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.
Showing posts with label Sealift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sealift. Show all posts
Monday, 10 September 2012
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.
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Toucando goes to Cowes and gets a wash, and then has an outing to Beaulieu
After less than four months in the Solent Toucando badly needed a wash. When the water was clear enough weed could be seen growing on her propeller. The cooling water inlet seemed to be getting blocked (as mentioned in earlier posts) and a scummy line was developing on the side of her hull. So a crew was assembled and a lift and wash was booked.
We had originally planned to go on Thursday, but near gales were forecast, so we deferred until Friday. Andrew and Michele took Toucando round to Hamble Point on Thursday evening to get a head start for the trip over the Solent. When Friday came it was quite breezy. We came out of the Hamble River to see thousands of boats taking part in Cowes Week racing. We crossed the water on a broad reach taking advantage of a gap between two separate races. We crossed the finishing line at 1200: shame we weren't in a race. We then wove our way (somewhat anxiously) through hundreds of small sailing boats whizzing about in the Medina River entrance. We got in without incident. We made our way to Sealift and moored up on the waiting pontoon.
Sealift is a platform which can be sunk to the river bed, and then brought up to enable work to be done on the hull. It uses submarine type technology with four large tanks which can be filled with water to sink, or air to rise. We manouevred Toucando into position and then slowly we were lifted out. Once fully out of the water the three Sealift staff got to work with jet washes. Toucando's hull was covered with black slime, weed and various crustacea. Andrew went to a nearby chandlery to get some anodes (sacrificial metal blocks to prevent corrosion of more important things). It took the best part of two hours for the job to be completed, but Toucando looked a lot better for it. When it was all finished the platform was lowered and we motored off. We then had a bit of excitment, almost going agound in the very busy river as boats came back from their races. Andrew exchanged a wave with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (the first person to sail all the way round the world, non-stop, single handed... back in the '60s) who was driving a rib with a large party of young children aboard. I am sure he was impressed with Toucando. We returned to the Sealift waiting pontoon to have lunch before heading back to Southampton in the afternoon/early evening.
On Saturday Toucando was joined by Ben, Daryl and Nik (former colleagues of Andrew) for a daysail. We decided to go to Beaulieu. As we left the mooring we followed Tom and Ros Cunliffe out of the Itchen on their new boat, a 23 year old American cutter, which had just arrived from Florida on the back of a ship. They were going on their shakedown trip to make sujre everything worked.
We got our sails up and had a nice easy sail down Southampton Water. When we got out to the Solent proper the wind picked up and we tacked down to the Baulieu River entrance. We motored up the river where we were greeted by Lord Montague's henchmen (aka the Beaulieu River Harbourmaster)... they didn't have a pontoon for us to moor on, but suggested we moor on a buoy. To our great delight they didn't ask for any money. Phew! We had lunch there before returning.
By this stage it was pretty windy, so we put a couple of reefs in the main and we had a fairly fast sail back, returning to our mooring just before sunset. We then enjoyed cups of tea (sic.) sitting on the cockpit, watching the life of the river, human and animal.
Toucando seemed to have benefitted from the wash. She sailed beautifully, and the engine was perfect. Thanks to Michele for her help over the whole three days, and Ben, Daryl and Nik for the Beaulieu trip.
We had originally planned to go on Thursday, but near gales were forecast, so we deferred until Friday. Andrew and Michele took Toucando round to Hamble Point on Thursday evening to get a head start for the trip over the Solent. When Friday came it was quite breezy. We came out of the Hamble River to see thousands of boats taking part in Cowes Week racing. We crossed the water on a broad reach taking advantage of a gap between two separate races. We crossed the finishing line at 1200: shame we weren't in a race. We then wove our way (somewhat anxiously) through hundreds of small sailing boats whizzing about in the Medina River entrance. We got in without incident. We made our way to Sealift and moored up on the waiting pontoon.
Sealift is a platform which can be sunk to the river bed, and then brought up to enable work to be done on the hull. It uses submarine type technology with four large tanks which can be filled with water to sink, or air to rise. We manouevred Toucando into position and then slowly we were lifted out. Once fully out of the water the three Sealift staff got to work with jet washes. Toucando's hull was covered with black slime, weed and various crustacea. Andrew went to a nearby chandlery to get some anodes (sacrificial metal blocks to prevent corrosion of more important things). It took the best part of two hours for the job to be completed, but Toucando looked a lot better for it. When it was all finished the platform was lowered and we motored off. We then had a bit of excitment, almost going agound in the very busy river as boats came back from their races. Andrew exchanged a wave with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (the first person to sail all the way round the world, non-stop, single handed... back in the '60s) who was driving a rib with a large party of young children aboard. I am sure he was impressed with Toucando. We returned to the Sealift waiting pontoon to have lunch before heading back to Southampton in the afternoon/early evening.
Waiting for the Sealift to be lowered before we could go in
Andrew on the deck as Toucando is slowly lifted out of the water
Getting started with the jet wash
The propeller before...
... and after
A nice clean hull!
On Saturday Toucando was joined by Ben, Daryl and Nik (former colleagues of Andrew) for a daysail. We decided to go to Beaulieu. As we left the mooring we followed Tom and Ros Cunliffe out of the Itchen on their new boat, a 23 year old American cutter, which had just arrived from Florida on the back of a ship. They were going on their shakedown trip to make sujre everything worked.
Tom Cunliffe and family taking out their newly acquired American cutter (left)
We got our sails up and had a nice easy sail down Southampton Water. When we got out to the Solent proper the wind picked up and we tacked down to the Baulieu River entrance. We motored up the river where we were greeted by Lord Montague's henchmen (aka the Beaulieu River Harbourmaster)... they didn't have a pontoon for us to moor on, but suggested we moor on a buoy. To our great delight they didn't ask for any money. Phew! We had lunch there before returning.
Buckler's Hard on the Beaulieu River
Nik, Ben and Darryl contemplating lunch
By this stage it was pretty windy, so we put a couple of reefs in the main and we had a fairly fast sail back, returning to our mooring just before sunset. We then enjoyed cups of tea (sic.) sitting on the cockpit, watching the life of the river, human and animal.
Toucando seemed to have benefitted from the wash. She sailed beautifully, and the engine was perfect. Thanks to Michele for her help over the whole three days, and Ben, Daryl and Nik for the Beaulieu trip.
Ben and Nik flaking the sail
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