Here is the last in the series on the slow passage to the
river Yealm and back again. Over the next month or so I hope to do a couple of
longer trips involving a few days. Several destinations have popped up –
sailing down to Fowey and up to Lostwithiel; sailing over to Salcombe and up to
Kingsbridge and one or two other creek heads; heading back down to Falmouth and
sailing around to the Helford river and up to Gweek etc. Also pulling my
interest is sailing up the Tamar above Calstock, up to Morwellham or beyond. And then there are one or two Dinghy Cruising Association rallies as well.
In the meantime………………………
What did I learn on
my slow passage to the river Yealm and back again?
1.
Look before you leap off the boat and remember
it is always deeper than it looks!
2.
Have some time calculations for each leg of your
passage plan that go at a knot or two below what you anticipate!
3.
Don’t religiously follow the planned route –
sail for speed not shortest distance and when necessary, divert to get the best
speed and winds
4.
Spend a little more time using the anchor buddy
to get more familiar with it and the distance you need to drop it off the beach
for it to work effectively
5.
Make sure you switch off your microphone when
you don’t need it
6.
Make sure you switch your microphone on when
talking to camera!!
7.
Don’t accidently put your drink bottle in with
your electronics bag!
8.
Mark your position on the chart when doing your
passage plan timing checks – hove to if necessary for a few minutes
9.
Clip your anchor back into its securely stowed
position before sailing off after your beach stop
10.
Spend some of the trip changing course using
just sails
What other things do I need to do
on Arwen before her next voyage further afield?
1.
Put in reefing lines before longer voyage
2.
Repair the brass step on the transom which broke
free
3.
Consider installing taped jackstays (with
shackles stitched in at each end) for longer voyages so I can clip myself to
them for easy movement around boat
4.
Put locks on the two centre thwart lockers
5.
Alter the tiller tamer – I have the rope going
through the eye in the wrong direction and it occasionally binds
6.
Get an outboard lock, for the longer trips away
7.
Paint a ding on the starboard side which has
gone to bare wood
8.
Sort out mizzen topping lift
9.
Get star washers and refit the port rear trailer
roller which has come loose
10.
Give some consideration to whether I also get a
PLB – I have the SPOT messenger which sends regular texts to various family
members saying I am Ok and also allows them to track where I am. Whilst it also
has an SOS button which alerts the rescue centre in USA (and gives them
direction instructions to contact Falmouth Coastguard with my co-ordinates –
since pressing that button means I am in deep trouble), I wonder whether I
should carry one of the other PLB types which immediately alerts UK rescue
authorities – something to ponder over further.
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