April 18th - Orwell

A follow-up cruise on the Orwell, taking the last of the incoming tide towards Ipswich and under the bridge, and then joining the early ebb back to the mooring.  Crew consisted of myself, assisted by Sally, Tom, Gilly and James. Picnic, South East of the bridge.  Sailing until final tack opposte Woolverstone, when outboard was utilised.  6.9nm. Odometer now reading 24.4nm.

First cruise of the new season April 14th-15th.

Cleaning, polishing, antifouling all complete.  Time for the sailing season to commence in earnest...  So, launched onto the hard at Pin Mill on 14th April and waited for the tide.  Decided to stop overnight, so had a pleasant couple of cruises under jib and mizzen, in a F4 north/north easterly breeze.  In between times, made use of the Butt and Oyster public house...

 

Various modifications made, not the least of which are a new mast enabling electrics at the mast head - anchor light now installed, and various handy storage bags both in the cabin and in the cockpit - should help reduce the number of rope ends lying around the place. 

I have now joined the handheld VHF brigade, having finally been converted and attended an excellent RYA VHF course in February.  Quite how we managed all those years before VHF, I'll never know, but I am told this is a 'must have' safety device.  Personally, I view it as little more than a toy, and hope, of course, never to have to use it in anger... this can be seen sitting in the new bag on the starboard side bulkhead.  The model is a Raymarine 101E. Thames Coastguard forecasts gratefully received. 

I also upgraded the map on the GPS, which now provides a much more definitive picture of my position.

 Also, a new tender - a Bic245, yet to be christened - which should make access to the mooring from shore more enjoyable.

 

The first two tracks involved some pleasant sailing under jib and mizzen, up and down the Orwell, in F4 north-easterly breeze. Total distance covered, 17.5nm.

Freeze-aboard sailing...

Quite what makes people do this, I'll never know...  I am unable to translate the Dutch, but it all seems extremely cold and, well, a little bit bonkers...  Secretly, however, just a little jealous.

http://www.drascombe.nl/2009_kordato.htm

Reflections on a sailing season

A comment recently received on this blog was in response to the last statement on my previous post.  It stated that I was clearly not a 'real' sailor in anticipating the need to prepare Daisy II for her winter 'hibernation'.  Presumably 'real' sailors sail on throughout the year, come wind or weather.

Clearly I'm not a 'real' sailor, by this person's standards.  It is always good to see the local sailing club's sailors on their boxing day meet; I wouldn't mind keeping a small racing dinghy one day.  I suspect there are some Drascombers who keep their options open just in case there is a free winter day which happened to be suitable.  Stewart Brown, of Churchouse Boats, once commented that such days are 'days gained' over and above the usual expected cruising season.  However, such days are few and far between, and there comes a point where it is kinder on the 'hardware' to bring spars, sails, engine and other trimmings into a warmer environment - in my case, the garage, loft, wardrobe or under the bed. 

Drascombers do like to sail in company - a recent PBO article commented on the Drascombe Association's 'Spanish Armada-sized rallies' - although this is not an essential part of my sailing - I'm far more likely to sail solo.  Even in such company, racing is never really on the agenda, since Drascombes are not fast boats.  We like to take time to reach destinations, take in the scenery and  have flexible itineraries, based more around food and drink, rather than time and tide. 

For me, relaxed sailing is the aim, not gripping the sheets with backside hanging over the gunwhales.  I'm not averse to bad weather, but it is more difficult to cruise in a relaxed manner in the cold, and the short daylight hours from November through to March would presumably make a night stop almost interminably exhausting.  I once spent the night at anchor in the Walton Backwaters during the Easter holiday, during which time temperatures dropped to zero celsius...cold enough to think twice about any such trip during the winter months.  Added to this, it does the boat no favours whatsoever to languish on a mooring in the hope that a suitable opportunity arises.  Living inland, as I do, the trip to the sea is also a barrier. 

Hence, she sits on the drive, covered, taking time to reflect on seasons past, and looking forward to the next...