Sunday 8 December 2013
Friday 6 December 2013
"Moving on Up"
It's that time of the year when you wonder whether it would have been wiser to lay up for the winter. But no - we keep focussed on next year and Cork Week. We have a lot to do to be even slightly competitive as we will be sailing in Cruisers 1 (a very tough class). We started out the year with no boat and no crew.
Start with two sails !
We raced white sails for the DBSC season from April to September racing weekly on Saturdays and entered a number of Dublin regattas. All in all a good year as we have come a long way from a group on non-racers and a number of non-sailors to a crew that can give most boats a good run for their money with two sails ! We have no Silverware to show for it but have a bit of Glass with three 2nd places
By the end of September we had 5 regular crew (inclusive of myself).
And then move to Three
Now the "Turkey Shoot" was on the cards. This is a progressive ECHO set of 7 races over November and December held on Sunday mornings. So we decided its time to fly the spinnaker. Warrior is set up with both Asymmetric (with ans A1,A2 and A3) and Symmetric (S1 and S2). We decided that we would start with a As and got professional trainers out with us (Prof twice and Kenny once) out on a few Saturdays to run us through the ropes. We have also asked out an experienced Bowman from another 34.7 layed up for the winter to sail with us for the Turkey Shoot. We now need to up our crew numbers to 8, so have started the process of the search for a Bowman, Mastman and Pit. We now have our Bowman (actually bow-woman - new to sailing this year and new to this role last week). We have had two races with the spinnaker and bar being a little slow on the hoist and drop we managed the big kite well. Great fun and certainly makes for a more enjoyable and testing sail. We have two races left before a break until early February when the "Spring Chicken" (6 races on Sunday mornings) begins. In the meantime I have contacted the other 34.7s in the Bay (three of them) to get involved in joint training sessions in the new year. Sailing against similar (and more experienced) boats will be great for us and likely make the other boats feel good ! So we have race 6 this Sunday with gusts of 30 knots expected and pretty cold - so on with the thermals, mid-layer and Oilies - even time for the balaclava. AND HERES OUR LAST RACE WITHOUT THE SPINNAKER FOR THE RECORD
Start with two sails !
We raced white sails for the DBSC season from April to September racing weekly on Saturdays and entered a number of Dublin regattas. All in all a good year as we have come a long way from a group on non-racers and a number of non-sailors to a crew that can give most boats a good run for their money with two sails ! We have no Silverware to show for it but have a bit of Glass with three 2nd places
And then move to Three
Now the "Turkey Shoot" was on the cards. This is a progressive ECHO set of 7 races over November and December held on Sunday mornings. So we decided its time to fly the spinnaker. Warrior is set up with both Asymmetric (with ans A1,A2 and A3) and Symmetric (S1 and S2). We decided that we would start with a As and got professional trainers out with us (Prof twice and Kenny once) out on a few Saturdays to run us through the ropes. We have also asked out an experienced Bowman from another 34.7 layed up for the winter to sail with us for the Turkey Shoot. We now need to up our crew numbers to 8, so have started the process of the search for a Bowman, Mastman and Pit. We now have our Bowman (actually bow-woman - new to sailing this year and new to this role last week). We have had two races with the spinnaker and bar being a little slow on the hoist and drop we managed the big kite well. Great fun and certainly makes for a more enjoyable and testing sail. We have two races left before a break until early February when the "Spring Chicken" (6 races on Sunday mornings) begins. In the meantime I have contacted the other 34.7s in the Bay (three of them) to get involved in joint training sessions in the new year. Sailing against similar (and more experienced) boats will be great for us and likely make the other boats feel good ! So we have race 6 this Sunday with gusts of 30 knots expected and pretty cold - so on with the thermals, mid-layer and Oilies - even time for the balaclava. AND HERES OUR LAST RACE WITHOUT THE SPINNAKER FOR THE RECORD
Sunday 8 September 2013
Just over 4 months sailing
Time has passed so quickly. We were really awful only a few months back but seem to be getting to grips with things now. We took part in the Greystones Regatta last weekend - 2 races on Sunday last in very challenging conditions where the wind varied in strength from 5 knots to 25 knots (and back) and changed direction by 90 degrees a number of times during the race. There were 30 boats in our fleet and we managed a 3rd and a 2nd giving us 2nd overall. We really felt that we deserved it as we have worked very hard to improve ourselves - getting out hours before the race starts every week and working to get the boat sailing well, questioning, trying, questioning again and so on. We do however know that we need to spend more time on the water if we are really to consistently finish in the top of the fleet. We are still White Sails and will not move on until we master the 2 sails.
I love the boat. Warrior now feels like a part of me (not like a boat and driver anymore) and I am confident in her as we move through the fleet and around marks. I know when she is in the groove, overpowered, underpowered by just feeling the way she is sailing, how the helm feels and overall boat stability. I am so glad I bought her.
