Enjoyable weekend and still too much to do

We had a very enjoyable weekend though there is still loads to do. Briefly, there are still too many loose ends to tie up at work but we'll struggle through the next seventeen days.

We should really have been slaving over an ice box or some other such thing but decided to do a bit of a cruise to Fowey. We also wanted to give Audrey a chance to try some night sailing and the tides favoured a late departure so we left Plymouth at 14:30. The sailing was a bit frustrating as the wind was in the NW to W. The further off shore you went the more the wind headed you but then it continued to head you as you got closer inshore. We did our best and even got two thirds of the way across Whitsand Bay before the wind petered out. We enjoyed watching the Aries or "our friend" do the work. We still need to do some work on the Aries. I suspect that the issue is to lubricate the bearings a bit more as things feel a bit stiff but we shall see.

It did get dark before we arrived and rafted up next to the Plymouth Sailing School charter boat. A good sleep later and we headed back. The wind was behind us but very light. For a while, we were down to less than one knot but it was in the right direction. We experimented with the cruising chute but the rope on the snuffer came off and the snuffer got stuck half way up so I stuffed it down the fore hatch. Next we poled out the jib and that worked a treat. We should really have tried wing and wing being mostly dead down wind but it was easy.

The Aries was struggling so we did the hand steering - we do need to look at the lubrication but we still really enjoyed the sail and the weekend in general was also good.

Now just to get the holding tank fitted, finish the icebox and get the lazyjacks made up and fitted. Just two weekends to achieve that. Oh yes, we also have to buy a life raft as there is no point in getting the old one I bought on eBay serviced given that it would then cost as much as a new one.

The holding tank has been particularly frustrating but we now have a temporary solution where we will make up a cover to put over the end settee bit to accommodate it. No one can sit there because of the Bengco charcoal heater. And so it goes on.

Got a Piece of Paper

Well, I am now in posession of a thing called an ICC or International Certificate of Competence which tells those who might be interested that I am basically to be trusted to command 5 tons or so of mixed plastic, aluminium, steel and wood plus whatever else goes into making a boat.

We had a very productive day with Carl from Plymouth Sailing School. Some of it seemed a bit daunting as he was obviously looking for me to prove that I hadn't come to the boat the day before though he definitely seemed to approve of Rivals. I on the other hand had a considerable amount of nerves and could hardly manage any breakfast.

The weather was really rather grim with a steady force 5 to 6 and a bit of seven occasionally, we didn't envy the cruiser race out to the Eddystone at all. There was also a bit of palaver around the entrance to Cattewater with inshore powerboat racing taking place.

Still, we beat over to Cawsand after I learnt a wonderful way of picking up a mooring by lassoing it. I had read about this before but never put it into practise but it is certainly a whole lot easier than coming alonside to windward and trying to thread the rope through from there. I also, on the advice of the RYA guide to the ICC put the third reef in our main for the first time which made for a very comfortable time and hardly any loss in speed though I suspect that we would have been a bit underpowered in any sort of sea. We will however be less shy about dropping it in.

Anyway, it is good to have a piece of paper which I can wave at Spanish and Portuguese authorities.

We spent the night anchored at Dandy Hole and celebrated with a bottle of fizzy wine while the wind continued to howl over head.

Sunday we tried to look at installing the holding tank only to find that the measurements for the height of the beast didn't include the pipes at the top so it won't fit. It is back to square one on that which is more than a bit frustrating.

No photos so I am including one here of the view from Trelissick House down the Carrick Roads with Sarah G anchored off. This was over the Easter weekend.


Finally, we would thoroughly recommend using Plymouth Sailing School should you need any tuition.

Click here For the website.

Got a Test Date for the ICC

This is a bit scary. It turns out that you really need to have some sort of piece of paper to go sailing in European waters - outside the UK anyway so I have had to sign up for the ICC exam. Plymouth Sailing School are doing the honours (for a fee of course).

We will be going round to Plymouth Yacht Haven at 0900 and having what looks to be a blustery day out in the Sound while I demonstrate that I have what it takes to command a sailing boat in coastal waters.

It will also of course be a day wearing a lifejacket which I normally only do in very rough weather and when doing foredeck work in said rough weather.

Lots of stuff done, lots more stuff to do, getting closer

Not much activity here but a lot of activity in the real world. As I write we are 31 days and about 20 hours off finishing work and pushing off on the big adventure. Though whether it is a springboard to further adventure is still to decide.

The season has not included much sailing to date. We had a very nice easter weekend in Falmouth and by design left her for the three days between Easter Monday and a blonde lad tying the know with a pretty brunette for millions to watch. Then the Easterlies kicked in and we spend an unwelcome week berted on a one of Falmouth Harbour Commissions green mooring bouys as well as chafing through our lovely new mooring warp.

While there the Matthew was doing a lot of tooing and froing.

My Mother turned 70 that on the Sunday so she came down and stayed in a hotel while Matthew joined us aboard Sarah G for a very nice family weekend and a good meal in a fish restaurant.


We did finally get her back to Torpoint in a strong south westerly which managed to gust to a good force 7 off Fowey but we enjoyed it the wind being on the beam rather than ahead. It is always nice to have a good touch sea boat though we felt a bit silly hand steering while the Aries wasn't ready for use on the stern.

The next weekend we were down we concentrated on getting Mars as we have christened the Aries working. After lots of three in one oil and then some fancy silicone stuff from the chandler it seems to be doing it's thing.

We are happy that the crew situation for the cruise is now resolved and I am looking foward to getting from Faro to La Linea with Andy and Katrine. They had a very good weekend visit to Salcombe though we were plagued by light winds.

Now, we are concentrating on getting the administration done and the still myriad list of things to fix. Most frustratingly, the windlass packed up. I should have been able to fix it but the bolts and screws holding it shut were all seized solid. Ebay came to the rescue and we now have a shiny second hand Lofrans Royal bolted to the foredeck. At least fitting it was easy enough though I had to block two of the old holes with epoxy and drill new ones. Lots of Sikaflex should ensure no leaks. We also patinted the saloon deck head which we had stripped the vinyl off to see about removing the panels so as to fit the liferaft chocks only to find that is not really going to happen and we will have to drill large holes to get at the bolts from below. That might sound silly but the process seemed sensible at the time!

At home, I have 10 meters of canvas and am trying to work out how to turn it into an awning.

At work, I am manically trying to get everything ready for me to go while booking flights for Audrey and myself. She is going to La Coruna with Iberia and coming back from Faro with Monarch while I am going with stodgy (?!) British Airways from Gibraltar.

In other areas: Our insurers failed to play ball so I have got a quote from Pantaenius which is the same price as the previous one but with none of the onerous restrictions. I am also booked to do an ICC this weekend while Audrey is to send off for one based on her Day Skipper qualification.

Oh and we are spending a fortune on lots of charts!