Unfortunately the weather and our first grandaughters imminent arrival have other ideas.
We should have been loading the boat today with our final stores, clothes etc. but the weather is not playing ball. With rain coming down and strong winds forecast, this plus our first granddaughter being due a few days ago we have decided to stay at home for a day or two to let the weather blow through and to see whether Emma Louise arrives soon.
We will see.
Dave and Sue outside La Sablonnerie, Sark
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Friday, 23 April 2010
First cruise of the season
Launch Day – Saturday 17th April
After sleeping on board overnight in the car park where Half Time has been all winter we woke to a frost on Saturday morning. Sue got up, switched the heating on and came back to bed for a quarter of an hour while the boat warmed up. We then got up and prepared for launch being careful not to slip on the ice on our deck.
Very calm conditions were the order of the day and we were gently placed afloat at about 08.45. We immediately went to secure ourselves to our new mooring as one of our friends (who shall remain nameless) had worried us about the size of our mooring strops being too large. They were perfect so after checking for leaks etc as you always do we dropped the mooring and headed off for Torquay in the sunshine.
We arrived after a slow sail and tied up on the inside of the Town Dock which has transformed Torquay for visiting yachts. Our friends Ian and Joan (with their niece) joined us at dusk in Eonmor V having left Teignmouth late afternoon.
On Town Dock, Torquay
Sunday 18th April
After a lovely walk along the cliffs towards Babbacombe we left Torquay and headed towards Brixham where we intended to berth on the visitors pontoon. Our friends on Eonmor took the long route as Ian had a new cruising chute he wanted to try out and play with – we still beat him despite a slow but pleasant sail. Sunday night saw us all enjoying a carvery meal in the Prince William pub which caused us to walk all of 50 yds from the moored boats. After a drink or two onboard Eonmor we slept well again.
Monday 19th April
After saying goodbye to our friends (although retired they had commitments) we spent a leisurely couple of hours shopping for essentials before leaving to sail to Dartmouth. By this time we had the benefit of a South flowing tide which was just as well because there was very little breeze. We coasted along at about two knots arriving in Dartmouth at about six o clock and berthed on one of their visitors pontoons for a night. We ate on board.
Tuesday 20th April
After inflating our dinghy we went ashore in Dartmouth for essential supplies before heading upstream to Dittisham. This is one of our favourite places to spend time moored (see top of blog photo) and it did not disappoint. Only two other visiting boats were on the moorings and one of those was empty so a very tranquil time was spent. We had a long walk across the Devon countryside to the next village called Cornworthy and back. We had intended to have our lunch under the tree outside the village hall in Cornworthy but when we arrived there it was to find a repair party rebuilding the stone wall damaged by the severe winter alongside so instead we found refuge in the churchyard and enjoyed our sandwiches in the sun while sitting on the stone bench outside its entrance porch. Another enjoyable meal was had on board later that day.
Spring flowers on our walk
View from Half Times cockpit of Dittisham
Wednesday 21st April
Another walk from Dittisham found us way up above the river heading in the opposite direction towards Dartmouth with superb views of the surrounding countryside and even a skylark singing to keep us company. Primroses, violets and wild garlic lined the paths and here and there bluebells were beginning to show colour. We returned to Half Time with aching legs from the hills but thoroughly pleased with our exercise. After lunch we headed back down river to Dartmouth and ate ashore at ‘The Floating Bridge’, a pub on the waters edge there.
Half Time is hidden under the trees in the centre of picture
Thursday 22nd April
Up early today as we have to return to Teignmouth, our home port. To take advantage of a favourable tide and to time our arrival at Teignmouth with slack water we left Dartmouth just after 9.00 and arrived in Teignmouth after a boisterous sail at just on 13.00, high water time, our first 42 miles of the season completed.
Things that I have learned since finishing work (now a month ago)
1. Days of the week do not matter unless you have an appointment somewhere.
2. Rechargeable razors last much longer when you do not use them everyday.
3. There are more people than expected out and about enjoying life instead of working
We are now at home for a week until we are due off on the boat again, this time hopefully for three months. All that will stop us is the late arrival of our first garndchild, due next week.
After sleeping on board overnight in the car park where Half Time has been all winter we woke to a frost on Saturday morning. Sue got up, switched the heating on and came back to bed for a quarter of an hour while the boat warmed up. We then got up and prepared for launch being careful not to slip on the ice on our deck.
Very calm conditions were the order of the day and we were gently placed afloat at about 08.45. We immediately went to secure ourselves to our new mooring as one of our friends (who shall remain nameless) had worried us about the size of our mooring strops being too large. They were perfect so after checking for leaks etc as you always do we dropped the mooring and headed off for Torquay in the sunshine.
