Saturday, 28 July 2012
Toucando est arriveé
We left Southampton on Friday and moored overnight outside Yarmouth. We set off at 0525 on the falling tide. We had a nice channel crossing and entered Cherbourg at 1703. More details to follow. We'll be here fire a couple of nights.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
English Summer (continued)
June was terrible... the wettest on record (since records began in 1902). Not only did this make sailing unappealing, it was not conducive to external maintenance either.
My parents, Donald and Audrey, visited at the beginning of July. Although we didn't sail anywhere we had a few evenings aboard Toucando. We also visited Cowes where we saw the classic yacht fleet in the Yacht Haven, and Southampton's new Sea City Museum, which focusses on the city's links with the Titanic... most importantly the 500 crew who lost their lives.
The jet stream which had been causing all the weather trouble moved north in time for the weekend of 21st/2nd July, which was just in time for some planned day sailing.
On Saturday we were joined by Colin, Michele and Steve P for the RYA's "Push the Boat Out Day" - an attempt to get as many people on the water as possible. We had a pleasant time tacking down Southampton Water, before getting out into the Solent, circumnavigating the Bramble Bank and returning under engine.
We particularly enjoyed seeing the Jubilee Sailing Trusts's "Tenacious" coming up Southampton Water under sail.
On Sunday the crew comprised Hugh, Jane, Michele and Steve P and the main event of the day was going down to the Solent to meet and greet the returning Round the World Clipper Race. Toucando had seen the fleet go out last summer (http://toucando.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/round-world-racing.html) so it seemed appropriate to see them come back. We motored down to the rallying point and joined the flotilla.
(More details on the Clipper Race: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18904550).
After a lunch under way we spent the afternoon sailing round Southampton Water and the Docks.
Three good days sailing in pleasant weather! This is what the summer is supposed to be like. Toucando is now getting ready for her cruise to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands, due to start on Friday. I plan to post a few brief blogs en route, and a longer account when we get back. I hope the jet stream stays where it belongs and we continue to enjoy a proper summer.
My parents, Donald and Audrey, visited at the beginning of July. Although we didn't sail anywhere we had a few evenings aboard Toucando. We also visited Cowes where we saw the classic yacht fleet in the Yacht Haven, and Southampton's new Sea City Museum, which focusses on the city's links with the Titanic... most importantly the 500 crew who lost their lives.
On Saturday we were joined by Colin, Michele and Steve P for the RYA's "Push the Boat Out Day" - an attempt to get as many people on the water as possible. We had a pleasant time tacking down Southampton Water, before getting out into the Solent, circumnavigating the Bramble Bank and returning under engine.
After a lunch under way we spent the afternoon sailing round Southampton Water and the Docks.
On Monday Michele and Roger helped take Toucando over to Cowes for a lift, wash and change of anodes. I think she was going about a knot faster (maybe more) on the way home.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
English Summer 2012
I was just getting ready to set off for Southampton when I heard a rumble like a large trolley being wheeled down the road. The rumble continued, and was soon accompanied by a lot of banging and crashing. The lights flickered. One of the summer storms had arrived in Leicester. I opened the front door and stood looking out as the torrential rain beat down. Some of it was hail "as big as 50 pence pieces" they said on the news: more like the size of hazel nuts in their shells. It couldn't really rain any harder. Next, the drain right by my door decided to become a geyser... water from two directions. It lasted about half an hour. It seemed to make sense to be on a boat, so as soon as it subsided I was off. (I was just slightly concerned later on to see on the city council webside that the main road by my house was flooded, with a nice photograph to prove it.)
Fiftey miles south and th roads were dry. When I arrived at Toucando it was a pleasant afternoon. The bucket I leave in the cockpit only had a little water in it: so it hadn't been raining much in the South. I had a day to get ready for the weekend crew, which involved a few chores around the boat, and some victualling.
On Saturday Jackie and John arrived. I ferried them out to the pontoon. We discussed our plans. It was Round the Island weekend, so the Solent would be very busy and it was unlikely that there would be space in the Cowes or Hamble marinas. And the forecast was for fairly strong winds and rain... so we decided to stay local. We put a double reef in the main on the pontoon and had some fun springing off against the wind, leaving a rope behind in the process. Then we were off motoring down the Itchen. We sailed a bit on the staysail to begin with, at a very moderate pace. Having rolled it up we then raised the main off Weston and sailed on the reefed main and the full jib. We practised tacking with Jackie and John at the helm, sailing down to the Hamble oil terminal twice, and up to the docks once. We were pleased to see the Lord Nelson at her berth and her sister ship Tenacious come in under engine. There were a few liners and container ships around as well. The wind was pretty brisk... Force 6 and we took advantage of the wind shadow of the bigger ships to furl the staysail and jib and lower the main before returning to Shamrock Quay for the evening.
