Gorey and Back

After not selling the boat (see previous post) decided to do the opposite, i.e. use it. More details shortly but see pics for the gist. Camera memory card full at start of day two so use your imagination for that bit.

May 2010 - Gorey and Back

A Close Shave

I don't know whether it's because I'm nearing a 'special' birthday or whether its the time of year, but once again I had a 'let's sell the boat' moment. I had one last year about the same time. Both times, I put an ad on jerseyinsight.com, and both times I had someone interested. (These moments usually come after a 'heated discussion' in our house about how much time and energy the boat is absorbing)

First point to note is how often boaty people must check the classifieds on there because I had two of my nautical aquaintances contact me to ask 'why?' and 'what the heck are you thinking of?' respectively, and the ad was only up for around 24 hours.

The third person to make contact was interetsed in buying the boat. I really nearly did decide to let it go but after sleeping on it, going for a long bike ride and sleeping on it again, I decided, no, we decided, to keep it. The text I sent the potential buyer to communicate this decision received this reply:

"Glad you are keeping her.Truth is I owned her 26 years ago, her name was Bewyched. She was a great little boat, though the engine we had gave us a few moments! Lots of fun, took my wife out at 39 weeks (with the dog!) Enjoy her but if you ever do decide to let her go please give me first refusal as it would be fun to have her again one day."

All being well, myself and Rob (author of above text and former owner of Kamala / Bewyched!) will have a chance to meet up, sail and swap stories in the summer. Watch this space.

This one's for you Rob, from last summer:

Windy Evening Sail

I left school as soon as I could and cycled to St Aubin. I got to the boat around 4:30pm. I was surprised by how windy it was and the chop around the harbour entrance was hard to row through. Wind was NNE. Put two reefs in the main and tried to sail off the mooring but made a bodge of it without the genoa up. The bow wouldn't turn away from the wind to run out to sea.


With the genoa partially let out control was restored and we rocketed out towards belcroute. Wind was gusting to 25 knots, sometimes for long stretches at a time. Decided to scoot accross the Elizabeth Castle / St Helier and this took a while against the wind. Averaged around 2.5 kts on the GPS. Off the wind a little, saw 4.8 for some stretches. Even with the small sail plan boat was well heeled over.

Once I got near the castle it was clear that there was no point in running into the harbour just to beat out again. Decided that the offshore breeze would create a nice bit of flat water in front of the Gunsite Cafe so headed back accross there. Better wind angle and saw just over 5 kts for a time.
 
Anchored off Gunsite. Very flat water and wind lessened in lee of land. Note kettle and hot chocolate! (And a grumpy looking skipper - just wind-shocked I think) Sailed back onto mooring with genoa only. Practiced sailing onto a mooring upwind of mine. Didn't go too well but managed to round up to mine upwind and upstream and drifted down on to it with very little fuss. Quite pleased manage the whole sail with no engine. (Had it ready just in case!)


My home made dinghy on its pontoon home.

Wind: NNE, 13-25kts
Motor: 0
Distance: 4.8 nm
HW 1740 BST

First Sail of 2010

I can't remember the exact date of this sail but it was a couple of weeks ago. There was no wind at all in the bay and I only found some by motoring out beyond Noirmont towards the port and starboard markers in the middle of the bay.

Wind: 0-9knots
Distance:3.80 nm
Engine: 40mins

This is the new Jeckells sail and I'm really pleased with it. It fitted straight on, seems to pull well and looks well made.









A view to the West from the middle of the bay.






Ruadiere starboard bouy. Any further in and the wind just died.






Kamala on her summer mooring in St Aubins outer harbour. A beautiful evening.

Impeller Dilemma

I've bent the new sails on and we are nearly ready for the season. Knew something was up with the engine from last year, when it kept cutting out at low revs. I guessed it might be the carb again and cleaned it out with the spray. Didn't help, so looked at the cooling. Bingo! water flows nicely through at high rpm but at low revs, virtually nothing.

