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Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Brief update: we arrived in Plymouth
It was a very long day which will warrant a very long blog... But for now all I can say is we had a very nice sail across Lyme Bay and quite a challenging landfall at Plymouth. Here's a picture of the nice bit.
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Monday, 6 May 2013
We're in Weymouth
My crew for leg one comprised Carole, Hugh and Roger, all of whom have sailed on Toucando before. We left Southampton on Saturday and met the gaffer fleet in Hamble. This was the beginning of Round Britain Challenge for us. There was a supper at the RAFYC followed by entertainment from George Becket and the Blunt Instruments.
We set off for Yarmouth under power arriving for a late lunch. There were some jobs to do, like putting on sheets and reefing lines, the spars and sails only having been put back on Thursday.
We enjoyed a chicken tagine on board Toucando.
On Monday morning we had planned to set off at 0800 to get to Weymouth early, but it was very foggy.
We delayed until 1000 when it had cleared a little. Thee was not much wind. We motored down the Needles Channel and practised our radar skills. It managed to be foggy and sunny at the same time. Most of the way we saw nothing, but eventually Portland loomed above the fog bank. We came into Weymouth at 1700 where it was warm and bright. It's one of my favourite ports.
We are about to start cooking and enjoy our evening. The voyage has begun... All we need now is enough wind to sail and enough visibility to see where we are going.
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We set off for Yarmouth under power arriving for a late lunch. There were some jobs to do, like putting on sheets and reefing lines, the spars and sails only having been put back on Thursday.
We enjoyed a chicken tagine on board Toucando.
On Monday morning we had planned to set off at 0800 to get to Weymouth early, but it was very foggy.
We delayed until 1000 when it had cleared a little. Thee was not much wind. We motored down the Needles Channel and practised our radar skills. It managed to be foggy and sunny at the same time. Most of the way we saw nothing, but eventually Portland loomed above the fog bank. We came into Weymouth at 1700 where it was warm and bright. It's one of my favourite ports.
We are about to start cooking and enjoy our evening. The voyage has begun... All we need now is enough wind to sail and enough visibility to see where we are going.
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Friday, 3 May 2013
Just in time
Thursday 2nd May was exceptionally busy. Following the disaster with the broken down truck Jeremy Freeland of Collars delivered the new bowsprit and repaired boom on top of his car before 0800. We carried them down to the pontoon. They looked very good.
I went aboard to do some essential admin. I heard the tramp of feet on the deck. I popped my head out. "It's Andy from Greenham Regis." The electricians had arrived. The wind indicator had not worked since the mast had been re-stepped. John, the regular electrician was going up to sort it out. There was only a fairly thin (but strong) cruising chute halyard, and an even thinner (but strong) topsail halyard going to the very top of the mast. "Are the shackles up there ok?" John asked. "They looked ok to me," I said, "But I'm not an expert." John peered at the top of the mast with binoculars. He looked a bit grim. He suddenly said, "Ok, we'll do it." He got his climbing harness out and attached two lines to it. Andy and I started hauling him up. 48 feet is quite a long way, but we got him up to working height. I tended the ropes, while Andy looked at the display panels.
Yes, that is an electrician up there.
John discovered the wind vane had not been properly reattached. However even when it was, it only showed wind direction, not speed. We sent up a new unit on a flag halyard. It worked! A little adjustment was required to the display readout. And then the job was done. We carefully lowered John to the deck. "Your shackles are alright," he observed. I was very grateful for his help in getting the problem sorted and ascending an unknown wooden mast on a breezy day.
Just as the electricians left the riggers arrived and we got straight into installing the bowsprit and boom. There is a lot of rope and wire on a gaffer, and we got confused more than once, but with the professional skills of the riggers and my knowledge of the individual peculiarities of Toucando's rig we got everything back on, including the mainsail in about three hours.
By this time it was mid afternoon, but exactly a month after her mast was unstepped Toucando was once again a fully functional sailing vessel - with less than 48 hours to the start of the circumnavigation.
There are still a few cosmetic jobs to be done but the important functional tasks are complete. Thanks to Ebbtide Marine Engineering, Greenham Regis Electronics, Collars Spars, Spencer Rigging, Force 4 Chandlery and helpful crew and friends: Colin, Jem, Kevin and Roger.