We arrived after a slow sail and tied up on the inside of the Town Dock which has transformed Torquay for visiting yachts. Our friends Ian and Joan (with their niece) joined us at dusk in Eonmor V having left Teignmouth late afternoon.
On Town Dock, Torquay
Sunday 18th April
After a lovely walk along the cliffs towards Babbacombe we left Torquay and headed towards Brixham where we intended to berth on the visitors pontoon. Our friends on Eonmor took the long route as Ian had a new cruising chute he wanted to try out and play with – we still beat him despite a slow but pleasant sail. Sunday night saw us all enjoying a carvery meal in the Prince William pub which caused us to walk all of 50 yds from the moored boats. After a drink or two onboard Eonmor we slept well again.
Monday 19th April
After saying goodbye to our friends (although retired they had commitments) we spent a leisurely couple of hours shopping for essentials before leaving to sail to Dartmouth. By this time we had the benefit of a South flowing tide which was just as well because there was very little breeze. We coasted along at about two knots arriving in Dartmouth at about six o clock and berthed on one of their visitors pontoons for a night. We ate on board.
Tuesday 20th April
After inflating our dinghy we went ashore in Dartmouth for essential supplies before heading upstream to Dittisham. This is one of our favourite places to spend time moored (see top of blog photo) and it did not disappoint. Only two other visiting boats were on the moorings and one of those was empty so a very tranquil time was spent. We had a long walk across the Devon countryside to the next village called Cornworthy and back. We had intended to have our lunch under the tree outside the village hall in Cornworthy but when we arrived there it was to find a repair party rebuilding the stone wall damaged by the severe winter alongside so instead we found refuge in the churchyard and enjoyed our sandwiches in the sun while sitting on the stone bench outside its entrance porch. Another enjoyable meal was had on board later that day.
Spring flowers on our walk
View from Half Times cockpit of Dittisham
Wednesday 21st April
Another walk from Dittisham found us way up above the river heading in the opposite direction towards Dartmouth with superb views of the surrounding countryside and even a skylark singing to keep us company. Primroses, violets and wild garlic lined the paths and here and there bluebells were beginning to show colour. We returned to Half Time with aching legs from the hills but thoroughly pleased with our exercise. After lunch we headed back down river to Dartmouth and ate ashore at ‘The Floating Bridge’, a pub on the waters edge there.
Half Time is hidden under the trees in the centre of picture
Thursday 22nd April
Up early today as we have to return to Teignmouth, our home port. To take advantage of a favourable tide and to time our arrival at Teignmouth with slack water we left Dartmouth just after 9.00 and arrived in Teignmouth after a boisterous sail at just on 13.00, high water time, our first 42 miles of the season completed.
Things that I have learned since finishing work (now a month ago)
1. Days of the week do not matter unless you have an appointment somewhere.
2. Rechargeable razors last much longer when you do not use them everyday.
3. There are more people than expected out and about enjoying life instead of working
We are now at home for a week until we are due off on the boat again, this time hopefully for three months. All that will stop us is the late arrival of our first garndchild, due next week.
Friday, 2 April 2010
April 1st - 1st sail of the Season
Yesterday (April 1st) I helped a friend move his boat (a Hanse 320)from Brixham to Plymouth.
We had been watching the weather to decide when would be a suitable day and Thursday was the best for some time so we gave it a go. Departing Brixham at 09.30 we headed out onto flat water with sunshine, this couldn't last! Heading down the coast towards Dartmouth the sea was still smooth and it continued towards Start Point. However, as we closed on Start Point we were conscious of the seas building and white caps appearing on the waves.
We tacked a couple of miles off the Start and headed as close to the wind as we could as we needed to clear Bolt Head and Bolt Tail, two quite impressive headlands. Fortunately the tide was now in our favour and we were really covering the ground. A first reef was put in off Salcombe entrance but we were still flying, 9knots over the ground.
All around was white water but we were heading in the right direction and enjoying ourselves in the sunshine, gradually catching a 37ft yacht that had left Brixham 3/4 of an hour before us, also bound for Plymouth.
Off the entrance to the River Yealm we had to put in a second reef as the wind was still building and the boat became more manageable. We passed Plymouth breakwater seven hours after leaving Brixham. We were still doing eight knots over the ground.
Our trip was soon over now as we tied the boat up in its new berth at Plymouth Yacht Haven. Very quickly we secured everything and headed of to the pub for a well earned pint. Rain arrived as we entered it.
What a good sail to start the season off with. Just two weeks to our launch day now.
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