd August. We agreed on a westerly destination... possibly Lymington, possibly Poole. We set off down Southampton Water, raising the sails off Weston. The wind came and went. The forecast indicated reefing would be required, and this certainly proved to be the case when we came out of the lee of Calshot and turned into the "precautionary area" by the Bramble Bank. The wind got a lot stronger... we recorded over 30 knots, and the waves rolling up the Solent from the west were quite big. Unfortunately we let the staysail flog, and sustained a little damage. We decided to go to Cowes where we found a berth at the yacht haven. Fortunately it was very quiet (Cowes week having taken place the previous week). We ate steak and mixed vegetables on board before enjoying a pint at the Anchor.
Thursday was quite a contrast. Very light winds took us down the eastern Solent. We had contemplated going out to the Nab Tower, for no particular reason other than it was there, but we weren't going fast enough for that. Instead we went in to Chichester Harbour, Toucando's first visit, and anchored off East Head. I haven't done a lot of anchoring in Toucando, and was pleased with how well it worked. We had lunch below decks. We became aware of a lot of masts going past at close quarters, and looking out of the hatch found that there were hundreds of dinghies racing about. It was the week of the combined clubs' regatta in the harbour. We had clearly arrived while they were all ashore for lunch. Now they were all out again. It was crazily busy, particularly so at the junctions of the various channels of the harbour. While we were at anchor they all had to avoid us, but once our anchor was raised and we were under way we had the interesting challenge of avoiding myriads of small boats scooting around very fast, all of which had "right of way" over us. We managed to do so, without putting ourselves aground or impeding any of the races, which was quite a feat. We then sailed off to Haslar, where we moored near the lightship.
On Friday morning we were booked in to Sealift at 0900 for washing and replacement of specialist anodes. Unfortunately the bow thruster propeller was lost overboard by an enthusiastic member of staff.... fortunately Sealift immediately set about sourcing a replacement (at their expense). This meant that ist was midday befopre the job was finished and we were on our way back to Southampton. We had a good tri[p back to the Itchen and toucando's home pontoon.
Thursday was quite a contrast. Very light winds took us down the eastern Solent. We had contemplated going out to the Nab Tower, for no particular reason other than it was there, but we weren't going fast enough for that. Instead we went in to Chichester Harbour, Toucando's first visit, and anchored off East Head. I haven't done a lot of anchoring in Toucando, and was pleased with how well it worked. We had lunch below decks. We became aware of a lot of masts going past at close quarters, and looking out of the hatch found that there were hundreds of dinghies racing about. It was the week of the combined clubs' regatta in the harbour. We had clearly arrived while they were all ashore for lunch. Now they were all out again. It was crazily busy, particularly so at the junctions of the various channels of the harbour. While we were at anchor they all had to avoid us, but once our anchor was raised and we were under way we had the interesting challenge of avoiding myriads of small boats scooting around very fast, all of which had "right of way" over us. We managed to do so, without putting ourselves aground or impeding any of the races, which was quite a feat. We then sailed off to Haslar, where we moored near the lightship.
On Friday morning we were booked in to Sealift at 0900 for washing and replacement of specialist anodes. Unfortunately the bow thruster propeller was lost overboard by an enthusiastic member of staff.... fortunately Sealift immediately set about sourcing a replacement (at their expense). This meant that ist was midday befopre the job was finished and we were on our way back to Southampton. We had a good tri[p back to the Itchen and toucando's home pontoon.
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