We still work as a crew with the North-U (Trim and Tactics books) as our baseline. I have created a myriad of "systems" to help maximise our capabilities on the race course - I will share these when I find the ones that work best. But in most cases thay are laminates that I use to remind me of wind (and shifts), line position, mark positions, favoured tack, and set up prior to reaching the next mark. I bought the Garmin Montana 600 as a handheld GPS for mark locating (good sturdy set) and we now have a ContourRoam2 camera fitted to the sterm so hopefully we sill have some video to share over the coming posts (hopefully not too embarrassing)
To share the overall workload - outside of race time - I have allocated roles:
- “The Engineer” Engine and Electronics
- “The Rigger” Rig (standing and running) – incl. Clutches Winches and winch-handles, furler – oiled and cleaned
- “The Wingman” Sails – incl. battens and sail covers
- “The Caretaker” General Boat upkeep – how things are organised inside (chart table, covers, peoples kit boxes, heads, and general internal cleanliness and organisation) And External (lockers, warps, cleaning fluids) – this person will get the team to do their bit at the end of day to help rinse down and every so often to brush underside for speed
- “The Organiser” Team management - Race Events and Race days (including the DBSC Weekly) – getting the weather, marks, race instruction, entries, if we decide to get team gear – research etc. Also to include ensuring we have provisions etc. even if only to remind people if we have long days to bring water and sandwich or to remind me from time to time to stock up. Ie Homework upfront and ensuring we have all the right race cards, SIs etc
The Dublin Bay summer season has only 3 races left and then we get a break before the winter racing begins - I better start getting the thermals ready. We have had out fair share of breakages already and that was summer sailing - most of the breakages were in gusts over 25knots. Blew the kicker twice (just not quick enough releasing), and the sails make regular visits to Downer Sails (Pauline always deos a great job of getting us back on the water with sails looking stronger than before we did the damage).
I booked my hotel for Cork Week (5th to 11th July 2014) earlier today so already getting excited about that.
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Slow start
I've been off air for a while but I have been working away on building the team.
At the moment I have 6 team members but realise that this will be a long road to getting an effective team in place. The age profile is a little higher than I originally planned at 53, 53, 52, 50, 49 (myself), 37 and 11 !!. The 11 is my daughter (and only female) and although light and small has found her place on the boat. But all are keen, if a little underskilled. I am helm and can sail and handle the boat. The mainsheet trimmer has many years of racing/sailing under his belt but not as mainsail trimmer and has been out of the racing game for many years. One other can sail - and the others are different levels from beginner - to - never on a boat before - to - have been passengers but no idea how it all works !!!!! So work cut out for us all.
Today 26th June we are two months into the sailing and we are definitely making progress. The 3 non-sailors and my daughter are booked into an intensive "Learn to Sail" course with the Irish National Sailing Club in Dun Laoghaire who will over the next two weeks Wed (eve), Sun All day, Wed Eve, Sun All day bring them through the basics in a lovely Cork 1720 sportboat (I used to sail one of these) and a selection of dayboats. The course is planned to take the four as a crew through the basics of sailing on helm, main and jib throught to racing rules and basics of racing (starts, mark rounding etc.). We will continue to race on the Saturdays.
We are entered in White Sails this year - so no Spinnaker. We will learn to master two sails before we take on the third !. All crew have purchased the North-U Trim book (I have to say the best sail trim book out there by far). I call out some topics during the week and we discuss the topic on the boat before we head out to the race start. We then take a half hour after each race to debrief - ask questions and talk about what went well and not so well.
So how did the first two months go - well quiet a mix ! We have not had it easy - particularly for a new and mainly novice crew - we had it blowing hard on all outings - so far averaging 20-25knots and in many cases gusting 27-30knots. Last weekend we headed out in 27knots and one gust hit us was 41knots. And we had full sails up ! we were really tired and wet when we got back in. See the attached link - these guys were sailing in the bay about 1nm south of us and with professional crew of 8 and a reef and still managed to capsize.
So a lot of the time to date has been learning to depower the boat. I have to say Warrior (Beneteau 37.7 or 10R) has just worked out beautifully. She has been patient with us and held up as we learn our way around the controls.
Some observations - We flatten everything and utilise twist to the max (Upwind).
MAINSAIL
- The outhaul back to the white band - interestingly to get it back and the sail flat we have had to use one of the reefing lines (attached to the clew of the main) as the normal outhaul control is a line pulled from the mast end of the boom but in heavy wind we simply cannot get enough leverage to flatten the sail. The reefing line to the cockpit winch works well.
- The main halyard and cunningham. We generally sail out and take the cunningham off. We then sail on a beat and set the main halyard to get the draft at about 40%. We then attach the cunningham and use for tuning as conditions change.
- The backstay - we have just had such heavy air to date that we have just had as much bend on as we can just to maintain control - the carbon mast is fantastic and its is easy to apply rake (and to relase speedily as we go off te wind).
