Summer Cruise update

[hinasmoon]

Seeing as Michael mentioned that the Forum had gone quite, suppose I should add a few details of how things turned out for these boats...including me.

The fleet all arrived at Piel on quite a grey day with a northerly wind.
We had been promised by quite a few weather sites of a Westerly moving to a South Westerly....no sign on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday...

My mate Derek (Rolean) experienced engine problems just as he entered the channel at Piel which ended with it stopping completely just as he was about to pickup his mooring so dropped the anchor. I think I was the last there and towed Rolean too a mooring only to be told just as he had settled a yacht arrived and in a nice way to get off as it was his mooring even after explaining he had no engine....our friendly yachting fraternity!! We then had to sling the dingy and tow Rolean too another mooring which actually said in bold print "Keep Off"... no way after all this!

On Sunday after a great meal at the pub Jeff and Pete offered to look at Derek's engine and both came armed with jumper battery and blow torch. They both are well versed with diesel's hoped to get Derek's engine going. They spannered every fuel joint and at the same time explained what they were doing with an enthusiasm of teenagers.. After quite a lot of tests both came to the conclusion that unfortunately Derek's cruise was over due to the fuel pump giving up the ghost. I hold my hat up to Jeff and Pete for all there help what with dirty diesel, crouched in an engine bay just after having quite a big meal... Brilliant!

Monday, Derek set off under sail only to get back to Glasson and did just that,he was accompanied with Jeff until clear of Piel where Jeff continued to Fleetwood. Derek got right back to the jetty...no mean task on the Lune single handed and under sail.
Still a Northerly, the radio buzzed as to the plan of attack and the consensus was to motor sail direct to Ravenglass rather than stop at Whitehaven. This was unfortunately a no no for me as I had used 10 ltrs of my 40 ltrs and worked out that if I had to motor against a northerly it was too close a call at 3lts/hr. Pete did offer to lend me some of his two stoke fuel, but I declined, being a learner as far as sailing goes I would have been more than apprehensive about running out of fuel and entering a port that I did not know and would have slowed the larger boats down with my 22 footer so I watched the fleet sail off to Ravenglass around 11am.
Monday afternoon wind changed to a westerly 3days late, so the fleet had made a good call.

Tuesday, I returned to my mooring at Glasson, the Piel stop over allowed me to get a few jobs done, got my ammeter working, repaired my auto helm and made notes on improving stowage so all was not lost and was still an adventure for me.

Thursday I think, Jeff arrived back from Fleetwood and I heard that while at Piel he did not feel too well and thought it better to stay local, hope you are now feeling better Jeff.

So that's about all I know to press.....

I have a few Piel photo's yet to be downloaded from my camera.

Cheers
John

[Michael]

Thanks John. I'm out of touch as I've not been up for a while (a month!) because my knee has been bad, not used to hard work (restoring Suzi's trailer), could hardly walk at first but it's improving now, love, Michael

[hinasmoon]

hi Michael,

Good to know you are on the mend, think we all are now paying for an active youth...

I have put the parrot on hold seeing that he won't need your shoulder as a perch......for now!

Cheers
John

[davidb]

Hi,

I was wondering if they had all sailed over the edge of the world as well!

So Chris sent Alan a text and they have sent some pictures back via Chris Formby.

I have started a "Web Album" and will keep adding to it if any more pictures come back from the dark side.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/gscmember ... directlink

I think they are in Kirkudbright now. I have seen Pebbles is back at the club.

Our barge is at Wheelton, not far from home now.

All the best for the second half of the cruise,

David and Chris
-

[Sea Scout]

This is the update from Tanis; we sailed from Piel on Sunday and despite a head wind made Whitehaven in 10 hours. We found Curlew there at anchor awaiting the tide to lock in. We were joined alittle later by Mischief. We locked in and our berth details were all waiting for us,well organised by someone,thanks. My crew wanted a day ashore so we spent Monday looking at the deights of Whitehaven! On Tuesday we sailed with Mischief to Kirkcudbright and just made it up the river in time! Very freindly and helpful harbourmaster and a nice little town. We sailed back the following day, leaving Mischeif who was visiting relatives, returning to Whitehaven. I had to be back at Glasson on Saturday so we decided we would sail to Piel on Friday. We set off at 11.00am but by 14.00 we were tring to motor sail into a strong head wind and moderate sea and had only done 6 miles - then the mainsail ripped in half!!! Decided to return to Whitehaven. We managed to get collected and brought home and I am going up next weekend with a fresh crew to sail the boat home. We all had a great time and enjoyed it. Wish I had been able to go for two weeks.
Hope you got home ok Rob,Helen and Family

