Blackwell Sailing Dinghy Practice

Sailing The Wayfarer

2006-08-15T11:31:00.000+01:00

Geoff and Amanda were feeling brave today as the winds were light and took the Wayfarer (which is on loan to Blackwell) and kept at Ferry Nab out for a sail - it was a bit like dancing on ice compared to the beaufort (Muddler).

The wind was a light southerly force 1-2 and we had some good sailing and fast closer hauling in the stronger gusts that came through.

The boat was a lot more receptive to balancing and crew weight and very easily put 'off balance' and skidded round a few tacks before Amanda quite got the hang of not over tacking her.

We both helmed and crewed and both had a play with sail setting and trying to get the tell tails on the jib working for us correctly. She goes really fast when set correctly!

Lunch was at Ferry Nab followed by further joyful sailing all afternoon. We had planned to practice a triangle course but the little pink optimists beat us to the bouys however we did managed to get a figure of 8 course in to include tacking and gybing.

The only glitch of the day - remember to take some lubricating oil for the padlock that locks the wayfarers trailer coz it's a bit rusty!

Geoff's report......

Sailed 10 – 15.30, f1-2, s/sw, drizzly at times 17C. Went to Ferry Nab and launched Wayf (after 40 mins trying to unlock it).

Good sail – now Amanda’s preferred dinghy - slippy on water rather than ‘in’.

Amanda soft-landed it gracefully to windward onto Ferry Nab finger-jetty for lunch gaining an on-looking yachty’s compliment.

Lunch over we set out against a gentle s/sw-erly! Amanda then helmed reaching, beating across bay then gybing and running to Base. Amanda ‘new level of learning’ day.

Muddler and Joanna

2006-08-11T19:56:00.000+01:00

Geoff and Bob took Muddler and Sue and Amanda took Joanna for a white capping, gusty, force 3 sail into the North Lake - luckily we reefed the boats before setting off but Sue and Amanda nearly loosed the reefs when the wind dropped but just as Amanda was about to change from the storm jib the wind blew up again and we stayed with the sails reefed.

Sue and Amanda took out Joanna because we wanted to find out how she handled without clients on board so we could be better prepared for any unwanted wind changes or situations with the clients.

We found out that with just the 2 of us on board Joanna was a lot more tippy than when weighed down with 6-7 people on board and it made the handling very different.

We had lunch at Millarground later to be joined by Ian and Amanda's dogs and then set sail in a more steady force 4 which gave us some good tacks across the lake and a nice steady training run back to Cockshott Point.

Geoff's report....

Sailed 10-14.00 f1-3 cloudy and sunny, w/nw/n, variable in lulls – otherwise good steady-ish wind, C 19. Amanda had readied s/b and Bft; we agreed to reef and have lunch at Millerground 12.30.

Sue and Amanda sailed Joanna; Bob and Geoff sailed Bft after being towed out from lee Cockshott to North Lake by Joanna.

Bob helmed Bft out under tow and then sailed in f3, beating, reaching across lake to Millerground where Geoff helmed to end of windward jetty where, sadly, Bob’s specs slipped off as a tribute to Neptune (or the Windermere equivalent).

Nearby swimming Mancunians declined diving for specs – “need goggles, you know, with all that weed and murky water”

Finishing lunch we watched the wind building to sundry white horses – no prospect of de-reefing!

Readying for departure, Amanda spotted the 3 loves in her life– both dogs and Ian – coming through the shoreline trees – wet, waggy tails and some photo opportunities, as well as a welcome friendly hand from Ian to help casting off.

Reaching, tacking and training-running s/w, s/e with Bob still helming got us back to base by 2 pm – Bob helming under both reefed sails to a soft landing.

Overall a good sail after a lengthy tow to start.

After a comradely natter over tea (courtesy of Ian) at Base, we split and Geoff refitted Bft bilge pump.

Chicken Rock and Ramp Holme

2006-08-10T18:47:00.000+01:00

Geoff's report...

10.00 – 14.00, force 0-3 w/sw/nw at times east - variable.

Sue had readied Bft; rigged jib, paddled out and sailed south (Sue helming) some good beats and reaches, gusting at times; keeping wind in jib was tricky in the lulls and lighter winds.

Slight drops of a shower. Weathered to Chicken Rock, then below Ramp Holme before beating (!) north for eventually a lee-shore Ferry Nab where we paddled in under jib for lunch.

