Club tidy then Studland

Jewels and I were up bright and early on saturday to help with the work party at the club. No stereo types here... I was assigned to cleaning and repairing the safety boat and Jewels was assigned to cleaning the kitchen.

There was a good show of people and we had all the work done by 1pm. Time for lunch from the chippy then out on the boat.

Jewels headed home at this point and Julian came down for the afternoon shift... er Drift. There was no particular plan but we decided to head out into the bay. Loaded up our stuff n sandwiches, checked the rigging got the sails up and nosed towards the entrance.

What little wind there was was coming from the south so we started the engine and ploughed on into wind through the choppy waters in the habour entrance. About the time we approached the chain ferry Julian pointed out that the starboard inner had become slack! This is taking the pee. We motored out into the bay, hove too and tensioned the rig agin and tightened the lock nuts. I think another approach is required here, it seems that the shrouds shake loose as soon as the rig starts to flog.

There was just enough wind to keep us going at a knot or two so we hung the fishing line over the side and headed for Studland.

Having been overtaken by motorboats, canoes wasps and butterflies we eventually picked up speed in the bay due to the sea breeze.

Dropped the anchor (Not where the seahorses are) and followed our noses to the Bankes Arms. If you've never been there it well worth a visit. Good Beer brewed on the premises, local ciders great building with super views from the garden.

Back on board there was even less wind than before, the sea breeze had vanished and we just drifted with the tide in the general direction of Poole.

It was so calm that we were able to chat with people on moored boats with out having to raise our voices. I put the kettle and watched the sunset. Lovely colours and no vapour trails.. Is this the legacy of the Icland volcano? As it was getting dark I made mental notes of the lights that I would need to look out for. Once the tea was finished we started the engine, I don't mind drifting but we needed to be back by christmas.

The engine pushed us along at 5knots and we were sooon back on the mooring. Tidied up and back on the pier we'd had a good chilled day but that rigging is really starting to play on me.

Inner shroud failure.

Had a cracking blast around Brownsea island yesterday evening until I popped out by the harbour entrance. The wind had become very gusty and was slamming the rig. The boat was becomming very uncomfortable so I started the engine and pointed into wind so I could get the sails down.
Once down I could seee that the port inner shroud had parted company with the shroud plate. I was pretty surpised as I had checked all the bottle screws and lock nuts before setting off, Papillon sadly lost her mast over the weekend so this was top of my mind.
On inspection the fork had been spread, I'm not sure if the clevis pin had sheared or fallen out but the violent shaking of the rig had loosened the bottle screw on the other inner shroud as well.
I keep spare clevis pins and the little key ring type thingys (That's what they're called) so all is ok again but it's something I be checking constantly fom now on.

I'm not sure if the initial slamming was caused by the shroud failing or if the shroud failed because of the slamming?

Odds n Sods

Saturday afternoon James and I took the tender down to the club for it's maiden voyage. I also wanted to fit the new cable that links the GPS to the VHF. The tender / Engine combo works a treat. The tender is an old 14ft dinghy minus it's rig and with a Plywood plate screwed to the back for an engine mount.


The GPS Cable didn't go so smoothly. I fitted the panel plug to the panel and connected the feed ok but the data lead from the VHF is not labelled and I was unable to determine which wire went where. (Even though there are only two). At least the GPS can run from the boats power now.


I then drilled and filed a slot in one of the wash board retainers to mount the unit on. It's much better than having it clipped to the guard rail as I can see it clearly at all times.
Even though there was hardly any wind we put the sails up and went for a drift around the harbour. James took the helm here, hunting out any breeze that we could. We went over to have another look at the forlorn looking Fantasie.. I took some pics of the poor thing, what d'ya think?

The dodgeres are torn, the mast is missing and the hull has a fringe.. Nice! If anyone fancies a project I could make some enquiries.

Back at the jetty and the ladders have not been put back up yet. I stood at the front and steadied the tender while James passed all the bit's n bob up to me, James then climbed out and we struggled to get the outboard onto the jetty. Nothing left in the tender now except me. It was about 4 ft from the (bouncing) deck to the jetty, as soon as I tried to launch myself the boat disappeared backwards and I hadn't gained enough hieght to to clamber up. With a splash I was up to my thighs in sea water. I thought James was going to fall of the jetty laughing. Still he didn't have a camera out so no one will ever know 8~)

Tender leaving garden

Today I av been mostly extracting the tender from my back passage!
I struggled to get the bleedin thing round there last year and it was no easier coming out again today. I have a good enough size garden but the access is not great. There is a 5ft wide passageway with a 3ft wide arch at the front. The tender is a 14ft GRP lump at 5ft wide it needs to be on it's side to get it along the side of the house and through the gate. Poor ole James, he's built like a withy but he really put himself into it.
Any way, after loads of huffing n puffin we,ve got it out and onto the trailer. As soon as my pulse drops i'll take it down to the club.

Shake down sail

Ok.. Boats in the water, time to see if I can remember how to sail.
Forecast was for 4 or 5 with gusts upto 28mph. As I have a brand spanking new jib from Saunders Sails I thought I'd give it a go. Slipped the mooring with just the jib up and off I went. Sooo much better than the old rag. Was even able to tack, something I used to struggle with with both sails up.
Back to the mooring and fitted the main. By this time the gusts had blown out and the wind seemed fairly steady at about f4. I had the cut down blanking plate fitted to the well so it's time to see how she goes, unfortunately I'd left my GPS at home so would be hard to really see how she was going to go.
Off I went again, a little over sailed and a fair amout of weather helm. I'd forgotten how lurchy JB can be, especially with only one person on board. I headed off towards Brownsea Castle putting in various Tacks and Gybes, it's all starting to come back to me. Then headed back towards Sandbanks to Check on what looks like an abandoned Fantasie 19. It's been there for last two years with no mast, torn dodgers, lots of weed growing on it and the anchor thrown on the back going rusty. Blinking shame, I did see the owner three years ago and he was in poor health. I hope he is ok and able to keep this boat away from the shredder.
I then did a quick lap of Brownsea island, was a bit slow up Blood alley and the wind is blocked and veers around the islands, then fired like a cork out of a bottle back through the harbour to the mooring, which I picked up under sail, single handed first time... A miracle, guaranteed I won't be able to do that with an audience!
The centre of effort needs moving back slightly but apart from that I was well happy. The jib was superb and the blanking plate cut down on all the turbulance in the well.

Fantasie 630

Just found an ad for a Fantasie 630 (Big Bruvva to the 19). I've never seen one or seen any pics of one. Cant have been many made.

http://www.yachtbazaar.com/98442_Aqua_Boats_Limited_Fantasie_630.htm

Fantasie 630 5 berth Fin keel Yacht Lying in Plymouth Name of craft Oddyssey Build material GRP Builders name, model Aqua Boats Ltd (Fantasie 630) Year of build approx 1975 Fin keel Headroom 5ft 10" Length 21ft Beam 8ft Draught 3ft 4" Fuel capacity 5 gal

I'm new to this....

Here we go then, never used a blog before so let see how it works.

Jelly Bean went back on her mooring on Tuesday night. In from work, wolfed my dinner down and hitched up. Easier said than done as the pavement outside my house has been dug up to install new street lights.
Straight down the slipway at Baiter park, recovered the trailer and motored to the mooring. I couldn't remember the number of the mooring so had to guess by position.. Yippee it was right.
Pumped up the tender on the coachroof and rowed ashore, stashed the tender, paddles etc, got changed on the beach and walked back to Baiter to sort out the trailer and Landy.
4 hours door to door... Not bad.