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I went aboard to do some essential admin. I heard the tramp of feet on the deck. I popped my head out. "It's Andy from Greenham Regis." The electricians had arrived. The wind indicator had not worked since the mast had been re-stepped. John, the regular electrician was going up to sort it out. There was only a fairly thin (but strong) cruising chute halyard, and an even thinner (but strong) topsail halyard going to the very top of the mast. "Are the shackles up there ok?" John asked. "They looked ok to me," I said, "But I'm not an expert." John peered at the top of the mast with binoculars. He looked a bit grim. He suddenly said, "Ok, we'll do it." He got his climbing harness out and attached two lines to it. Andy and I started hauling him up. 48 feet is quite a long way, but we got him up to working height. I tended the ropes, while Andy looked at the display panels.
Yes, that is an electrician up there.
John discovered the wind vane had not been properly reattached. However even when it was, it only showed wind direction, not speed. We sent up a new unit on a flag halyard. It worked! A little adjustment was required to the display readout. And then the job was done. We carefully lowered John to the deck. "Your shackles are alright," he observed. I was very grateful for his help in getting the problem sorted and ascending an unknown wooden mast on a breezy day.
Just as the electricians left the riggers arrived and we got straight into installing the bowsprit and boom. There is a lot of rope and wire on a gaffer, and we got confused more than once, but with the professional skills of the riggers and my knowledge of the individual peculiarities of Toucando's rig we got everything back on, including the mainsail in about three hours.
By this time it was mid afternoon, but exactly a month after her mast was unstepped Toucando was once again a fully functional sailing vessel - with less than 48 hours to the start of the circumnavigation.
There are still a few cosmetic jobs to be done but the important functional tasks are complete. Thanks to Ebbtide Marine Engineering, Greenham Regis Electronics, Collars Spars, Spencer Rigging, Force 4 Chandlery and helpful crew and friends: Colin, Jem, Kevin and Roger.
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Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Preparations well underway
Toucando's mast was restepped on Thursday 25th April.
Today she was lifted for jet washing and a change of anodes. Tomorrow the spars come back from Collars.
Ashore, I attended a Solent Gaffers Committee meeting last night where we confirmed the arrangements for the Hamble rally next weekend and continue working on the massive OGA Jubilee Festival which will form the climax of the Round Britain Challenge. There's still a lot to do, but everything is coming together.
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Today she was lifted for jet washing and a change of anodes. Tomorrow the spars come back from Collars.
Ashore, I attended a Solent Gaffers Committee meeting last night where we confirmed the arrangements for the Hamble rally next weekend and continue working on the massive OGA Jubilee Festival which will form the climax of the Round Britain Challenge. There's still a lot to do, but everything is coming together.
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Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Pre Voyage Maintenance Excitement!
Toucando and I relocated from Kemps Quay to Shamrock Quay on 1st April... a voyage of approximately a quarter of a mile. The idea was to have a month of maintenance at a marina where I would have water, electricity, a walk ashore pontoon, easy access to a chandlery and all the necessary marine trades. On 2nd April the mast was unstepped with help from Spencer Rigging and the Shamrock Quay crane crew. The weather was not kind.
I was grateful for the help of Kevin in looking at the mast and making a start on preparing it for "re-varnishing". The first week was bitterly cold, with frequent snow showers. Some progress was made, although by no means as much as I had hoped because of the dreadful conditions.
The second week was warmer, but puctuated by showers - not ideal for varnishing. The third week was characterised by strong southerly gales.