Getting off the pontoon at Shamrock in the morning was another challenge. A ferro-concrete yacht with a hole in her hull came and moored close behind us, and a motor super yacht with her wrapping still on moored opposite. The narrow gap that remained had to be navigated in reverse gear (not Toucando's strongest point). After several attempts we got through, attached T's stern line to the opposite pontoon, and warped round her bows so they were pointing the way we wanted.
When our path was clear we headed out towards Southampton water. We raised the main, unfurled the jib, and half the staysail and raced down Southampton Water. This time we continued into the Solent proper. It was a steady Force 6, gusting 7... with the wind exceeding 30 knots for some of the time. Jackie helmed across the Solent towards Osborne Bay, where the wind dropped a little in the lee of the Island (and the waves were smaller too). We waited for a small ship to pass and John took the helm on the way back. If anything the wind was even stronger. Toucando heeled over and we sped back over Ryde Middle towards Hillhead, before steering for Southampton Water. Again, we took advantage of a passing ship to furl the sails in relative calm, before heading up the Itchen back to Toucando's home berth. The rain which had been threatened by the forecast never really arrived. It was certainly Toucando's most lively sail of the year so far, and everything had gone well. Thanks to Jackie and John for picking up the basics of the gaff rig so quickly.
Jackie and John went home, Hugh arrived. We planned to go to Poole on Monday morning: then tides were near perfect. However in the morning it was wet, windy and very murky. We motored down to dockhead to have a look at Southampton Water and could see relatively little of it. The prospect of three and a half days sailing in unpleasant conditions with limited visibility didn't appeal, so we turned round and went back home, which was disappointing but prudent.
The Met Office have announced that June 2012 was the wettest on record... and that the first half of July doesn't look a lot better. In other words this is the fifth poor summer in succession. Hopefully the jetstream (which is causing all the trouble) will return to its proper latitude before long. We've had enough rain and strong wind on land and sea for a bit.
Fiftey miles south and th roads were dry. When I arrived at Toucando it was a pleasant afternoon. The bucket I leave in the cockpit only had a little water in it: so it hadn't been raining much in the South. I had a day to get ready for the weekend crew, which involved a few chores around the boat, and some victualling.
On Saturday Jackie and John arrived. I ferried them out to the pontoon. We discussed our plans. It was Round the Island weekend, so the Solent would be very busy and it was unlikely that there would be space in the Cowes or Hamble marinas. And the forecast was for fairly strong winds and rain... so we decided to stay local. We put a double reef in the main on the pontoon and had some fun springing off against the wind, leaving a rope behind in the process. Then we were off motoring down the Itchen. We sailed a bit on the staysail to begin with, at a very moderate pace. Having rolled it up we then raised the main off Weston and sailed on the reefed main and the full jib. We practised tacking with Jackie and John at the helm, sailing down to the Hamble oil terminal twice, and up to the docks once. We were pleased to see the Lord Nelson at her berth and her sister ship Tenacious come in under engine. There were a few liners and container ships around as well. The wind was pretty brisk... Force 6 and we took advantage of the wind shadow of the bigger ships to furl the staysail and jib and lower the main before returning to Shamrock Quay for the evening.
Getting off the pontoon at Shamrock in the morning was another challenge. A ferro-concrete yacht with a hole in her hull came and moored close behind us, and a motor super yacht with her wrapping still on moored opposite. The narrow gap that remained had to be navigated in reverse gear (not Toucando's strongest point). After several attempts we got through, attached T's stern line to the opposite pontoon, and warped round her bows so they were pointing the way we wanted.
When our path was clear we headed out towards Southampton water. We raised the main, unfurled the jib, and half the staysail and raced down Southampton Water. This time we continued into the Solent proper. It was a steady Force 6, gusting 7... with the wind exceeding 30 knots for some of the time. Jackie helmed across the Solent towards Osborne Bay, where the wind dropped a little in the lee of the Island (and the waves were smaller too). We waited for a small ship to pass and John took the helm on the way back. If anything the wind was even stronger. Toucando heeled over and we sped back over Ryde Middle towards Hillhead, before steering for Southampton Water. Again, we took advantage of a passing ship to furl the sails in relative calm, before heading up the Itchen back to Toucando's home berth. The rain which had been threatened by the forecast never really arrived. It was certainly Toucando's most lively sail of the year so far, and everything had gone well. Thanks to Jackie and John for picking up the basics of the gaff rig so quickly.
