12th October; family trip; damage to stern transom

A trip with family is always worth writing about.  However, this was a trip with an unwelcome twist.

There is always the potential of finding Daisy II suffering after a week storms.  However, I didn't expect to find evidence of another boat having slammed into her.  It is quite likely the offending boat might have lost control in some difficult conditions but, having done this, I hope that someone will eventually step forward and own up.  I don't think the damage is going to cost much more than about £30, but it is the principle.  On rallies, when Drascombes have tangled with other moored boats, skippers have at least contacted the relevant boatyard and left details.  I have my suspicions about the culprit but it would be incorrect to put these into print.

Transom showing damage to grp and teak.  Flecks of light blue paint from the hull of the offending boat have been seized and quarantined.  Fortunately, all damage is superficial and repairs should be possible.

Damage to mizzen boom - the right hand section where the existing fitting has been ripped out, the damage on the left must have been from some other aspect of the offending boat, possibly its pulpit, tangling with the boom.  Fortunately, I can't see any structural damage and should be able to repair this.

Mizzen sheet damaged just above the whipping

Once damage had been assessed, photographed and temporary working repairs to rigging effected it was time for a sail.  Winds during the week had been F7and northerly.  Today, they were virtually non-existent although, following a few days of incessant rain, it was probably a blessing to remain dry.  We motored downstream against the tide until rounding Collimer Point, when we turned off the outboard, hoisted sail and made what we could of the little wind, advancing further against tide by about half a mile.  We then turned and sailed back, giving up hope with the wind just beyond Butterman's Bay.

Crew  just about hanging on in the stiff breeze

Limp sails...

Just as we were approaching the hard at Pin Mill, we noted Garfish, a visiting Drifter 22.  A brief chat with the skipper confirmed that I had come across this Oxfordshire-based boat once before at a rally in the Walton Backwaters about four years ago.

Drifter 22 Garfish on a cruise from the Blackwater

Crew having disembarked at the jetty at Pin Mill, Daisy II motored back to her mooring.

Daisy II at Pin Mill

6.1nm; season's total 644.0nm.

5th October; return to the Orwell for the final phase of the season

...and what a brilliant season it has been.  I've already sailed further than ever before and, for once, the weather has been kind - we actually had a reasonable summer.  Hopefully, I'll have some short weekend trips this month and, weather permitting, an overnight trip during half term at the end of October, prior to pulling her out early in November.

In preparation for launching today, I had to replace the jockey wheel on the trailer, the thread in the old one having given way - my fault for not greasing it this season.  The new one works a treat.

New jockey wheel

I launched on the private slip opposite King's boatyard at HW today.  The usual back-winching followed by a gentle shove and, with painter in hand, the launch was beautifully controlled.  I then walked her along the pontoon and tied up so that I can sort out trailer, car and tender.

Slipway opposite King's boatyard at Pin Mill

Winds were light today, westerly F3 dwindling, eventually, to virtually nothing.  Once I had stepped the mast and sorted out the rigging on the mooring, I left the tender and went for a gentle sail upstream around HW.  Eventually, with the tide ebbing and the wind diminishing, I turned and, with the ebb running as fast as the wind, had a 'windless' run back to the mooring.

Daisy II once again back on her mooring

I've tried to leave things so that local birds don't make a mess on the sprayhood.  We'll see if this works but I fear I may have to resort to previous tactics involving string and old CDs.

4.1nm; season's total 637.9nm