- The kicker - a must off-wind control but our achilles heel on a number of occasions, particularly last weekend. It is just so easy to forget to release the kicker. This takes so much control away from the mainsheet trimmer as he attempts to depower. The control lines runs back to the centre of the coach roof / cockpit but on a number of occasions now we have been overpowered in a gust, dropped the traveller, then the mainsheet and still turned up violently (luckily never hitting anyone) only to realise the kicker was keeping the upper part of the mainsail powered up. That 5-10seconds staring at each other wondering why we are not back in control has cost us dearly on a number of occasions. Last weekend we were hit by 40knots+ gusts we had just crossed the finish line and headed for home. We eased everything as we reached off - then we were hit by a mere 30+knot gust. We eased further and still continued to round up, but before we could cry "the kicker", one of the blocks exploded under the load. We now have great respect for the kicker and the pit (my 11 year old and fast becoming key to tactics as we race - that another days story) now has the primary responsibility to be ready to release on call.
JIB
- We have a non-overlapping foresail and get the advantage in our IRC handicap. However we pay dearly going down wind in a non-spinnaker class.
- We are experimenting going off wind 40 degrees or so which definitely gives us speed but we still have not worked out whether we are gaining overall.
- The cars for the jib are simply to short. In heavy wind we run the jib sheets back to blocks about 3 feet back from the rear of the blocks. When in the cars we simply could not depower and get any real twist. The cars are just so short cars - not sure what we are doing wrong here ! We are looking for advice from other 34.7/10R owners. With the car back as far as possible we seem to have too much downward pull on the sail and once we try to harden up we fully power the sail up with little or no twist.
HELM
- I have yet to find a comfortable and useful position to helm from. To see the tell-tales I have to sit to leeward but in all the heavy air we have had to date and with the novice crew, I have found that I have to stand and watch and call instructions - but this will change as the crew get more accustomed to their roles.
Overall 8 weeks in - love the boat and feel we will make her proud in a season or two.
At the moment I have 6 team members but realise that this will be a long road to getting an effective team in place. The age profile is a little higher than I originally planned at 53, 53, 52, 50, 49 (myself), 37 and 11 !!. The 11 is my daughter (and only female) and although light and small has found her place on the boat. But all are keen, if a little underskilled. I am helm and can sail and handle the boat. The mainsheet trimmer has many years of racing/sailing under his belt but not as mainsail trimmer and has been out of the racing game for many years. One other can sail - and the others are different levels from beginner - to - never on a boat before - to - have been passengers but no idea how it all works !!!!! So work cut out for us all.
Today 26th June we are two months into the sailing and we are definitely making progress. The 3 non-sailors and my daughter are booked into an intensive "Learn to Sail" course with the Irish National Sailing Club in Dun Laoghaire who will over the next two weeks Wed (eve), Sun All day, Wed Eve, Sun All day bring them through the basics in a lovely Cork 1720 sportboat (I used to sail one of these) and a selection of dayboats. The course is planned to take the four as a crew through the basics of sailing on helm, main and jib throught to racing rules and basics of racing (starts, mark rounding etc.). We will continue to race on the Saturdays.
We are entered in White Sails this year - so no Spinnaker. We will learn to master two sails before we take on the third !. All crew have purchased the North-U Trim book (I have to say the best sail trim book out there by far). I call out some topics during the week and we discuss the topic on the boat before we head out to the race start. We then take a half hour after each race to debrief - ask questions and talk about what went well and not so well.
So how did the first two months go - well quiet a mix ! We have not had it easy - particularly for a new and mainly novice crew - we had it blowing hard on all outings - so far averaging 20-25knots and in many cases gusting 27-30knots. Last weekend we headed out in 27knots and one gust hit us was 41knots. And we had full sails up ! we were really tired and wet when we got back in. See the attached link - these guys were sailing in the bay about 1nm south of us and with professional crew of 8 and a reef and still managed to capsize.
So a lot of the time to date has been learning to depower the boat. I have to say Warrior (Beneteau 37.7 or 10R) has just worked out beautifully. She has been patient with us and held up as we learn our way around the controls.
Some observations - We flatten everything and utilise twist to the max (Upwind).
MAINSAIL
- The outhaul back to the white band - interestingly to get it back and the sail flat we have had to use one of the reefing lines (attached to the clew of the main) as the normal outhaul control is a line pulled from the mast end of the boom but in heavy wind we simply cannot get enough leverage to flatten the sail. The reefing line to the cockpit winch works well.
- The main halyard and cunningham. We generally sail out and take the cunningham off. We then sail on a beat and set the main halyard to get the draft at about 40%. We then attach the cunningham and use for tuning as conditions change.
- The backstay - we have just had such heavy air to date that we have just had as much bend on as we can just to maintain control - the carbon mast is fantastic and its is easy to apply rake (and to relase speedily as we go off te wind).