Leaving even without sails was tricky – into the wind: pick a lull and paddle like ***. Raised main among the moorings, later managed to hoist jib but even then, not so far from Ferry Nab shore! – so getting out was a pain in the fluky, dying, mini-gusting winds. (Sue was probably right – we should have accepted Roger’s Drascombe lugger & sea-dog offer of a tow out under his engine).

Beating, tacking and a gentle gybe (Sue helming) back to base was still testing; we paddled in and Sue made a soft landing under jib – and yet Sue wants to come again despite being late in!

Wind On Windermere

2006-08-08T18:45:00.000+01:00

Geoff and Amanda took Muddler out for a sail today - a bit of a cloudy morning with a force 2 south westerly, we had lunch at Ferry Nab followed by a stronger steady force 3 with sunshine in the afternoon.

To start with we went out with no rudder to practice our rudderless sailing, we were sailing the boat by the movement of the crews weight and the positioning of the sails only - not an easy task!!! by the end of the morning there was an improvment - or was that because Geoff took over from Amanda!!!!

We also put into practice sailing with the tiller straight and keeping position by sail movement only.

After lunch we went for a blast down the lake as fast as we could get the boat to go which was good fun but on the serious side we did get lots of practice at improving our tacks and jibes in a good wind whilst avoiding lots of other boats.

Geoff's report....

10—15.00 f1-3, s/sw, sunny with a few showers, 22C. Amanda rigged Bft, paddled out under main and then hoisted jib for 1 hr rudderless sailing; brisk constant-ish wind helped a lot; keeping that bow from over-swinging took a lot of teamwork and concentration – once again we didn’t hit anything – except for some tree twigs on a shallow at Bell Isle (!)

Swapped roles (main/jib) – as with last time found it important to take the jib sheets out of their fairleads (too much friction) and tie together. Next time must try the RYA handbook tip of only having one purchase in the mainsheet block (for same reason). Instructive how altering ballast just abaft mast would alter boat’s course.

Shipped rudder for some really brisk tacks before lunch at Ferry Nab (where Amanda sailed to near-perfect coming -alongside jetty finger).

Geoff helmed first and tried (fairly unsmoothly in the event) to sail backwards off mooring under main alone. Good beating and broad-reaching across to Belle Isle, back tacking round F Nab fairway yellow buoy.

Amanda helmed keeping rudder centred, experimenting with sail set to alter course; one or two gybes and Amanda helmed back under full sails for good soft landing at base.

Chasing The Wind On Windermere

2006-08-02T10:50:00.000+01:00

Geoff and Amanda took Muddler out today for a sail, the weather was muggy, warm, cloudy, rain and sun all at the same time and the wind varied from non existent to a few gusts of about 2-3 in the morning with a variable westerly in the afternoon which had a habit of dying on you just when you didn't want it to.

We experimented wtih rudderless sailing using the weight of the crew and the sail position to alter course - which in no wind was interesting as we ended up drifting backwards at one point!!!

We also practiced balancing the boat when tacking for an improved maneuver and threw 'bob' in the water to be rescued a few times. (luckily the water was nice and warm because Amanda's not too good at first time recovery unless it involves running poor 'bob' over!!!)

We saw rather a lot more of Parsonage Bay than we really wanted and ended up paddling at several points to try and find that elusive wind but we still managed to have a lot of fun and a good day out.

Geoff's report....

sailed between 10am -16.15pm in a force 1-3 w/sw, rainy and fluky 18C; tried both new tiller extensions on Beaufort; paddled out (Amanda helming) - rudderless sailing - fun; lunch at Ferry Nab which we shared with a robin; rained on return trip, paddled back in.

Dinghy Practice,Windermere

2006-07-12T14:15:00.000+01:00

Geoff's report...... 9.00 – 10.30 @ Blackwell Sailing f2/3 s/ sw, overcast 17C; sailed Bft (no reefs) Barbara helming, close-hauling to Chicken Rock; boat under-performing due to overzealous pulling on forestay = mast rake aft negated; Geoff gybing back to base soft-landed under sail. At jetty, Geoff shortened shrouds 5 turns.

Force Four Sailing

2006-07-11T20:42:00.000+01:00

Geoff and Amanda went up to Killington Lake this morning but decided that as the water was white capping and gusting in all directions we'd try Windermere instead.

When we got there it was blowing a nice force 2 but by the time we'd rigged the boat it was up to about a 4/5, white capping with nasty gusts - we went out for a short but dramatic sail anyway!!!!

