Sneaked a quick sail today around Plymouth Sound. It coincided with a visit from HMS Queen Elizabeth, our biggest aircraft carrier which was moored south of the breakwater.
A 4.5m tide with HT at 11.45am and southerly winds around 6 kts making it a lazy sailing day.
Elsewhere, however, it was very busy. Helicopters circling the Queen Elizabeth, her police escorts and guards circling slowly. Royal Marines and Royal Navy teams boarding vessels in training runs, from high speed pacific ribs and boats.
And then there was the meeting of the Cornish Shrimper Association - fifty boats making their way across to Cawsand for a raft up. I hope they didn't mind me joining them for a time.
We tacked back and forth across the sound on a broad reach; we close reached into Cawsand Bay. Flotsam drifted by on the outgoing tide. Sail and fishing boats came and went. Princess boats did high speed tests in Jennycliffe Bay.
A mast fitting gave way which dropped all of the sail into the boat rather rapidly. Scared me to death. Fortunately I was sat on the port side and the whole sail dropped into the starboard part of the boat just as I was doing a tack. A shackle pin had worked loose! To be truthful if it had hit me on the head I'm not sure I'd have remained conscious.
Ever dropped your mast in the middle of the sea to replace a shackle? From disaster to re-hoisted sail in under ten minutes. Good job it was a light wind day. And have I ever told you how much I love my mizzen sail?
RFA task force vessels left harbour sounding their klaxons paying due respects to the anchored Queen Elizabeth. Coastal tankers arrived into the Cattedown on the top of the tide, heading for the wharves.
Arwen and I settled into a relaxed rhythm for the day. She sailed her self. I ate marmite and cheese sandwiches and generally lazed about admiring the views ad busy going ons of our Senior Service.
Occasionally I worked up enough energy to wave to passing shrimpers.
Sometime this week Arwen will get a detailed once over, every nook and cranny, every fixture and fitting scrutinised and then next week we head off to Salcombe for a few days sailing and overnight camping.
A 4.5m tide with HT at 11.45am and southerly winds around 6 kts making it a lazy sailing day.
Elsewhere, however, it was very busy. Helicopters circling the Queen Elizabeth, her police escorts and guards circling slowly. Royal Marines and Royal Navy teams boarding vessels in training runs, from high speed pacific ribs and boats.
And then there was the meeting of the Cornish Shrimper Association - fifty boats making their way across to Cawsand for a raft up. I hope they didn't mind me joining them for a time.
We tacked back and forth across the sound on a broad reach; we close reached into Cawsand Bay. Flotsam drifted by on the outgoing tide. Sail and fishing boats came and went. Princess boats did high speed tests in Jennycliffe Bay.
Seagulls patiently waiting on mooring buoys
divers down in Jennycliffe Bay
And a tourist boat came to pay us a visit
Ever dropped your mast in the middle of the sea to replace a shackle? From disaster to re-hoisted sail in under ten minutes. Good job it was a light wind day. And have I ever told you how much I love my mizzen sail?
RFA task force vessels left harbour sounding their klaxons paying due respects to the anchored Queen Elizabeth. Coastal tankers arrived into the Cattedown on the top of the tide, heading for the wharves.
Arwen and I settled into a relaxed rhythm for the day. She sailed her self. I ate marmite and cheese sandwiches and generally lazed about admiring the views ad busy going ons of our Senior Service.
Occasionally I worked up enough energy to wave to passing shrimpers.
Sometime this week Arwen will get a detailed once over, every nook and cranny, every fixture and fitting scrutinised and then next week we head off to Salcombe for a few days sailing and overnight camping.
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