- The kicker - a must off-wind control but our achilles heel on a number of occasions, particularly last weekend. It is just so easy to forget to release the kicker. This takes so much control away from the mainsheet trimmer as he attempts to depower. The control lines runs back to the centre of the coach roof / cockpit but on a number of occasions now we have been overpowered in a gust, dropped the traveller, then the mainsheet and still turned up violently (luckily never hitting anyone) only to realise the kicker was keeping the upper part of the mainsail powered up. That 5-10seconds staring at each other wondering why we are not back in control has cost us dearly on a number of occasions. Last weekend we were hit by 40knots+ gusts we had just crossed the finish line and headed for home. We eased everything as we reached off - then we were hit by a mere 30+knot gust. We eased further and still continued to round up, but before we could cry "the kicker", one of the blocks exploded under the load. We now have great respect for the kicker and the pit (my 11 year old and fast becoming key to tactics as we race - that another days story) now has the primary responsibility to be ready to release on call.
JIB
- We have a non-overlapping foresail and get the advantage in our IRC handicap. However we pay dearly going down wind in a non-spinnaker class.
- We are experimenting going off wind 40 degrees or so which definitely gives us speed but we still have not worked out whether we are gaining overall.
- The cars for the jib are simply to short. In heavy wind we run the jib sheets back to blocks about 3 feet back from the rear of the blocks. When in the cars we simply could not depower and get any real twist. The cars are just so short cars - not sure what we are doing wrong here ! We are looking for advice from other 34.7/10R owners. With the car back as far as possible we seem to have too much downward pull on the sail and once we try to harden up we fully power the sail up with little or no twist.
HELM
- I have yet to find a comfortable and useful position to helm from. To see the tell-tales I have to sit to leeward but in all the heavy air we have had to date and with the novice crew, I have found that I have to stand and watch and call instructions - but this will change as the crew get more accustomed to their roles.
Overall 8 weeks in - love the boat and feel we will make her proud in a season or two.
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Home at Last
With one week to go before the open of the Dublin Bay racing I really needed to get Warrior home. It was difficult to find crew at short notice so my two brothers volunteered (neither having anything but the most basic sailing experience - Niall, the most experienced, was last on a dinghy about 25 years ago) for the 280nm passage from Plymouth to Dun Laoghaire Dublin. I sent the passage plan to the Dublin Coast Guard on Wed night and we flew out from Dublin Airport on Thursday evening for Exeter arriving at the marina about 11pm 18th April. We got up early on Saturday morning and the two boys provisioned while I prepared the boat. We let the line go at 11:00 and headed for the fuel pontoon. The harbourmaster said we should head around the pontoons and over to the fuel berth where they would be waiting for us. So foolishly I simply followed his instructions to the letter (not checking the charts) as I was simply berth hopping ! - we motored around and there was a power boat taking on a large amount of fuel. I watched on as I thought thank goodness I was not paying for that fuel load. To the right of the fuel berth were the floating pontoons - anchored about 25mtrs from the fuel pontoon. We had come inside them rather than around them as it seemed the direct route to the fuel pontoon. As we had to wait I decided to motor around them and come back around to fuel. It was about 1.5hrs before high tide. As we passed the pontoon we ran around (softly on mud). GREAT. I noticed the guy on the fuel pontoon waving for me to head back the other way. GREAT. I got my brothers to heel the boat over to port and eventually we managed to motor off in the direction we came in. At this stage the fuel berth was free and we tied up. I said to the guy fueling us that we were instructed to go around the pontoons to which he said "Thats correct - but I would not go around THOSE pontoons as the other side dries out" - he went on to say they were there temporarily while some new berths were being put in place !
We sailed out into a building F4 with forecast for F6-7. I just needed to get around Lands End before the tide turned. The weather started up with a vengence and but we were well reefed and once again Warrior handled herself beautifully. The two boys suffered a little from the battering but fair due to both as they weathered the storm well. The storm blew out by midnight and all changed to a glassy beautiful night with the moon lighting the sea for us. We started up the motor and headed up the English coast. About 9am we noticed that the fuel guage was still showing full and we had 200nm of motoring to do if this weather stayed as is. With 60-70ltrs in the tank there should be ample but to be sure I called into Milford Haven (Milford Marina) to top up. We had about a 15 minute wait for the lock gates, and were in and out within a half hour. The Marina guys were brilliant ferrying us up to the office to pay so that we did not have to wait.
We motored for another few hours before the winds started to build again. F6 forecast to hit by morning. At this stage we were looking forward to some wind again (well I was). We had F4-5 most of the night and a lovely passage with the wind building to F5-6 for the last hour of the voyage. We tied up in Dun Laoghaire at 9:30 and were sitting in Avoca restaurant in Monkstown having a well deserved full Irish Breakfast by 10:30. A fine 46 hour passage.
And now to get a team together ...
