Yesterday Perth had a months worth of rain in 12 hours, the first significant precipitation in months. You could almost hear the garden breathing a sigh of relief.
Overnight we had very strong winds, thunder and lightening.
As I lay in bed listening to it all, my thoughts obviously turned to Sirocco, and the temptation to leap out of bed and race to the marina so as to check on her well being was very strong.
However.
I rationalised - was she tied up securely?
Yes
Was anything that moves secured?
Yes
Were the fenders in place?
Yes
Did I want to get out of bed?
No
Common sense prevailed! This morning, we have returned to sunny conditions. Sirocco fared just fine, one tip I will pass on though is those smart little hatch covers look fabulous and do a great job keeping the sun out, but in a lot of rain they do compromise the water-tight seal, and, of course, by the order of Murphy's Law, there is a hatch right over the forward berth, the mattress of which is now drying in the sun.
So, Sirocco weathered her first storm. I would like to regale you with tales of derring-do on the high seas with me lashed to the wheel for safety, but the truth is, it wasn't like that.
As for my previous posting, I am happy to report that the lack of confidence has turned into an acceptance that I did, indeed, do the right thing for me at the time, and feeling all down about it is so five minutes ago :)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
doh
Another first for me.
Had a morning sail planned with Pam, Steve and Paul.
From the minute I got down to the marina, I didn't feel right about things - there was a strong gusty SSE crosswind, I knew it would be challenging straight away because it was hard getting on the boat; at that time of day, even with normal windy conditions, it's usually easy. But, I was determined to give it a go, as people had come especially and I felt obligated (and to be honest, I didn't want to appear incompetent).
I started the engine, everything was prepared, and I was about to say 'cast off' but....I realised that I would have to back out pretty fast in order to stop the bow being taken by the wind and smashed into the rocks beside us, and I don't do fast - I am the original sailing-Miss-Daisy kind of skipper.
So, reluctantly, I made the call not to go.....
A more experienced skipper would have probably ignored the cross wind and just done it - but for me, knowing how Sirocco responds, I didn't feel that I would have been comfortable doing so.
For what it's worth, not many people went out either. We did watch one come out and he was caught out - you could see the wind just take the bow - he got out of it ok, but to be fair, he didn't have any rocks around him and had a lot more room to manoeuvre than I do.
Well there you have it. Am I a wimp or am I sensible. I don't know.
All I know is, sitting at home typing this and drinking my coffee, I feel pretty silly and the bloody wind has dropped right off, damn it!
Had a morning sail planned with Pam, Steve and Paul.
From the minute I got down to the marina, I didn't feel right about things - there was a strong gusty SSE crosswind, I knew it would be challenging straight away because it was hard getting on the boat; at that time of day, even with normal windy conditions, it's usually easy. But, I was determined to give it a go, as people had come especially and I felt obligated (and to be honest, I didn't want to appear incompetent).
I started the engine, everything was prepared, and I was about to say 'cast off' but....I realised that I would have to back out pretty fast in order to stop the bow being taken by the wind and smashed into the rocks beside us, and I don't do fast - I am the original sailing-Miss-Daisy kind of skipper.
So, reluctantly, I made the call not to go.....
A more experienced skipper would have probably ignored the cross wind and just done it - but for me, knowing how Sirocco responds, I didn't feel that I would have been comfortable doing so.
For what it's worth, not many people went out either. We did watch one come out and he was caught out - you could see the wind just take the bow - he got out of it ok, but to be fair, he didn't have any rocks around him and had a lot more room to manoeuvre than I do.
Well there you have it. Am I a wimp or am I sensible. I don't know.
All I know is, sitting at home typing this and drinking my coffee, I feel pretty silly and the bloody wind has dropped right off, damn it!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Furler update
All fixed. I am now an expert on how to disassemble and reassemble a furler. Armed with a trusty Allen key, I took the thing apart and sorted out the mess of line inside (caused, I suspect, by not enough tension being kept on the sheet whilst furling in) then set about putting everything back together again. It was going so well until I dropped a small bolt and it went straight into the anchor locker, about six inches deeper than my arms are long.
Now, over the years, at various times, I've been told off for using kitchen implements as tools - tips of knives work really well in place of a screwdriver etc; personally I believe most things have more than one use and I don't see the problem - if you need to unscrew something and you can't be arsed going out into the cold to get a screwdriver out of the toolbox, hell, use a knife! Anyway, I digress. Kitchen tongs to the rescue! Grabbed that little sucker no worries at all.
Luckily Rob Sweet was on hand to help reattach the sail, I really could not have done that alone, so many thanks to Rob and another gentleman who just happened to be passing and lent a hand too (sorry, I can't remember your name but I do appreciate your help).