Jackie and John went home, Hugh arrived. We planned to go to Poole on Monday morning: then tides were near perfect. However in the morning it was wet, windy and very murky. We motored down to dockhead to have a look at Southampton Water and could see relatively little of it. The prospect of three and a half days sailing in unpleasant conditions with limited visibility didn't appeal, so we turned round and went back home, which was disappointing but prudent.
The Met Office have announced that June 2012 was the wettest on record... and that the first half of July doesn't look a lot better. In other words this is the fifth poor summer in succession. Hopefully the jetstream (which is causing all the trouble) will return to its proper latitude before long. We've had enough rain and strong wind on land and sea for a bit.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Maintenance month
Since her return from Yarmouth the main focus on Toucando has been maintenance. Andy, my sanding consultant came down for the long bank holiday weekend. We took Toucando over to Shamrock Quay, where there would be a supply of electricity and water, as well as ready access to a chandlery. Andy quickly identifid that the taff rail was delaminating on the starboard side and that the bowsprit needed some repairs. There were some also some patches on the gaff which needed attention. Glass fibre filler and various clamps were procured and put into action.
The process of sanding cleaned up the deteriorating woodwork. Any holes or splits were filled. Coelan "yellowish" primer was used in accordance with Toucando's original colour scheme. (I like the Coelan colour range: there is a choice between yellowish and reddish!). After a suitable interval it was possible to apply the clear topcoat which dried to form a durable but flexible plastic skin. Whilst Andy did the woodwork I did a number of smaller tasks, such as installing a new seal on the aft perspex hatch to stop rainwater ingress. By the time the weekend was over Toucando was already beginning to look smarter.
Andy's work and some dreary commitments meant a return to the midlands, but at the end of the week i was back south, stopping at KJ Howells in Poole to acquire some more Coelan berfore applying another couple of coats. A whole week of public duties kept me in the midlands before I was able to come down on Saturday 16th. On Sunday crew members Colin and John came to Toucando, who relocated to Shamrock Quay again. They were very helpful in sanding the rest of the taff rail and the tiller.
On Monday Rob the engineer arrived. He sorted out the intermittent fault on the freshwater pump, which means that water now reliably comes out of the tap when it is turned on. He connected up the electric bilge pump, sorted out a leak in the salt water hose, cleaned the fuel tank, replaced some of the fuel lines which had degraded quite badly and which were leaking very slightly, and realigned the engine so that it does not judder at slow speeds. Roger I dropped by and helped with yet more sanding. I was able to complete the application of the Coelan. The weather forecast had not been good, but in fact the sun shone for four days and quite a lot was achieved. There are still lots more jobs to be done, mainly treating other parts of the woodwork, but I am hopeful that this will be possible in the near future.
I am very grateful to Andy, Colin, John and Roger for dropping by to help out.
Toucando is looking forward to sailing again soon. Her programme is visible at toucando.net under the Calendar 2012 tab.
The process of sanding cleaned up the deteriorating woodwork. Any holes or splits were filled. Coelan "yellowish" primer was used in accordance with Toucando's original colour scheme. (I like the Coelan colour range: there is a choice between yellowish and reddish!). After a suitable interval it was possible to apply the clear topcoat which dried to form a durable but flexible plastic skin. Whilst Andy did the woodwork I did a number of smaller tasks, such as installing a new seal on the aft perspex hatch to stop rainwater ingress. By the time the weekend was over Toucando was already beginning to look smarter.
Andy's work and some dreary commitments meant a return to the midlands, but at the end of the week i was back south, stopping at KJ Howells in Poole to acquire some more Coelan berfore applying another couple of coats. A whole week of public duties kept me in the midlands before I was able to come down on Saturday 16th. On Sunday crew members Colin and John came to Toucando, who relocated to Shamrock Quay again. They were very helpful in sanding the rest of the taff rail and the tiller.