.JPG) |
| Plenty of visits from Dolphins over the two days |
We sailed out into a building F4 with forecast for F6-7. I just needed to get around Lands End before the tide turned. The weather started up with a vengence and but we were well reefed and once again Warrior handled herself beautifully. The two boys suffered a little from the battering but fair due to both as they weathered the storm well. The storm blew out by midnight and all changed to a glassy beautiful night with the moon lighting the sea for us. We started up the motor and headed up the English coast. About 9am we noticed that the fuel guage was still showing full and we had 200nm of motoring to do if this weather stayed as is. With 60-70ltrs in the tank there should be ample but to be sure I called into Milford Haven (Milford Marina) to top up. We had about a 15 minute wait for the lock gates, and were in and out within a half hour. The Marina guys were brilliant ferrying us up to the office to pay so that we did not have to wait.
We motored for another few hours before the winds started to build again. F6 forecast to hit by morning. At this stage we were looking forward to some wind again (well I was). We had F4-5 most of the night and a lovely passage with the wind building to F5-6 for the last hour of the voyage. We tied up in Dun Laoghaire at 9:30 and were sitting in Avoca restaurant in Monkstown having a well deserved full Irish Breakfast by 10:30. A fine 46 hour passage.
.JPG) |
| Home at last - tied up in Dun Laoghaire Marina |
Saturday 13 April 2013
We wait a little longer
The plan was to get Warrior home this weekend but once again the weather is not on our side and Warrior must wait alone in Plymouth. We need the boat home next weekend as the racing starts the following weekend (Sat 27th April).
Looks like more favourable weather next weekend (Sat 20th April).
Looks like more favourable weather next weekend (Sat 20th April).
All going well we will be home in time for the start of season RIYC Spring Coaching Regatta on the 27th and 28th April. This is organised by the Royal Irish Yacht Club supported by the Dublin Bay Sailing Club. Starting with a skipper and tactician briefing at 8.30am on the Saturday (27th) there will be a number of practice starts (10.25) followed by two practive races (11:30 and 12:30). The first race of the season then starts at 14:00. There is a video debrief at 17:00. I hope we will not have embarrassed ourselves ! Sunday then starts again with briefing at 9:30 followed by a downwind slalom at 11:25 and two more practive races at 12:30 and 13:30 with the Video debrief again at 15:30.
The White Sails pre-Season briefing is next Wed at 8pm in the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire.
So it is all starting to become real.
Update 14 April 14:00 - Lucky we didn't go this weekend - latest Met forecast for today is Storm Force 10
Update 14 April 14:00 - Lucky we didn't go this weekend - latest Met forecast for today is Storm Force 10
Friday 5 April 2013
First Attempt to get Warrior Home
Well the forecast wasn't great with 5-6 gusting 7, but the direction was good as it was all Easterlies. The crew consisted of 2 well experienced and 2 with less. I flew into Southampton with my brother on Thursday evening last (March 28) with a plan to sail on the Friday midday spring tide from Port Hamble Marina. All going well we would be spit out of the Solent with a 3 knot tide pushing us along. We provisioned for a 60 hour sail back to Dublin which meant we arrived at the boat late - 10pm in the dark.
Next morning we started to familiarise ourselves with the boat. We had a few hours to pack away sails and get to know the boat before heading to sea. The life raft was stowed, life jackets taken out and lifelines fixed. The cruising sails were fitted - we could find no battens for the main. We checked out reefing points and cut lines to secure the reefed sail. It was blowing a steady F5 as the other two crew arrived at 11.00am. I was having problems getting the engine to engage. The throttle lever is a winch handle and it seemed to be pushing in the pin that put the engine into neutral. Eventually some WD40 seemed to do the trick. We motored to the fuel dock and filled the tank (86 ltrs). The forecast was now for a gale.
We were using a great iPad app iGrib over the past week to monitor expected wind speed and direction. We decided to head out as the wind was Easterly and sea state still slight. As we would be on a run we put a single reef in the main. This proved a little too much so after about a half hour we decided to put in a second reef. This was a challenge as we bounced about and the luff decided to pop out a few times. The reefing lines were also a challenge. At one point the jib halyard went and the jib dropped (all seemed in slow motion as I ran forward and caught her before she immersed herself in the water). All part of getting used to the boat ! After all before last night I had seen her for only an hour on dry land. It was bitterly cold and the sea state was getting agitated. After a few hours with the wind in our back blowing mainly F6-7 with gusts of F8 we decided that although the boat was handling well we should not take her through the night. Forecast was for F8, moderate to rough, and temperatures of minus 2 (feeling more like -7). I called up Portland Marina and booked a berth for the night. Portland is easy to enter - faces east but a major port and easy to gain access even in this easterly blow. It was dark when we arrived and we again struggled with engaging drive, with the boat going into neutral as we tried to go head to wind. We managed eventually but not the tidiest looking sails as we entered the marina and my hands and fingers took a bashing. Portland Marina is pretty new and pretty empty so we had our choice of places to tie up which was great given this was our first time to dock her and it was blowing hard. A few pints of Guinness in the Green Lantern and we were like new. 55nm of 400nm in the bag.