Checked the manual for the honda and took of the gearbox housing (easy, just two bolts plus the gearbox linkage) and took it home for a look. Bought a new impeller from Fox in Jersey for £15 or so.

And here are the results:

Impeller housing.

Spot the problem?

This is what a good one looks like for comparison!

New impeller nicely tucked in place.







Re-installing the gearbox case was pretty tricky as the drive shaft from the engine to the propeller dropped out when I took the gearcase off and it is very difficult to realign at the top. Took a long time and a lot of fiddling to get it in place, and then it promptly dropped out again due to gravity. Eventually aligned it again and held it in place this time and screwed it all together. It all seems ok but I haven't tried it with the engine running yet. I'll try it tomorrow and if it works, I'll go out for a sail (first this year!)

Dinghy Launch Day.

Today, after a 6 month build process, I put my Rye Bay 8' in the water for the first time. It floats! The kids had a good trop round the outer harnour with me and they loved it too. It's now down in the harbour waiting for a) a name and b) enough water to be able to get to Kamala.

All the photo's are here:

Building a Rye Bay 8'

Kamala is remarkably dry inside. I left all the cushions and covers off the lockers and they've dried out a treat. Sails up is the next job then fixing the broken vent.

Review of 2009

Work Done
At the start of last season I had a list if things that I thought needed doing:

• new mainsail
• headlining in forward birth area
• anti-fouling
• engine service, especially the carb.
• leaking windows need attention
• cockpit locker covers

of these I have done them all except the headlining and the cockpit covers, so pretty successful.

Sailing Done
I would never have believed at the start of the year all the things in Kamala that I have enjoyed in our first proper season together. Highlights are of course sailing to Les Minquiers (saw them on a Bergerac last night, but that's another story), and the trip to Sark, Herm and Guernsey. I have also enjoyed taking many friends out on her throughout the year. My favourite however was taking my two middle children round to Portlet for lunch after they had stayed the night on the boat. It was the first time my daughter had shown any interest in the boat and the trip to Portlet was an unplanned grasp at the outstretched hand of opportunity.

The catalyst for these adventures was the confidence instilled by a week with Phil at Jersey Sailing completing part of my Day Skipper practical. Hats off to the team at JS.

Other
I have read some great sailing related books this year. My complete reading list for 2009 has been:

Captain Bligh's Portable Nightmare - John Toohey
The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow - AJ Mackinnon***
The Long Way - Bernard Moitessier
Sailing Just for Fun - AC Stock***
There be no Dragons - Reese Palley
Race Against Time - Ellen McArthur
Treasure Island - RL Stevenson
The Heavenly Man - Brother Yun
Gipsy Moth Circles the World - Sir Francis Chichester
Endeavor - Peter Aughton
Land on My Right - Ron Pattenden
Cruise of the Conrad - Alan Villiers

OF these the "***" indicates my two favourites. Both recommended to anyone with a small boat and big dreams. Which leads nicely on to...

Dreams of Sailing (and nightmares of work) for 2010
Sailing:
Round the Island - slowly! Taking a few days (a week?), possible overnights at Gorey, (Ecrehous?) Rozel, Bouley, Bonne Nuit, Greve de Lecq, St Brelades. Sign up here if interested. May or Summer.
Minquiers again.
St Malo and the Rance (summer holiday!)
Racing/Sailing on other on other peoples boats.
Go sailing with 'OG' and Nicky & Helier Heath.

Work:
Finish Building Dinghy / Tender
Antifoul (again)
Fix Broken Window
New Cabin Vent
Replace single Washboard with split ones.
Fit Cockpit Locker Covers
Drop Mast
New Main Halyard
Check Rigging
New Mainsheet
New Genoa
Sort out awful paint finish (maybe over next winter when Kamala comes home)
Buy a Seagul Engine for tender.

Overall its been a fantastic year sailing with no regrets. Oh, and the dinghy is progressing well.