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2021 Yee Haa

5 Apr 2021 15:38

We keep getting odd spring like days amidst the cold, windy and wet ones, a promise of things to come, I hope. I expect there will be a lot of people trying to make up for last years lost season. It’s a case on no room at the Inn at my marina, the hard is full of boats lifted out before the lockdown, their owners unable to get down until recently to work on them; which in turn means that others cannot be lifted out for antifouling etc. just now.

 It will all come good in time I’m sure, in the meantime let’s make some plans.

 If you need help or crew, or indeed if you can offer your services, advertise on the website, it’s free.

 Happy sailing and boating.

2020 Here We Come

1 Jun 2020 09:59

I made the decision to change Marinas just before the lockdown and having signed a contract with the new Marina, was obliged to extend my stay at the old one, thus paying twice. That’s life I guess.

 I have a river boat at the moment and even if I had been tempted to move it, there is a manned lock on route, but it opens today and plans are in place. The boat sits at the lock moorings waiting for a suitable tide to navigate the tidal section of the river to get to it’s new home.

 Whatever, you are planning I wish you well, it’s good to finally get the season underway. It won’t be the same however, just yet, with closed pubs and restaurants. Personally I’ve switched off the news and stopped listening to the radio as I’m tired of hearing about the virus. The media had 3 years to rattle on about Brexit and must be pleased to have another easy story. No intelligent reporting necessary, just look around among the minority opinions for some sensationalised stories, don’t get me started.

 If you are reading this please put an advert on Boat Buddys, it’s free and may get you that sail or buddy.

2020 Here We Come

1 Jun 2020 09:59

I made the decision to change Marinas just before the lockdown and having signed a contract with the new Marina, was obliged to extend my stay at the old one, thus paying twice. That’s life I guess.

 I have a river boat at the moment and even if I had been tempted to move it, there is a manned lock on route, but it opens today and plans are in place. The boat sits at the lock moorings waiting for a suitable tide to navigate the tidal section of the river to get to it’s new home.

 Whatever, you are planning I wish you well, it’s good to finally get the season underway. It won’t be the same however, just yet, with closed pubs and restaurants. Personally I’ve switched off the news and stopped listening to the radio as I’m tired of hearing about the virus. The media had 3 years to rattle on about Brexit and must be pleased to have another easy story. No intelligent reporting necessary, just look around among the minority opinions for some sensationalised stories, don’t get me started.

 If you are reading this please put an advert on Boat Buddys, it’s free and may get you that sail or buddy.

Sleepy City

11 Jul 2019 12:23

It’s difficult to explain to a non boaty person, what boats are all about. Looking around our small marina it’s obvious that it isn’t about voyages. Well of course there needs to be an element of actually traveling, but not too often. No it’s all about reminiscing about past trips and planning future ones. My neighbour in the marina plans to go through the lock and out to sea, at some stage. He’s looking forward to the fishing and has had a new windlass fitted, with a long scope of chain; but not just yet.

 Close by is a large power boat, the owner plans a circumnavigation of the British Isles, in a few years time, before motoring down to the Med. All at 1mpg!

 Most of the boats seldom move, some not for years. Plant pots and led lights festoon decks, barbecues and pushbikes, it’s the East Coast and we have a choice of the river, or the salt, as they say.

 No boats take you to another world, whether you are racing on a yacht in the solent, crossing the channel or pottering up the canal. You will talk to people and take time. I met an old lady once in Eastbourne marina who lived on her boat. She explained the loneliness of living in her council flat where nobody had the time to stop and talk. Her move to the marina where she had lived for several years had transformed her life. ‘I know everyone’, she said, ‘and Fred and Bill take my boat out every year to make sure it’s all right.’

 Busy lives and finance don’t always allow, but if you can get on a boat and let the world pass you by, even if it’s only for a few hours.

A River Tale

13 Feb 2019 16:14

Having deliberated for months over whether to buy a river boat or a sea boat, the river won, but it had to be a proper boat, and the dutch do know how to do it. Blue Dolphine was probably built in the 70s and has a 110hp Bedford diesel. I’m sure it would be quite capable of making sea passages in favourable conditions, but lacks any navigational or safety equipment, so the rivers it is.

 We picked it up from Chertsey and motored up to Shepperton, not without incident, before lifting it out and transporting it to Fosdyke on the Wash. Having mostly sailed and being quite cautious, the 6 mile two lock journey to Shepperton didn’t look much of a challenge. It was a nice day and I motored gently using the upper helm position on the rear deck. Slowing down in good time I motored towards the bank to moor up and wait for the first lock. A touch of reverse, er a touch of reverse, what no reverse! It was a choice of what to hit. Fortunately there was a small landing stage, and a tweak of the wheel enabled Dolphine’s steel bow to ram it squarely.

 A pre-flight check is mandatory on an aircraft, but a river boat? Complacent I was. I tried reverse again, it definitely wouldn’t engage. The lock keeper was understanding and caught our lines as we motored into the lock. We proceeded cautiously to the second lock and repeated the procedure.

 Whilst in the lock it occurred to me that the morse on the inside helm position might be capable of engaging reverse. It did, and so I changed position.

 It was very windy and the lock keeper warned us to be careful on leaving the shelter of the lock. To be on the safe side I switched the power on to the bow thruster. The gates opened and we motored out. There was a canal boat waiting to come in, and so a touch on the wheel, er a touch on the wheel, no response. A blast on the bow thruster, yes, that did it. Wheel hard over, nothing. The strong wind blew the bow back towards the canal boat. Reverse, bow thruster, ahead. Wind blows bow over, repeat.

 I can see the canal boat skipper’s face now, the fear, the disbelief. Finally we were past him and with some difficulty and several pirouettes managed to moor on the weather bank, there being no other options.