Martyn

[jack sparrow]

THE OTHER WOMAN REPORT

Hi All

As I could only have 1 week off work and had to be back for the follwing Saturday morning, we decided (Alex and myself) to sail around the Isle Of Man stopping in a few Ports then off to Kirkcudbright to join up with the fleet on Wednesday.

When we eventually got out of the lock on Saturday (we was in the fourth lock-out, there was five), Alex went to the dock to ask if they could keep the outer door open, which they did and we got through 1hr after high water.

We followed Bolton Colleges' yacht out, but they ran aground just after the light house, they did manage to get off the sandbank but the tide was dropping fast so we pressed on.

At Lune 1 we put a coarse in for Ramsey and got a sail all the way there. We anchored up next to Jetwing, Dave was heading up to Jurua, Scotland for the first week.

We left Ramsey and motor-sailed down to Port St Marys, tying up to the wall! (which was a first for me, but under the expert guidance of Admiral Ratters all made sense).

Morning after, we sailed through Calf Sound and a quick circle of Port Erin just to see where the visitors moorings were, then off to Peel to pick up a visitors mooring. Alex was appalled to see a dinghy tied to a visitors mooring! While we were there another yacht came in and had to drop anchor.

Tuesday morning, we set off for Kirkcudbright to meet up with the fleet, as we left the Isle Of Man we got a good wind and managed to get 7 - 8 knotts all the way across to Little Ross. We were the first into Kirkcudbright. When I asked if the club had notified them of their intention of mooring there and did we get a discount he said no body had been in touch, but said he would see what he could do. IE charge me for a 32ft instead of 36ft very nice man. 3 hours later, in came Tanis and Mischief - not much water left.

Wednesday Tanis sailed out and Curlew sailed in. So it was out for a pint that night!!

Thursday John set off for Peel and we set off for the other Piel. A good sail down, with wind on the back quarter, too much for the Auto Helm to handle so shifts of 30 mins each on the Helm. We arrived at 2315 hours, managed to pick up a Glasson bouy, then a whiskey each, gateaux and double cream.

Friday morning, after a bad night sleep, (boats going back and forth to the drilling works every 30mins, I swear they opened up as they passed)!! There were no yachts on any moorings, rare sight.

Got back to Glasson at 1400hr, great week, my thanks to Alex.

Mick

[pj]

Hi All
Weather is not to bad now but not good for this time of year. We set off in bright sunshine for Piel but halfway there it started to rain and was miserable. Derek Todd went home Mon with a faulty diesel injection pump and Jeff & Linda went to Fleetwood on the way home. (they are now in Bognor Regis) .
We left for Whitehaven in blustery rain with very little vizability but after rounding Walney it cleared up a bit. spent 3 nights at Whitehaven then sailed to Little Ross for the night then on to Kircudbright for 2 nights.
We left Kircudbright for The Islands of Fleet most anchored up off Murray island (it looked a bit rough to me)so we followed Norman to a small sandy bay (Mossyard) with a few moorings where we had a good peacefull night. the following morning we left with Norman to the Isle of Whithorn (every one else stayed where they were).
We heard on the VHF that Florence, Freelancer and Esmerelda were returning to Whitehaven and the other four boats were coming to Whithorn, we were just leaving with Norman for Ramsey as the other boats entered Whithorn we later heard that Colin in Ocean Phoenix was also going into Whithorn.
This morning (Wed) Norman left for home but we are staying for a few days.
At this time (Fri am) there is only Moonshine in Ramsey harbour and are intending to sail back on Sat.

Ps Curlew and Orla went their own way early on in the trip.
Pete

[davidb]

-
Sat Night,

Moonshine is on the club Jetty, Triagos and Jetwind came in early on the tide as well, they said it was too rough to anchor at Lune 1, having come across the Irish Sea at good speed.

Aurora is on Sunderland shoulder again for the night.