We headed out the following day into a F5-6 gusting F7. The forecast was for the winds to lighten later in the day. A good sail and the weather eased throughout the day. At one point we were joined by two dolphins for about 15 minutes. The forecast was for gales again overnight so we headed for Darthaven Marina in Dartmouth. Hard to believe that heavy weather was due as the sunset was beautiful as the seas flattened out. We arrived in the Marina about 9pm in flat calm - just as well as once again I could not engage gear as we entered the marina. All hands required to manhandle her into position, the a quick exit for food and a glass of wine. Another 52 nm completed.
The forecast for Sunday was not great with F6-F7 and F8 later in the day. We got up early and checked the weather again. The sea state was rough to very rough. We decided to head off at 6am for Plymouth as this would take another 40nm off the trip home next time out. We booked flights home from Exeter leaving 18.50 and expected to be tied up in Plymouth by 12.30. Again under fully reefed main we headed off and with a bumpy start we soon had the wind behind us and started to enjoy the surfing. John held the record at 11.6 knots until with a fine gust of 33kn I managed a 12.6 kn. Great sailing. We arrived in our berth in Mayflower Marina just after midday. We cooked up, washed up and then cleaned down the boat - she will remain here at least two weeks as this weekends weather is all Northerly - so maybe the weekend of 14th/15th but at the moment it looks like a major low moving in. I will know better in a few days time.
So to summarise, warrior was fantastic, easy to sail and well capable of the conditions we sailed through. A good start to getting used to her - and her to us.
Still have 280nm (80nm to clear Lands End and 200nm north to Dublin) to go to get here home to Dun Laoghaire.
Next morning we started to familiarise ourselves with the boat. We had a few hours to pack away sails and get to know the boat before heading to sea. The life raft was stowed, life jackets taken out and lifelines fixed. The cruising sails were fitted - we could find no battens for the main. We checked out reefing points and cut lines to secure the reefed sail. It was blowing a steady F5 as the other two crew arrived at 11.00am. I was having problems getting the engine to engage. The throttle lever is a winch handle and it seemed to be pushing in the pin that put the engine into neutral. Eventually some WD40 seemed to do the trick. We motored to the fuel dock and filled the tank (86 ltrs). The forecast was now for a gale.
We were using a great iPad app iGrib over the past week to monitor expected wind speed and direction. We decided to head out as the wind was Easterly and sea state still slight. As we would be on a run we put a single reef in the main. This proved a little too much so after about a half hour we decided to put in a second reef. This was a challenge as we bounced about and the luff decided to pop out a few times. The reefing lines were also a challenge. At one point the jib halyard went and the jib dropped (all seemed in slow motion as I ran forward and caught her before she immersed herself in the water). All part of getting used to the boat ! After all before last night I had seen her for only an hour on dry land. It was bitterly cold and the sea state was getting agitated. After a few hours with the wind in our back blowing mainly F6-7 with gusts of F8 we decided that although the boat was handling well we should not take her through the night. Forecast was for F8, moderate to rough, and temperatures of minus 2 (feeling more like -7). I called up Portland Marina and booked a berth for the night. Portland is easy to enter - faces east but a major port and easy to gain access even in this easterly blow. It was dark when we arrived and we again struggled with engaging drive, with the boat going into neutral as we tried to go head to wind. We managed eventually but not the tidiest looking sails as we entered the marina and my hands and fingers took a bashing. Portland Marina is pretty new and pretty empty so we had our choice of places to tie up which was great given this was our first time to dock her and it was blowing hard. A few pints of Guinness in the Green Lantern and we were like new. 55nm of 400nm in the bag.
We headed out the following day into a F5-6 gusting F7. The forecast was for the winds to lighten later in the day. A good sail and the weather eased throughout the day. At one point we were joined by two dolphins for about 15 minutes. The forecast was for gales again overnight so we headed for Darthaven Marina in Dartmouth. Hard to believe that heavy weather was due as the sunset was beautiful as the seas flattened out. We arrived in the Marina about 9pm in flat calm - just as well as once again I could not engage gear as we entered the marina. All hands required to manhandle her into position, the a quick exit for food and a glass of wine. Another 52 nm completed.
The forecast for Sunday was not great with F6-F7 and F8 later in the day. We got up early and checked the weather again. The sea state was rough to very rough. We decided to head off at 6am for Plymouth as this would take another 40nm off the trip home next time out. We booked flights home from Exeter leaving 18.50 and expected to be tied up in Plymouth by 12.30. Again under fully reefed main we headed off and with a bumpy start we soon had the wind behind us and started to enjoy the surfing. John held the record at 11.6 knots until with a fine gust of 33kn I managed a 12.6 kn. Great sailing. We arrived in our berth in Mayflower Marina just after midday. We cooked up, washed up and then cleaned down the boat - she will remain here at least two weeks as this weekends weather is all Northerly - so maybe the weekend of 14th/15th but at the moment it looks like a major low moving in. I will know better in a few days time.
So to summarise, warrior was fantastic, easy to sail and well capable of the conditions we sailed through. A good start to getting used to her - and her to us.