Geoff's report.........Another good theory sesh at too-windy-a-Killington for tuition sailing! but a good sail later this afternoon (Amanda & Geoff) from Cockshott with non-reefed Bft. Tiller extension bolts came loose(!) but we returned to base and re-tightened them for another good 10 years’ sailing! (Not much left to remedy on the Bft, I guess)

Sailing Muddler

2006-07-08T11:29:00.000+01:00

Geoff, Maria and Amanda took Muddler out today on Windermere to practice sailing round a course without a rudder and sailing in a straight line without moving the tiller from the centre position.

Geoff's report.......
10 – 15.50 @ Blackwell Sailing f2/4 sw variable, sunny 18C eventually shower; rigged telltales on Bft and ½ Joanna; rigged horse bolt on Bft; Amanda helmed to Ferry Nab – landed to re-rig blown jib; Geoff helmed to Cockshott Woods meet Maria over lunch. Long time reefing – Amanda & Maria sailed North (Geoff on Saftey Boat ¾ hr); Amanda/Geoff swapped – Geoff helmed close-hauled to Cockshott Woods; good, gusty sailing- soft- landed @ Blackwell Sailing under sail. De-reefed, one batten broken, sail-bag unroved.

Dinghy Sailing, Windermere

2006-07-05T11:40:00.000+01:00

Er..... Yes, I know the pictures not Windermere - Barbara, Geoff and I were actually supposed to be sailing at Killington today but as you can see from the picture when we got there there was no wind. Geoff and I decided to drive to Windermere in the hunt of wind to sail with.

We arrived at Cockshott Woods and decided to take Muddler out on the Lake, luckily a southerly force 2 blew up and we went to Parsonage Bay to practice sailing round a triangular course and man-over-boards - not literally I'll add we threw "Bob" the buoy overboard to 'rescue' instead of a person!

Geoff's report.......10-13.00 @ Killington f4 gusting 6 sw, sunny 22C; too windy for tuition sail; v. good 3 hr theory/discussion, Barbara, Amanda & Geoff. 13.30- 16 @ Blackwell Sailing f1/2 s/sw. 29C Bft with Amanda helming some Geoff; round 3 buoys in Parsonage Bay; 8 mobs. Replaced rudder shockcords with line. Good practice sesh. Man repairing Safety Boat engine.

Sailing On Windermere

2006-07-01T11:47:00.000+01:00

The sun was out the weather was a scorcher and Geoff, Marie and Amanda took Muddler out for a wild spin on the Lake.The waves were white capping in the morning but by lunch time had settled down to a nice moderate southery - with a few gusts and twists thrown in for good measure.

Geoff's report......11.30 – 16.10 @ Blackwell Sailing f2/3 s/sw fine & sunny. 28C. Swapped assessmt/Dinghy Practice dates; agree ½ hour stints; Maria & Amanda sailed off in reefed Bft; Safety Boat wouldn’t start (flat battery); unpacked it; txtd Dave news and waited; 12.45 girls returned; cuppa and tacking handling practice; 3 in a boat set off on lee boats/jetties (!) tacked, reached & gybed to 14.20. sailed in. Cuppa &amp;amp;amp;amp; lunch; De-reefed and (Amanda helming) reached/tacked to Quadrille (Geoff's boat); got strop and shackle; Amanda had look inside; Amanda helmed back to Blackwell Sailing with 6 to 8 gybes – v good. Gentle safe alongside manoeuvre.

Dinghy Practice, Killington

2006-06-29T12:06:00.000+01:00

Geoff's report........... 10.45-13.30 @ Killiington f2/3, s/sw, beautiful sunny 20C, some clouds; late (lost way over Docker Moor?; 1 hr theory; 1.5 hrs sail then lunch. Barbara and Geoff in wooden Seafly tacking & gybing – v. good but de-motivating for lack of control – more water practice needed.

Dinghy Practice,Windermere

2006-06-26T12:02:00.000+01:00

Geoff's report........18.00- 19.45 @ Blackwell Sailing S f1/2 – 0, n/nw, overcast, some light shower; Barbara & Maria sailed Bft rafted to N Lake; 4 mob’s; rafted back! Safety Boat engine stalled after c. 2 mins from start; re-started on 2nd attempt.

Dinghy Practice, Windermere

2006-06-25T12:04:00.000+01:00

Geoff's report......... 09.30-12.00 @ Blackwell Sailing f2/3 n/nw flukey, overcast, no rain; took my grapnel, line and hook; paddled from m’boat jetty; sailed N lake (Barbara helming to halfway) 6-8 mob’s; had to clear race start line