Rice pudding and Esmeralda recovered this morning.

Sea Otter, Cinq Mille and Drumlin are at Piel.

Phoenix sailed in Friday night.

Orla and Hinas Moon and Curlew are on their moorings and I think Tanis is in the dock.

Chablis has gone somewhwere

Plain Jane is on a fresh trailer,

Strider is a Whitehaven, recovering on Monday

there must be others out there

cheers, David

[EsmereldaII]

Would you like one of my tales about the Summer Cruise
Esmerelda blew up her engine on thursday the29th July on the way to Little Ross
And later that night she went walk-about and we woke up in Foul Bay
We had to Sail everywhere after that point, pete Johnson kindly leant us his 4hp dingy motor
But we sailed and sailed. Ta Pete all the same.


Esmerelda on the Solway Firth

Hi I'm Esmerelda and I am a 1969 Hirondelle catamaran that had been sadly neglected and left to rot and then restored by a guy , in Hastings, called Martin.
Martin was not a sailor but a sign writer and as he neared completion of my restoration he decided to sell me.

I was very lucky and this wonderful guy called Dave came down from Manchester to view me. I sat there all preened and spruced as Dave (and his best mate Dermott) crawled all over tickling my hulls and probing my depths.

Dave bought me and brought me home to Glasson,
I have lived here a few years now and I have had many trips with Dave and Dermott.
I have made many friends and I sit here on my trailer and gossip all day with the girls.
We watch what happens on the Lune, we listen to the VHF and we laugh at the mistakes and antics of the sailors in Glasson Yacht Club.
I have loved every minute of the lads company and we have adventures on every trip.
I am an adventurous lady and I have my own opinions and I tend to show it.
Here is my tale of this year (2010) on the Solway Firth

May arrives and we have had a warm start to the spring after a very cold and long winter. I have shivered and sneezed and the rain has filled my starboard hull. I am very depressed and Dave has not been to se me at all . I think that all is not well in the Burton household and I am very worried that Dave is not fit to go sailing any more.

I hear the noise of a diesel car, "Is it Dave ? " I ask myself, and my hulls blush in expectation.. "Oh its you !" I cried as Dave gets out of a strange white van. Dave patted my hulls and said "Hello, missed you". "I have missed you too" I replied. Dave then introduced his mate Vic, as they got out a load of tools and started to add new parts to my body.
"Whats that ? " I asked as Dave pulled out a large Stainless thing. "It's a set of folding ladders " Dave replied. As he explained to me that he thought that he might not be able to Sail without the ladders as he was getting weak.

"Oh I am so unwell, I have a cold and one of my hulls is full of water" I cried. Dave comforted me and Vic fitted a huge pump into my hulls and soon I could feel the warm of the sun again as the water drained away. "Oh thank you Vic " I cried as the weight fell from my body.

Vic securely drilled the holes and bolted the ladders to my stern. "Careful " I cried as he tightened the bolts. Soon the fittings were complete and Dave tried to climb up into my Cockpit. "Success !!" shouted Dave as he slipped into my comforting seats. "I can sail, Esmerelda we are going to spruce you up and paint you" he called and he and Vic were soon .very busy.

Brass handles were fitted to my roof, to be new dingy lugs, one of Vic's ideas.
My decks were pressure washed and my hulls were rubbed down.
Dave carefully took my motor apart and overhauled it ready for the season.
My tanks were filled , both with water and fuel and then the big day of the "PAINT" arrived.

It was cold and wet and we only had a week to go before the annual "Family Cruise" The lads arrived at noon and I called to them "About time, where have you been ?"
Dave explained that the weather forecast was for a very poor weekend but there might be a warm afternoon , today.
The lads cleared off for a pie and a pint and re-appeared about 3. The rain was still quite vigorous so they cleared off to the clubhouse. "Cowards" I shouted and after about half an hour the trio (Dave, Dermott and Vic) returned. My hulls were warm and dry and the wind lessened so I was ripe for painting.
Dave opened the tin and stirred the contents, I dare'nt look, what colour had he chosen. I told him blue but Dave has his own ideas.
"Oh it's a lovely shade of Blue, how nice" I cried and Vic and Dermott set to . using a roller each to paint my hulls. It felt lovely having those strong hands all over my hulls and Dave tickled me with his brush as he tidied up the difficult bits.
By five o'clock I was blue all over. I glowed with pride and my girlfriends could not believe what they saw. I was a dowdy middle aged lady this morning and now, after a wonderful makeover, I was beautiful again. "Oh thank you " I said to the lads as I laughed at the paint streaks all over the trio. Dermott had blue shoes and blue knees and Vic had blue spots all over him and Dave, well Dave looked wonderful. He had blue hands, blue hair and blue streaks all over his jeans but he was my Dave.