On Monday Rob the engineer arrived. He sorted out the intermittent fault on the freshwater pump, which means that water now reliably comes out of the tap when it is turned on. He connected up the electric bilge pump, sorted out a leak in the salt water hose, cleaned the fuel tank, replaced some of the fuel lines which had degraded quite badly and which were leaking very slightly, and realigned the engine so that it does not judder at slow speeds. Roger I dropped by and helped with yet more sanding. I was able to complete the application of the Coelan. The weather forecast had not been good, but in fact the sun shone for four days and quite a lot was achieved. There are still lots more jobs to be done, mainly treating other parts of the woodwork, but I am hopeful that this will be possible in the near future.
I am very grateful to Andy, Colin, John and Roger for dropping by to help out.
Toucando is looking forward to sailing again soon. Her programme is visible at toucando.net under the Calendar 2012 tab.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival 2012
For me this is one of the best events of the summer: it's an annual gathering of traditional boats at Yarmouth, a small harbour town at the west end of the Isle of Wight. Although the boats are at the centre of things it's a festival for the whole town and beyond. There is an international street market, craft tent, vintage car rally, entertainers, dogshow, lifeboat display, etc..
Toucando was joined in Southampton by Lesley and Carole on Thursday. After some lunch on board and familiarisation with the ropes, we set off. The wind was variable. It started off in the north, went round to the south, then the south east, then the south west. The only consistent thing about it was that it tended to blow from the direction we wanted to go. We raised the main off Dockhead in a blustery Force 4 to 5 from the south east and motor sailed down to Calshot. Once in the Solent we were able to start beating down towards Yarmouth, but by this stage the wind had dropped and backed to south west and we were not making very fast progress. The crew however got pretty efficient at tacking. We completed the passage in very light winds arriving in Yarmouth at about 1930.
After securing Toucando we went for a barbecue and were joined by Carole's husband. Unfortunately the lawn at the Royal Solent has been turned into a builders' compound so we were in the shed at the back of the car park. Nevertheless it was good to meet up with the gaffers again.
Friday was shore-based... there was plenty to see. Toucando seemed to enjoy being on one of Yarmouth's new walkashore pontoons between some Memorys including Sepia and Nipperkin.
In the evening the shore entertainment was laid on by Rob Da Bank or Radio 1 and Bestival fame.
He does a lot of stuff on the Island and brings a new dimenstion to Friday night at Yarmouth. Cuban Brothers were headlining, but my recommendation for top band was Skinny Lister. This five piece sings folk songs, shanties and their own material, while passing around a couple of earthenware cider jugs. It's about time for another folk revival, and Skinny Lister brings a new energy and enthusiasm to the genre. Best of all they seem to attract a young following who belt out the choruses with real enthusiasm.
Saturday was the day of the race. Since Toucando will not race until a regular crew has been found I enjoyed spectating from the end of Yarmouth Pier. Despite the blue skies it had blown a gale overnight and was very blustery in the morning. Most of the small boats decided to stay in harbour. Miss Ningi bravely ventured out, had a brilliant start, but had to return when waves started flooding her. The crowd repeatedly opined that it was "blowing old boots" and that (most of) the competitors were "going like a train". I haven't the faintest idea who won, but it all looked good.
I decided to give the Abba, Queen and Rod Stewart tribute bands a miss on Saturday night... or at least listen to them from Toucando.
The homeward crew comprised Lesley and Michele. The wind had dropped considerably. We sailed quite slowly up the western Solent and Southampton Water. It was very crowded as youy might exect for the first really warm weekend of the sailing season. We got back to Toucando's home berth on the Itchen at about 1430.
Thanks to Carole, Lesley and Michele for crewing and miscellaneous old gaffers for the benefit of their advice.
Toucando was joined in Southampton by Lesley and Carole on Thursday. After some lunch on board and familiarisation with the ropes, we set off. The wind was variable. It started off in the north, went round to the south, then the south east, then the south west. The only consistent thing about it was that it tended to blow from the direction we wanted to go. We raised the main off Dockhead in a blustery Force 4 to 5 from the south east and motor sailed down to Calshot. Once in the Solent we were able to start beating down towards Yarmouth, but by this stage the wind had dropped and backed to south west and we were not making very fast progress. The crew however got pretty efficient at tacking. We completed the passage in very light winds arriving in Yarmouth at about 1930.
After securing Toucando we went for a barbecue and were joined by Carole's husband. Unfortunately the lawn at the Royal Solent has been turned into a builders' compound so we were in the shed at the back of the car park. Nevertheless it was good to meet up with the gaffers again.