Still have 280nm (80nm to clear Lands End and 200nm north to Dublin) to go to get here home to Dun Laoghaire.
Sunday 3 March 2013
Warrior - She has a name
Preparations for the boat are going well. Hamble Yacht Services (Roger Marino) are looking after everything. Liferaft and jackets have been sent for a service. The gas system is being pressure tested and the hoses and bottle replaced. There are also a few small tidy up items (catches. latches etc.). They hope to have the furler fitted this weekend and Elvstrom (Jeremy White) has the sails in for service/valet (and change of sail number). The sails will need to be recut once the firler is fitted.
I received my sail number during the week IRL8478 and then it was just a matter of coming up with the name !! - I had a long list but in the end of the day you just have to pick one. No good asking opinions as it simply makes your long list even longer.
So I went with Warrior (it was going to be Celtic Warrior, but I thought I would shorten it to Warrior and add in a Celtic Warrior Tattoo symbol).
I have passed this early draft to Ben in GrapefruitGraphics to see if this can be improved upon, and to make up the lettering for the boom cover, wheel cover, spinnaker pole cover, hull and transom.
So why "Warrior". The boat, from now on affectionatley know as "Warrior", is a member of the team and will of course carry the boat and team name. Warrior is now the second member of the team (myself being the only other member), so we are a bit short handed at the moment. I thought the name fitted with the overall journey we have to take. A successful warrior has to :
- be fighting fit (physically and mentally)
- be properly equipped and prepared for the battle at hand
- be a force to be reckoned with (eventually)
- know when to engage with the competition and when to stay clear
- watch and learn
- train, train, train
Next step it to get Warrior home. Ideally she will be ready next weekend, but I think that may be a bit tight. I am away in London the following weekend (although that would have been ideal as it is a 3 day bank holiday weekend - St Patricks Day) - So the most likely date of departure is now the weekend of the 23rd/24th March. I need to find someone to travel with me as it's too long for a solo run (60-70hrs). Heres hoping for a Southerly that weekend.
I received my sail number during the week IRL8478 and then it was just a matter of coming up with the name !! - I had a long list but in the end of the day you just have to pick one. No good asking opinions as it simply makes your long list even longer.
So I went with Warrior (it was going to be Celtic Warrior, but I thought I would shorten it to Warrior and add in a Celtic Warrior Tattoo symbol).
So why "Warrior". The boat, from now on affectionatley know as "Warrior", is a member of the team and will of course carry the boat and team name. Warrior is now the second member of the team (myself being the only other member), so we are a bit short handed at the moment. I thought the name fitted with the overall journey we have to take. A successful warrior has to :
- be fighting fit (physically and mentally)
- be properly equipped and prepared for the battle at hand
- be a force to be reckoned with (eventually)
- know when to engage with the competition and when to stay clear
- watch and learn
- train, train, train
Next step it to get Warrior home. Ideally she will be ready next weekend, but I think that may be a bit tight. I am away in London the following weekend (although that would have been ideal as it is a 3 day bank holiday weekend - St Patricks Day) - So the most likely date of departure is now the weekend of the 23rd/24th March. I need to find someone to travel with me as it's too long for a solo run (60-70hrs). Heres hoping for a Southerly that weekend.
Tuesday 12 February 2013
Well now I have the boat
A pretty successful trip to Hamble, Southampton in the UK. I viewed four J109s and a Beneteau 34.7 (10R). After much number crunching and soul searching I settled on the 34.7 and put in an offer on Monday and we did the deal subject to survey today.
The boat is a 2008 model, launched in 2009 and dry sailed since new, so in superb condition. Sails are racing Elvstrom from 2011 and lots of add ons such as upgraded winches.
So now I need to get the boat home - about 450nm. So a fair weather window required and some free time.
Have sent the liferaft and jackets for servicing. Antifoul will be applied next week - first time - seems such a shame. A furler is being fitted so that we are eligible for Dublin Bay White Sail racing this and next season as we build the team and sails cut to fit.
Now to get her home (need at least one other person aboard particularly if I come direct without stop - a long 48+ hrs trip at best).
... and the previous owner wants to keep the name so I need to think of a new one - that can be harder than the boat search !
Progressing to plan ....
The boat is a 2008 model, launched in 2009 and dry sailed since new, so in superb condition. Sails are racing Elvstrom from 2011 and lots of add ons such as upgraded winches.
So now I need to get the boat home - about 450nm. So a fair weather window required and some free time.
Have sent the liferaft and jackets for servicing. Antifoul will be applied next week - first time - seems such a shame. A furler is being fitted so that we are eligible for Dublin Bay White Sail racing this and next season as we build the team and sails cut to fit.
Now to get her home (need at least one other person aboard particularly if I come direct without stop - a long 48+ hrs trip at best).
... and the previous owner wants to keep the name so I need to think of a new one - that can be harder than the boat search !
Progressing to plan ....