I was ready for the cruise and the lads soon packed up and left me to gossip.

Friday, July the 23rd took a long time to arrive, true Dave popped up with his food rations and his fuel stocks but he did not chat too much as he had a lot to do. It was so nice to comfort him in my hulls and he tickled all my parts as he put the tins and packets away.
I then heard the familiar noise of Dave's diesel and out popped the two lads with Dermott's gear.
"When are we going " I giggled , "9 in the morning , so its an early night and then off to Piel" said Dave.
The guys popped to the club for the night and I settled down chatting to the girls with excitement. There was to be 13 of us this year and we were off to the Solway

11 arrived and these two sodden sailors came back and we chatted as they settled down for the night safe in my warm hulls as I cuddled and protected them as they slept safe with me at Glasson

The morning soon arrived and Dave and Dermott filled my cabin with the smell of bacon and eggs as they started the final preparations for he trip.
"This wheel is flat" Dermott cried as we tried to set off , but Dave told him to use the electric pump.
Soon it was my turn to be dropped into the water and the lads walked beside me as I was towed to the slipway.
"OW ! OW ! OW !" I cried as a wheel started to collapse under my port hull .
"Oh dear" said the lads as they prayed that it was not terminal on my way to the water.
Thankfully the trailer lasted and we got into the water. Dave , immediately got on his phone to his brother and asked him to fix my trailer while we were away.

Soon the waters of the River Lune were lapping around my hulls as we surged into Morecambe Bay and headed for Piel, our first port of call.
I chatted with the lads and teased them with fits and spurts as we headed for Half-Way Shoal. Very soon I could see the castle on the island and I cried to the lads "There's Piel, I wonder what the pub's like this year" .

We moored up and the pair settled down ready for tea and then an early night as they were off about 9 on Sunday. "mm " I said as Dave cooked the chicken for tea "that smells great" I said as Dave smirked and dished out the meal. We chatted and the lads soon settled for a deep sleep ready for the morning's adventures.

I woke the guys and soon the bacon was on and I was heady with the smells of breakfast.
The idea was to get out on the ebb and get a lift , from the tide .on the trip to Whitehaven, but Dave was concerned with the wind direction. "Too much on the Nose , I think" was his comment. But they followed John and Ian out into the bay towards the wind farms.
I pulled and tugged but it was very hard work and I panted to the guys "It's a lot of hard work lads, and I am not going to make the tide for Ravenglass. Please give up "
Dave was deep in thought and I could tell that he did not want to give up. "Dermott, convince him to go back " I whispered .
Dermott was brilliant, Dave turned round and I leapt at the waves and we returned back to Piel in less than a third of the time it had taken to get out.

My girlfriends cried when they saw me return, but they were glad that I was safe.
We moored again and the dingy was soon pumped up and the lads went to the pub on the island and I was left in peace.

Very soon I could hear the giggles of the lads as they returned full of booze and joy, the disappointment of the morning forgotten and the thoughts ready for the next day.
I giggled with the two guys as they told me all about the new pub, its "Magic Guiness Pump" and the trip tomorrow.

They fell into a deep slumber and I was a mother hen again with my two chicks safe and warm.
The morning arrived with a new wind and soon I was off to Whitehaven, not Ravenglass as I thought. The guys had decided that the wind was right for a complete run up the Cumbrian coast and into port.

They set up the sails as best as they could but I still need the donkey (my outboard) to help keep a good pace. Soon I could see St Bees head and I could feel the wind had changed. "Come on boys, I can really go, let me sail" I shouted and soon the guys were laughing with glee as we surfed at 8 knots up and into Whitehaven.