Friday was shore-based... there was plenty to see. Toucando seemed to enjoy being on one of Yarmouth's new walkashore pontoons between some Memorys including Sepia and Nipperkin.
In the evening the shore entertainment was laid on by Rob Da Bank or Radio 1 and Bestival fame.
He does a lot of stuff on the Island and brings a new dimenstion to Friday night at Yarmouth. Cuban Brothers were headlining, but my recommendation for top band was Skinny Lister. This five piece sings folk songs, shanties and their own material, while passing around a couple of earthenware cider jugs. It's about time for another folk revival, and Skinny Lister brings a new energy and enthusiasm to the genre. Best of all they seem to attract a young following who belt out the choruses with real enthusiasm.
Saturday was the day of the race. Since Toucando will not race until a regular crew has been found I enjoyed spectating from the end of Yarmouth Pier. Despite the blue skies it had blown a gale overnight and was very blustery in the morning. Most of the small boats decided to stay in harbour. Miss Ningi bravely ventured out, had a brilliant start, but had to return when waves started flooding her. The crowd repeatedly opined that it was "blowing old boots" and that (most of) the competitors were "going like a train". I haven't the faintest idea who won, but it all looked good.
The homeward crew comprised Lesley and Michele. The wind had dropped considerably. We sailed quite slowly up the western Solent and Southampton Water. It was very crowded as youy might exect for the first really warm weekend of the sailing season. We got back to Toucando's home berth on the Itchen at about 1430.
Thanks to Carole, Lesley and Michele for crewing and miscellaneous old gaffers for the benefit of their advice.
Monday, 28 May 2012
May Parties
My final exam of the year took place on Monday 21st May. In the afternoon I went back to Toucando and motored her across to Shamrock Quay, just the other side of the river. This was to enable easy access for a range of party guests. On Tuesday evening I welcomed some demographers and statisticians from my course, who were also celebrating the end of exams. The radio announced that it was the hottest day of the year and that the Solent was the hottest place.... very different from the near freezing weather earlier in the month.
We had a pleasant evening sitting above deck sharing thoughts on the (academic) year just gone and watching the sunset.
On Wednesday we were joined by some ex-Council colleagues, and one dog. The weather was just as good. We enjoyed catching up on developments and another fantastic evening on the Itchen.
This is quite a contrast to the many evenings when I was going back to Toucando in the evening with the rain lashing down ansd the wind howling in the rigging. Thanks to everybody for coming along!
We had a pleasant evening sitting above deck sharing thoughts on the (academic) year just gone and watching the sunset.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Easter Cruise 2012
I had spent a couple of weeks on pre-season maintenance, including supervising a few engineering jobs, so Toucando would be ready for her Easter cruise - the first of 2012. I was joined by Peter and Stewart on Thursday evening. Our first task was to take Toucando over to Shamrock Quay so she could fill her water tank and enjoy a night plugged into the mains. The crew checked out The Waterfront, while I prepared dinner.
In the morning we made ready to go. Getting off the berth avoiding the enormous Sunseeker moored behind us was not easy - the tide flows at right angles to the pontoons, but we managed eventually and made another short hop to the fuel barge where we took on 100 litres of diesel, before heading under the Itchen Bridge and out into Southampton Water. Peter and Stewart raised the main... encountering a few snags and tangles (we got a lot better at it over the course of the weekend), and we motor sailed towards the Solent. The forecast was for moderate northerly winds, which would have been ideal for a trip west, but the wind was very light and of indeterminate direction. Our initial thoughts of heading for Poole had to be abandonned, and we settled for Yarmouth instead. We got some sailing in which was good before motoring in and berthing on the new pontoon by the lifeboat.
We went and had a beer in the Royal Solent (ginger beer in my case), which is part way through a major refurbishment. Dick and Pat Dawson showed us the work in progress. We moved on to the Bugle before returning to Toucando for a Pirata Carbonara.
Saturday seemed like a good day to head to Poole, which is what we did. Crossing the bay was easy, but we really had to fight the tide in the harbour entrance. Poole Quay Marina told us they were full (there's a wretched Sunseeker taking up the space for abour four sailing boats). Fortunately there was space on the quay itself, which gave us the opportunity to use the fender board which has only had one other use over the past year. It was towards low tide, and we had to climb up a horrible ladder to do the mooring. As time went by and the tide rose we had a convenient step ashore from deck to quay. Three other boats moored alongside us, and negotiated out departure time the following morning. I did a little revictualling. There was a rabbit in charge at Tesco... ok, a person dressed as a rabbit. She tried to sell me some carrots, which I thought was quite amusing. We had a (ginger) beer in the Jolly Sailor with some pub grub.