Friday 8 February 2013
In search of the right boat
I am currently sitting at the Airport in Dublin and will board in a little over an hour for Southampton. I have such fond memories of sailing around the Solent (where I did my Yachtmaster some time ago now).
Today I head for Hamble to view a 2009 Beneteau 34.7 (10R) which has been dry sailed since new, and three J109s (one from 2005 and two from 2006). I am also meeting a rigger from Hamble Yacht services to discuss fitting furling gear to the 34.7 (a requirement for white sail racing in Dublin Bay) - the J109 already has furling as standard.
The 34.7 has a good set of 2011 Elvstrom racing and cruising sails, so I am meeting the Elvstrom rep to discuss options for recutting for a Furler.
I land at 11.30am, should be in the car by 12.00 and in Hamble by 12.30-13.00.
A busy day but Always fun looking at boats.
Today I head for Hamble to view a 2009 Beneteau 34.7 (10R) which has been dry sailed since new, and three J109s (one from 2005 and two from 2006). I am also meeting a rigger from Hamble Yacht services to discuss fitting furling gear to the 34.7 (a requirement for white sail racing in Dublin Bay) - the J109 already has furling as standard.
The 34.7 has a good set of 2011 Elvstrom racing and cruising sails, so I am meeting the Elvstrom rep to discuss options for recutting for a Furler.
I land at 11.30am, should be in the car by 12.00 and in Hamble by 12.30-13.00.
A busy day but Always fun looking at boats.
Sunday 3 February 2013
Day 1 (ish) of 8 year PLAN
So I love sailing but have not been on the water near as much as I would have liked and now as I near 50!! have decided to put a race boat and team on Dublin Bay. Maybe a little mad, and I am not sure if it's possible but thats all part of the adventure.
I have been away working for the last 3 years and am now back in Dublin. Before I left I sold my cruising boat, a Bluewater 58. I want (and need) to get back on the water. My challenge is that I am still as busy as ever. My plan is to get a somewhat smaller boat (about 34-35 foot) that is competitive and to try to get a team together that will work together over the coming years to become one of the top 10 teams in the bay.
I am not a racer myself, but I am competitive and I love a challenge so I am going to try to build the team from scratch and with people who want to learn rather than experienced sailor/racers. I believe that good teams are generally more successful than loose teams of talented individuals.
So today I have no Boat and no Crew - Just Me !
The PLAN : get a boat (good start) and build a crew over two-three seasons (2013-2014/15). Over this period we will learn to sail together, understand each other and know the boat. We will white sail for this period as learning to crew together and depend on and know each other will be key to our success in later years. By the end of the 2-3 yrs we should aim to be in the top 30% of the White Sail fleet. We will move to High Tech and Spinnaker when we have learned how to sail well without them. Within another 2 years I would like be be in the top 30% of the high-tech fleet. We will then start ISORA and the likes of Cowes or Cork Week. Over the next 3 years we will become a boat to watch on the circuit. Well you need a plan !
The BOAT : At the moment I am thinking either Beneteau 34.7 or J109. Both boats will need driver, pit, genoa, mainsail and tactician for white sail and them some weight for weather.
The TRAINING : No one succeeds without practice and a thirst for bettering themselves. I have shelves of books on sailing and racing. Recently I have purchased the NorthU Sail Trim and Sailing Tactics books and Videos. They are fantastic and will form the basis of our education and training.
So now to get that boat ...
I have been away working for the last 3 years and am now back in Dublin. Before I left I sold my cruising boat, a Bluewater 58. I want (and need) to get back on the water. My challenge is that I am still as busy as ever. My plan is to get a somewhat smaller boat (about 34-35 foot) that is competitive and to try to get a team together that will work together over the coming years to become one of the top 10 teams in the bay.
I am not a racer myself, but I am competitive and I love a challenge so I am going to try to build the team from scratch and with people who want to learn rather than experienced sailor/racers. I believe that good teams are generally more successful than loose teams of talented individuals.
So today I have no Boat and no Crew - Just Me !
The PLAN : get a boat (good start) and build a crew over two-three seasons (2013-2014/15). Over this period we will learn to sail together, understand each other and know the boat. We will white sail for this period as learning to crew together and depend on and know each other will be key to our success in later years. By the end of the 2-3 yrs we should aim to be in the top 30% of the White Sail fleet. We will move to High Tech and Spinnaker when we have learned how to sail well without them. Within another 2 years I would like be be in the top 30% of the high-tech fleet. We will then start ISORA and the likes of Cowes or Cork Week. Over the next 3 years we will become a boat to watch on the circuit. Well you need a plan !
The BOAT : At the moment I am thinking either Beneteau 34.7 or J109. Both boats will need driver, pit, genoa, mainsail and tactician for white sail and them some weight for weather.
The TRAINING : No one succeeds without practice and a thirst for bettering themselves. I have shelves of books on sailing and racing. Recently I have purchased the NorthU Sail Trim and Sailing Tactics books and Videos. They are fantastic and will form the basis of our education and training.
So now to get that boat ...
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