 With the road transport arranged for the following morning and overnight berth in Shepperton arranged and the evening approaching the answer was obvious, a tow. We were close to the marina and the work boat could pull us in.

 Unfortunately the workboat was elsewhere and a commercial tow was quoted at nearly £400, which I thought outrageous, no, I’d steer from above and my wife, the crew, would at the sound of loud rapping on the coach house roof pull the morse lever back and engage reverse.

 This worked a treat, and we moored safety just outside of the marina. However, with all of those very expensive boats inside, and with some persuasion we obtained the assistance of the marine manager, who took over the helm, whilst I manned the morse control. We moored on the craneage berth and all heaved a sigh of relief.

 The moral of the story, go by bus.

 Pete

An Early Season Sail

9 May 2018 14:25

Well, it looks like spring has finally arrived and hopefully there aren’t too many jobs left to be done. I’ve always thought that the expression ‘winter project’ is a bit of a silly one. When we kept our boat on the east coast it was often too cold to think about working out in the biting wind. What with that and the short days a lot of work was left until the springtime. Hopefully skipper you have a boat buddy or two to help out.

 I remember a trip to Guernsey early in the season, the boat was spruced up and looking good. As we approached St Peter Port the sea was confused and slopping about, with quite a swell. As the wind was on the beam this presented no problem, but a playful wave would come aboard now and then. The old smack had a dog house cabin, which housed the navigation equipment and a comfortable double berth. We had allocated this to George, in accordance with his perceived standing amongst the crew.

 George was below styling his hair and applying aftershave in anticipation of a run ashore, and it was his misfortune to poke his head out to check on progress, just as a rather large sea came aboard. There was plenty of room on deck for us crew to avoid the worse of it, but George had no chance. Just as his head appeared the wave broke over the dog house, flattening his quiff and soaking him thoroughly.

 Laughter was not an option given the terrific display of temper as he pulled the companionway doors closed and the hatch cover over. The incident was never mentioned.

Chilly start, but great Opportunities

11 Apr 2018 09:53

There are some amazing opportunities for Boat Buddys that have been recently added to the website, including a boat share in California, and a catamaran trip down to the Med, as well as lots of UK coastal sailing. All we need now is some decent weather!!

 Personally I like sunny warm days, force 4 sailing or pottering along a canal or river. My friend, however just loves it when the wind gets up and the boat is surfing down the waves. The occasional Yee Haa serves as an outlet to his enthusiasm.

 I remember a trip in our old 60’ Smack from Yarmouth to Weymouth on such a boisterous day. Unusually the wind was on the port quarter blowing us along, rather than on the nose as usual. We left the main stowed and sailed under jib and staysail. The boat romped along and on one occasion we touched 10 knots ( with a little tidal assistance ). Entering Weymouth bay we noticed that the S shaped hook that attached the jib to the traveller had straightened out to the point where the jib was almost able to come off. That hook was made of 5/8” steel, which goes to show how much power was in that sail.

 There has been a record number of new members joining over the last month, and to all of you I wish you a great season, Advertising on the site is free and upgraded membership is only 25 for the year, I would have put a pound sign in, but my keyboard is American!

Welcome to the 2018 season.

11 Mar 2018 11:30

There have been lots of new members coming aboard over the past couple of weeks. Remember that you can advertise on the site for free, so tell us about yourself or your boat.

Boating, whether sailing or motoring is great fun. Don’t be put off by thinking it’s complicated, or a lot to learn. There’s a world of difference between a sunny calm day in the Solent and a rough, cold night at sea, I know which I prefer. The same applies to all of the gadgets, AIS, radar, chart plotters. They all have their place and it’s good to be cautious, but there is no substitute for planning ahead and keeping a good lookout.

 I was with a skipper once who ran aground whilst studying a possible entrance on his chart plotter. On deck we crew tried again and again to get him to look up through the hatch, and see what was obvious to us. He was having none of it and was getting very angry, and as the skipper he made the decisions. As there was no danger to life, just inconvenience, we gave up and gently ground to a halt. We were towed off in due course and the incident never mentioned again.

 Happy boating.

French Canal Trip

29 Apr 2017 11:17

Gordon Fraser, a catamaran owner/skipper is taking his boat through the French canals this summer and is looking for paying crew. This is a cruise he has done before and has fond memories of it. 

The first leg departing mid June ish takes the boat down to the Med. Then leg two goes on to Sardinia and finishes in the Greek Islands. The boat is based in Lefkas, where Gordon is based for around 5 months each year. He takes guests whilst there for sailing/walking holidays. He advertises on the BB site and can be contacted by any interested full members.

Sounds like a fantastic trip to me.

2017 Here We Come

26 Jan 2017 11:18

On a cold, wet January day, where outside jobs become an ordeal, spring seems a long way off. Most boats are laid up, although some brave souls do go out, but that’s not for me. I like to think about those balmy summer days and plan ahead for new ones, and, judging by the number on new Boat Buddy accounts registered so far this month, I’m not alone.

 So Skipper, if you are going to need a hand getting your boat ready for the season, and or some crew later on, why not put a free advertisement on the Boat Buddy site. There are lots of Buddys out there, many of whom have good and useful skills, together with a will to help.

 You get the help you need and they get the boating/sailing experience that they want. It’s an arrangement that really does work for both parties.

 Boat Buddys can advertise as well, again it’s free. You may be just the person that Skipper is looking for.

 Also remember this is not a fixed arrangement, unless both parties want it to be. A Buddy can buddy several Skippers though the season and gain lots of experience on different boats. Likewise the Skipper may want a pool of Buddys to ensure always having crew.

 Whatever you do have a great 2017.

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