I was joined by Jem for a few days. We did some further work on the mast and looked at the other spars. This brought a moment of horror: it proved that some dark patches on the boom were more than dark patches: rot had set in. Jem was of the opinion he would not want to rely on wood in that condition at sea... I couldn't disagree. There were problems with the bowsprit too. With less than three weeks to go before Round Britain we had found some major problems that were well beyond my competence to sort out. I began to rehearse a series of phone calls in which I had to tell the crew that the trip was off, or at the least badly delayed, but before starting that I phoned Greg the Boatbuilder and asked for some ideas. He gave me a list of people he thought might be able to help. I started making new calls. Ian offered to loan me a boom - one that was conveniently lying around his yard doing nothing: a very kind offer, but it might not have been quite the right length, and the bowsprit also needed attention, so I rang Collars the people who make spars and oars for traditional boats of all chapes and sizes. As it was early evening I expected to get an answerphone, but at least my message would be taken. Instead Jeremy Freeland the MD answered and immediately showed a great interest in the problem. He said he would bring the truck down from Oxfordshire and have a look at the boom for me. (collars.co.uk)
On Wednesday 17th Jeremy turned up. I met him in the yard where he had found the mast which he was expertly tapping with his car keys. "This looks fine," he pronounced. I was relieved: a dodgy mast really would have been the end of sailing for the year. We went and looked at the other spars. Unfortunately the car key went right into the end of the boom. This is not a good sign. Fortunately the greater part of the boom was in excellent condition, it was just a small length at the outboard end where there was a problem. "That's not too difficult, we can just scarf a new end on from about there... it's only a few hours work." An impossiby complicated piece of repair from my point of view was mere routine for Collars. That was reassuring. Jeremy was a bit more concerned about the bowsprit. There was a small patch of damage, but his main concern was that water could be inside the hollow structure. "We'd better take this away and have a look at it in the workshop." We carried the spars to the truck and put them on the roof.
.JPG)
I got back to work on other tasks with the help and advice of Jem. The pinrail and various pieces of woodwork received our attention and significant progress was made, despite the howling winds that continued throughout the week.
.JPG)
The weekend brought the kind of weather I had been hoping for all month... bright sun, not too much wind and no rain. I kept on sanding and scraping and sorting out things. On Sunday I was joined by Colin who helped get the pin rail finished and get the glazing in the butterfly hatch resealed.
Unfortunately the news from Collars about the bowsprit was not good... it was very wet inside and would take "months" to dry out. It was ok to use, if the visible damage was repaired, but underlying problems would remain. With a little regret I asked Collars to make a new one... I could see this would ultimately be the outcome and might as well get on with it now so that the crew and I could have full confidence in the whole rig. All this could be done and the spars returned the week before we set sail. I was very grateful for the prompt attention from Collars and for all the help received from Kevin, Jem and Colin. Maintenance month had not quite gone as planned, but a great deal had been achieved. The mast goes back on Thursday, the spars arrive next week. We should be ready in time.... just!
I was grateful for the help of Kevin in looking at the mast and making a start on preparing it for "re-varnishing". The first week was bitterly cold, with frequent snow showers. Some progress was made, although by no means as much as I had hoped because of the dreadful conditions.
The second week was warmer, but puctuated by showers - not ideal for varnishing. The third week was characterised by strong southerly gales.
I was joined by Jem for a few days. We did some further work on the mast and looked at the other spars. This brought a moment of horror: it proved that some dark patches on the boom were more than dark patches: rot had set in. Jem was of the opinion he would not want to rely on wood in that condition at sea... I couldn't disagree. There were problems with the bowsprit too. With less than three weeks to go before Round Britain we had found some major problems that were well beyond my competence to sort out. I began to rehearse a series of phone calls in which I had to tell the crew that the trip was off, or at the least badly delayed, but before starting that I phoned Greg the Boatbuilder and asked for some ideas. He gave me a list of people he thought might be able to help. I started making new calls. Ian offered to loan me a boom - one that was conveniently lying around his yard doing nothing: a very kind offer, but it might not have been quite the right length, and the bowsprit also needed attention, so I rang Collars the people who make spars and oars for traditional boats of all chapes and sizes. As it was early evening I expected to get an answerphone, but at least my message would be taken. Instead Jeremy Freeland the MD answered and immediately showed a great interest in the problem. He said he would bring the truck down from Oxfordshire and have a look at the boom for me. (collars.co.uk)
On Wednesday 17th Jeremy turned up. I met him in the yard where he had found the mast which he was expertly tapping with his car keys. "This looks fine," he pronounced. I was relieved: a dodgy mast really would have been the end of sailing for the year. We went and looked at the other spars. Unfortunately the car key went right into the end of the boom. This is not a good sign. Fortunately the greater part of the boom was in excellent condition, it was just a small length at the outboard end where there was a problem. "That's not too difficult, we can just scarf a new end on from about there... it's only a few hours work." An impossiby complicated piece of repair from my point of view was mere routine for Collars. That was reassuring. Jeremy was a bit more concerned about the bowsprit. There was a small patch of damage, but his main concern was that water could be inside the hollow structure. "We'd better take this away and have a look at it in the workshop." We carried the spars to the truck and put them on the roof.
