The Great Squall

Ava and Alexander joined Toucando on Friday evening ready for a prompt start on Saturday to take part in the Old Gaffers' Annual (Race and) Rally (Toucando was not racing).  We left shortly after eight on what seemed to be a fine morning. The forecast was for winds of Force 4 or 5, with the possibility of a 6 "near headlands". We raised the mainsail with two reefs near Dockhead in very calm conditions and unfurled the staysail and jib. We proceeded to have a nice sail on a beam reach down Southampton Water.

We had hoped to see the other Gaffers somewhere off Cowes, but we couldn't.  The wind, however, was much fresher when we got out into the Solent proper.  We headed in the general direction of Ryde, and started picking out the occasional gaff rigged vessel.

By now the wind was more or less behind us, so we went on a training run, executing a number of excellent controlled gybes.  By now we were close to a good part of the fleet.  We looked over our shoulder and saw some dark grey clouds.  Each of us went below and put on our waterproofs as a precaution.  Then in the space of about half a minute, just off Gilkicker Point, the wind rose from Force 5 to the top end of Force 7 and the rain was lashing down.  We turned north to be well clear of gybe point, and were grateful for the two reefs as Toucando heeled in the squall.  As we were not racing we had no inhibitions about turning on the engine and getting the main down.  We then turned back on course and completed our passage to Gosport quite comfortably, under the staysail alone.

We had a good berth at the end of a pontoon in the Royal Clarence Marina, near Morwenna (Heard 28) and Brilleau.  We enjoyed a stroll around Gosport, which was rather dominated by the festival music throbbing in the park.  Then we called into the bar where the results of the race were announced.  All the talk was of the squall.  Fortunately no damage was done, but many boats had had an  exciting few minutes.  Mark Woodhouse's Foxhound was the overall winner.

Sunday was a day of doing very little, except sitting on the boat and reading.  Toucando had a few admiring visitors, many of whom recognised her lines as a Heard.  In the evening we joined in the barbecue on the dockside, and listened to shanties provided by Terry (amongst others).  Amazingly they muffled the sound of the Gosport Festival quite effectively.

On Sunday Three Brothers rafted up beside us... she is an amazing traditional fishing boat, with very little in the way of modernisation.

We set off about 1100 to catch the west flowing tide.  We raised the main in the harbour and unfurled thejib and staysail in the Swashway.  We tacked up the eastern Solent to Warsash, by which time the wind was definitely from the northwest, and the tide falling: not a good combination for getting up Southampton Water efficiently, so we completed the passage under engine and made a perfect landing on Toucando's pontoon.

Thanks to Alexander and Ava for being a very efficient crew... and the Solent Gaffers for a great event.

Maintenance Day!

Tuesday 12th July was a maintenance day for Toucando.  Lynn focussed mainly on dealing with some worn patches on the deck, and Terry sorted out the bilge pump.  Andrew made a trip to the chandler, and we all did some general cleaning up. Many thanks to Terry and Lynn for their help!

Problem with the bilge pump:

 

 Lynn sorting out the deck

Terry and Lynn pondering the bilge pump problem

Not quite Poole

It was the weekend of the Gaffers' Poole Rally. We were looking forward to anchoring in South Deep and having a barbecue at the Royal Motor Yacht Club. Two crew joined Toucando - Lucy, who normally sails from Ramsgate, and Terry, the owner of Irene, a Memory 19.
We were up at four and on our way just after five. It was a nice morning and we had a good sail down Southampton Water. When turned west into the Solent at about 0730 the wind went up a few levels and was right on the nose. We had a fair tide until about 1100 - then it would be against us. Toucando was slowed down by the relatively large swell. We decided that a twenty mile beat across Poole Bay would not be much fun, so instead put in at Yarmouth.
We had an early lunch, a bit of rest,a walk along the seafront, a drink at the Royal Solent, a "barbecue" aboard, and sang some shanties accompanied by Terry's accordion and a bottle of Merlot.
Other notable events: Terry whipped the ends of lots of ropes (thank you) and we followed the rescue on Channel 16 of a Bavaria 38 which had been blown onto the beach at Alum Bay. We had heard the rockets go of and watched the lifeboat speed out of the harbour. Thestricken vessel looked ok when she was towed in later.
Sunday started grey, but soon brightened up. We had a leisurely breakfast and then went out in near perfect conditions, practising tacking, gybing and heaving to, under main, staysail and jib. We headed home to Southampton, only dropping the sails 50 metres away from the berth, just using the motor for the final approach.
It's a fantastic day today (Monday) and I am planning tomorrow's maintenance day. I also hope to add a few pictures soon.

 Andrew and Terry sailing back to Southampton on a perfect day

 We seem to be going quite fast!