The Somerset landlubbers

Joined me on Arwen today. My brother in-law and sister in-law have been trying to get out on Arwen for a couple of years but whenever they've managed to make it down here, the weather or tides have been against us.

"Are you sure we want to go out in a boat with this man darling?"

Today, however, things fell in place even if the weather didn't quite go our way. High tide was 12.30 ish, a neap tide and winds were variable between 3 - 8 kts from west (although the direction shifted frequently). 

With all the changes made recently I've got rigging time down to 20 minutes; the topping lift makes hoisting and dropping sail a breeze; I just need to learn to keep a tidier boat.  Launching at high tide gave us plenty of depth and so we set off , hoisting sails in Jennycliffe Bay on the eastern side of Plymouth Sound.

The wind was fickle - dropping and rising every few minutes. we were only going for a short trip and so under the helmanship of my brother-in-law, we pottered off towards the breakwater whilst he got the hang of steering by tiller (in other words the boat turns in the opposite directon to the way you pull the tiller!!).  He's a clever guy and leather craftsman and and soon picked up the hang of it. He has that sort of  'problem solving' logic. My sister-in-law, another clever and talented soul, was content to pull jib sheets and take in the views.  We headed across to Cawsand and then curtailed that reach as Brittany Ferries came into view around the western end of the breakwater.

Heading back in to Sutton Pool

We were only out for a short trip and 1 hr 40 mins shot by quickly. I was able to give a little history about the forts around the sound and a little sailing instruction about tacking and points of sail. dropping sails just off Mountbatten breakwater, we motored back into the Cattedown. We didn't freeze, capsize or drown so I think my in-laws were fairly relieved although they are both good fun, pretty laid back and take everything in their stride.There was one heart stopping moment when the motor stalled and cut out twice. Judicious use of the choke and low revs nursed the engine back to the pontoon at QAB marina, where I discovered that seaweed had wrapped itself around the prop in an ever tightening grip. Tomorrow I'll stick the motor in the water filled bin out on the back decking and start it up to just check nothing has been strained.

Warping her along the pontoon

It was a really nice sail with good company and well worth the two year wait.

and the end of another trip

Hopefully will be sailing up the Tamar and up the Lynher on Tuesday.  I posted on the Lynher, way back last year and you can read about it here............http://arwensmeanderings.blogspot.com/2010/05/creek-crawling-up-lynheranother-summer.html 

It's a sort of test run before I phone Dad and get him down to sail up the Tamar to Calstock in mid august when the tides are springs and fall right for such an adventure/

I just wish we could get good winds and SUNSHINE!!

Steve