.JPG)
I got back to work on other tasks with the help and advice of Jem. The pinrail and various pieces of woodwork received our attention and significant progress was made, despite the howling winds that continued throughout the week.
.JPG)
The weekend brought the kind of weather I had been hoping for all month... bright sun, not too much wind and no rain. I kept on sanding and scraping and sorting out things. On Sunday I was joined by Colin who helped get the pin rail finished and get the glazing in the butterfly hatch resealed.
Unfortunately the news from Collars about the bowsprit was not good... it was very wet inside and would take "months" to dry out. It was ok to use, if the visible damage was repaired, but underlying problems would remain. With a little regret I asked Collars to make a new one... I could see this would ultimately be the outcome and might as well get on with it now so that the crew and I could have full confidence in the whole rig. All this could be done and the spars returned the week before we set sail. I was very grateful for the prompt attention from Collars and for all the help received from Kevin, Jem and Colin. Maintenance month had not quite gone as planned, but a great deal had been achieved. The mast goes back on Thursday, the spars arrive next week. We should be ready in time.... just!
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Sail on the north east coast of England
Here is another blog about the future. Round Britain Challenge will be calling in at Necastle Upon Tyne on the Weeknd of 5th - 7th July. It will coincide with the North East Maritime Festival and we will be berthed at the quayside in the city centre. I have loved Newcastle ever since I arrived for my interview for my PGCE at the university there... and especially the Tyne gap and its sequence of bridges. It promises to be a very enjoyable weekend.
We'll then be setting off towards Grimsby. I think a stop at Hartlepool would be a good idea. I have previously visited the Historic Quay there (by land). Although it is not really old (it was built as a tourist attraction) it does provide a home for the completely genuine HMS Trincomalee.
If we arrive at the Humber in good time we could have a night at anchor at Spurn Head, or possibly go into the much recommended Hull Marina. It's right in the heart of the city:
Then the weekend of 13th - 14th July we'll be in Grimsby docks as the guests of Grimsby and Cleethorpes Yacht Club. I wonder if it still looks like this?
There are crewing opportunities for this leg. If you would like to join Toucando for a trip down this very interesting stretch of coastline please get in touch. toucando(at)citybeat(dot)org(dot)uk.
Friday, 12 April 2013
Summer Cruising in Scottish Waters
This is a blog post about the future... pictures of places I have never visited by boat, but which are on the itinerary of Toucando's circumnavigation of Britain. There are crew vacancies for all these legs. If you are interested please get in touch at toucando(at)citybeat(dot)org(dot)uk. There will be some fantastic sailing, and some equally enjoyable weekend events with people who share an enthusiasm for traditional boats.
The weekend of 8th-9th June we will be in Belfast. Special arrangements are being made by the harbour authorities for the gaffer fleet to moor in the docks. There will be visits to local sights and partying ashore.
On Monday 10th June we will be heading off towards the west coast of Scotland. There are lots of interesting places to visit on the way, such as the island of Islay.
I understand that there are some interesting attractions well worth a visit:
On the weekend of 15th and 16th June we will be anchoring in Loch Melfort for celebrations with the west of Scotland Gaffers:
We will call in at Oban to enable crew to embark or disembark:
Then we'll have a few days sailing around Mull - perhaps calling at Tobermory.
We'll sail back to Oban on Wednesday 20th June. Then we'll be heading towards Fort William stopping off at Corpach at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal:
We'll spend the weekend transiting the Canal. Who knows what we might see on the way?
I am hoping that we'll be heading out into the Moray Firth on Monday. The weekend of 29th-30th June we'll be at Anstruther on the Fife coast.
On Monday 1st we'll cross the Firth of Forth to Eyemouth, just north of Berwick on Tweed:
Three and a bit weeks of visiting some of the most interesting harbours in Scotland. After that it's back to England.
The weekend of 8th-9th June we will be in Belfast. Special arrangements are being made by the harbour authorities for the gaffer fleet to moor in the docks. There will be visits to local sights and partying ashore.
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