On Sunday we headed east, towards Cowes. There was not a lot of wind to begin with, but once we were inside the Solent we did a training run, gybing our way to our destination. By the time we took down the main off Gurnard there was a Force 5 blowing. We went to Cowes Yacht Haven and found a suitable mooring before going ashore and enjoying some (ginger) beer and more pub grub at The Union Inn. We helped the people at the next table in the quiz... well, we think we helped them we didn't stay for the answers.
Monday the wind had blown up. A gale was threatened. We reefed Toucando and set off. It was blowing Force 7, gusting 8. We headed north across the Solent and up into Southampton Water. We motored. Those boats sailing were all well reefed: one was even using its bright orange storm jib and trisail. In less than two and a half hours Toucando was back on her mooring.
It would have been good to have had a little more wind earlier in the weekend and a little less at the end, but nevertheless was had a good trip to four ports. Toucando has emerged from her winter somnolence and is looking forward to more sailing. She may be a little disappointed over the next month, as my priority will be to complete four assignments for my course but by the end of may we should have a pretty busy schedule. Thanks to Peter and Stewart for crewing this weekend and getting to understand the running rigging of a gaff rigged cutter.
In the morning we made ready to go. Getting off the berth avoiding the enormous Sunseeker moored behind us was not easy - the tide flows at right angles to the pontoons, but we managed eventually and made another short hop to the fuel barge where we took on 100 litres of diesel, before heading under the Itchen Bridge and out into Southampton Water. Peter and Stewart raised the main... encountering a few snags and tangles (we got a lot better at it over the course of the weekend), and we motor sailed towards the Solent. The forecast was for moderate northerly winds, which would have been ideal for a trip west, but the wind was very light and of indeterminate direction. Our initial thoughts of heading for Poole had to be abandonned, and we settled for Yarmouth instead. We got some sailing in which was good before motoring in and berthing on the new pontoon by the lifeboat.
We went and had a beer in the Royal Solent (ginger beer in my case), which is part way through a major refurbishment. Dick and Pat Dawson showed us the work in progress. We moved on to the Bugle before returning to Toucando for a Pirata Carbonara.
Saturday seemed like a good day to head to Poole, which is what we did. Crossing the bay was easy, but we really had to fight the tide in the harbour entrance. Poole Quay Marina told us they were full (there's a wretched Sunseeker taking up the space for abour four sailing boats). Fortunately there was space on the quay itself, which gave us the opportunity to use the fender board which has only had one other use over the past year. It was towards low tide, and we had to climb up a horrible ladder to do the mooring. As time went by and the tide rose we had a convenient step ashore from deck to quay. Three other boats moored alongside us, and negotiated out departure time the following morning. I did a little revictualling. There was a rabbit in charge at Tesco... ok, a person dressed as a rabbit. She tried to sell me some carrots, which I thought was quite amusing. We had a (ginger) beer in the Jolly Sailor with some pub grub.
Toucando on Poole Town Quay
On Sunday we headed east, towards Cowes. There was not a lot of wind to begin with, but once we were inside the Solent we did a training run, gybing our way to our destination. By the time we took down the main off Gurnard there was a Force 5 blowing. We went to Cowes Yacht Haven and found a suitable mooring before going ashore and enjoying some (ginger) beer and more pub grub at The Union Inn. We helped the people at the next table in the quiz... well, we think we helped them we didn't stay for the answers.
Monday the wind had blown up. A gale was threatened. We reefed Toucando and set off. It was blowing Force 7, gusting 8. We headed north across the Solent and up into Southampton Water. We motored. Those boats sailing were all well reefed: one was even using its bright orange storm jib and trisail. In less than two and a half hours Toucando was back on her mooring.
It would have been good to have had a little more wind earlier in the weekend and a little less at the end, but nevertheless was had a good trip to four ports. Toucando has emerged from her winter somnolence and is looking forward to more sailing. She may be a little disappointed over the next month, as my priority will be to complete four assignments for my course but by the end of may we should have a pretty busy schedule. Thanks to Peter and Stewart for crewing this weekend and getting to understand the running rigging of a gaff rigged cutter.
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