So now Sirocco can go sailing again tomorrow - and I've learned how to take a furler apart - it's all good :)
Now, over the years, at various times, I've been told off for using kitchen implements as tools - tips of knives work really well in place of a screwdriver etc; personally I believe most things have more than one use and I don't see the problem - if you need to unscrew something and you can't be arsed going out into the cold to get a screwdriver out of the toolbox, hell, use a knife! Anyway, I digress. Kitchen tongs to the rescue! Grabbed that little sucker no worries at all.
Luckily Rob Sweet was on hand to help reattach the sail, I really could not have done that alone, so many thanks to Rob and another gentleman who just happened to be passing and lent a hand too (sorry, I can't remember your name but I do appreciate your help).
So now Sirocco can go sailing again tomorrow - and I've learned how to take a furler apart - it's all good :)
Good Friday twilight
This evening we started earlier, which was a good plan and gave us longer on the water! Jeff and Dawn joined me and my trio of tame yacht rats (it's ok, they told me that's what they are) and we had a lovely sail in a southerly, jib only as it was a little brisk to begin with. Jeff has to be congratulated as he normally suffers horribly from sea sickness, but he did so well, and even helmed for a while (very well too, I must say), what a sterling effort - well done Jeff! I bullied Dawn into having a go on the helm too - and I think she did very well, but seemed quite relieved when someone else took over.
Yay! The chartplotter is back online - works perfectly - however, the latest problem is that the jib furler jammed on the way back - the sail is laying on the deck, tied to the life lines. I shall have to get down to the club early tomorrow and see if I can find someone to help fix it as I have a sail planned for Sunday morning.....time to find all those people who have said in the past "if you ever need a hand....."
A special coo-ee to Alan, who is flying home to Ireland on Sunday - thanks for all your help, company and anecdotes - bon voyage and you're welcome to crew on Sirocco anytime!
Here's a couple of photos of Dawn and Jeff - they look good, don't they? Obviously naturals at this sailing lark.....
Friday, March 14, 2008
Awesome!
Had a full complement of crew last night! Bob, Alan and Andy again, Kevin Stacey, who is a special friend, being the person who helped us join the yacht club and is a very, very experienced sailor, plus two friends of his, Ray and his daughter, Tanya.
With a 3.5m swell and a brisk wind, it was a very exciting few nautical miles, lots of speed and heeling over (more about the speed later).
Sirocco was put through her paces well and truly, and surprised us all by gaining significantly on the faster, bigger yachts - not that it was a race at all - and I discovered, much to my amazement that I have a little competitive streak; I've never considered racing before but I realised last night that I would probably rather enjoy it......!
I took the helm once again to put her back into the pen and I must say I did it rather well, better than the week before, in fact. Practice, practice, practice I guess.
Very civilised apres-sailing nibbles and wine, followed by spending the night aboard, so much better than the other side of the bridge - quiet and peaceful.
Oh yes, about the speed - the consensus was that we were doing about 7 knots most of the time; I'd like to report with a little more accuracy, but can't due to the fact that the chartplotter is in the workshop to be 'looked at' as it doesn't work, and without it, none of the other instruments function - sailing by the seat of our pants! Good eh?
With a 3.5m swell and a brisk wind, it was a very exciting few nautical miles, lots of speed and heeling over (more about the speed later).
Sirocco was put through her paces well and truly, and surprised us all by gaining significantly on the faster, bigger yachts - not that it was a race at all - and I discovered, much to my amazement that I have a little competitive streak; I've never considered racing before but I realised last night that I would probably rather enjoy it......!
I took the helm once again to put her back into the pen and I must say I did it rather well, better than the week before, in fact. Practice, practice, practice I guess.
Very civilised apres-sailing nibbles and wine, followed by spending the night aboard, so much better than the other side of the bridge - quiet and peaceful.
Oh yes, about the speed - the consensus was that we were doing about 7 knots most of the time; I'd like to report with a little more accuracy, but can't due to the fact that the chartplotter is in the workshop to be 'looked at' as it doesn't work, and without it, none of the other instruments function - sailing by the seat of our pants! Good eh?
Friday, March 7, 2008
Pretty damn proud of myself :)
Well, this evening I finally bit my own personal bullet and took Sirocco out of the pen myself, went for a twilight sail, then put her back in the pen ! AND I didn't even hit anything - very slightly glanced off one of the poles coming back in, but so gently no one spilled their drink. Oh Yeah, felt pretty good.....the rocks were still there, and still scary, but I realised there's nothing to fear but fear itself.
Thanks to Bob, Alan and Andy for their encouragement and crewing and especially to Graham who had to virtually catch me when I jumped off to leave: there was a really high tide and my legs just a little too short to step off as I normally can - see, I told you the yacht club was full of nice, friendly, helpful people!
Thanks to Bob, Alan and Andy for their encouragement and crewing and especially to Graham who had to virtually catch me when I jumped off to leave: there was a really high tide and my legs just a little too short to step off as I normally can - see, I told you the yacht club was full of nice, friendly, helpful people!
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