What a Marina, they have really moved and turned an old industrial harbour into a huge marina, with a large sea-lock and brilliant facilities .
We moored and I giggled as the lads rushed to get ready for Weatherspoons

"Showers first guys, I can't have my lads smelling of the sea when we are in such wonderful surroundings" I said firmly and the two lads reluctantly packed their wash bags and towels. "And don't forget, your wives said do not bring back any undies or t-Shirts" I added.
The lads smirked and I watched Dave carefully picking his way up the gangways to the showers.
They returned smelling sweetly and looking the part of a sailor. "Now we are off to Weatherspoons and a few pints" said Dermott. I giggled as he combed his hair to hide his bald spot and watched with a tear as they went out for the night. I settled down for a gas with all the new girls in this wonderful Marina.

The following day, the two lads toured the town and came back laden with Pound-Shop bargains and then set to, making a new flagpole and stern light.
I giggled as they frolicked on the stern and pushed and prodded a pole into the socket for my ensign.

"We are off to Kirkcudbright " Dave said and I replied "Oh lovely, there are two other Hirondelles out there and I won't feel a misfit like last time" . Dave said "No and I am very proud of you so hold your head up high"
I beamed as they went off again to Weatherspoons and I held them tight , fast asleep in my hulls that night.

Soon it was morning and we got ready to sail and the Glasson Girls set out for Kirkcudbright . My motor was working hard as the wind was not quite right and we carried on for 4 hours.
Then suddenly my motor started to scream in pain. "What's up ? " I cried as the motor stalled and Dave quickly attended to it. "Oh dear, we have a serious problem , I think our motor has dropped a ring and to continue would just make it terminal " he said and Dermott helped him lift the wounded motor out , onto the deck , where they strapped it for the rest of the journey.
"What are we going to do ? " the lads asked and I replied "We are going to SAIL
, its what I was born for and its my duty"
I instructed the lads firmly and soon we were tacking left and right in the direction of Little Ross. I could tell from the beams on the boys faces that they were loving it .
"We have not sailed for years, every time you take me out , you use the motor. Now let me sail" I said and the guys listened.

Soon we tacked into place and Dermott dropped the anchor as the lads prepared for a Barbie. Now Dermott had only dropped out 10 metres of chain and a few metres of rope so I knew that if the time was ripe, I could play, but I let the boys do their thing.

I laughed as Dave slipped and fell over the rocks, he should not have gone and I did tick him off on his return
Soon sleep overtook the boys and I knew that I could play. I tugged and tugged as the tide rose and soon I could feel the anchor slip.

I then lifted my hulls and dashed out of the bay. I was free, I was a woman and I was out to show the world.
I slipped out of the bay, played with the winds and tides and exhausted after a good nights play, settled down in Foul bay. This was a naughty bay full of rocks but very safe, as I would not harm my guys, just shock them when they woke.
I shut off Dave's alarm after it had tried 3 times to wake him. "Shush " I said, "let them sleep, its going to be hard for them to explain this one"
and I giggled as they woke at 9. Dave peered through the windows and shook his head in disbelief . "Where are we ?" he cried. I could hardly hold back the laughter as Dave and Dermott looked out at the rocks and checked with the instruments for their position . I had shut off the instruments so they had to think very hard.
Soon Dave realised what I had done. "Oh you naughty girl" he said . but the cries soon changed to giggles as they sailed back round Little Ross to the rest of the Glasson Gang.

The girls were gushing all over me, "How did you do it ? " they asked and I just strutted around and smirked. Dave and Dermott had egg on their faces and they had a lot to live up to when the gang saw them return.
Dave simply explained "It was my fault, I kept the chain too short for the tide" and he breathed a sigh of relief as the gang accepted his reasons.

Lunchtime arrived and we set sail for Kirkcudbright itself, Pete in Moonshine gave Dave his 4hp dingy outboard while Dave swapped our 2hp for the same. Thus we had a motor for the harbours.

As we reached Kirkcudbright, my Hirondelle friends were agog, "Oh you have changed so much" they said as I proudly slipped alongside them on the Jetty. Dave had done me proud. They had not had anything done in the last 4 years and I was beaming.

The boys galloped to the showers, no need to lecture this time. They returned with a pack of bacon and some bread and I knew we were here for a few days.

The new girls were fabulous, lots of new ideas and thoughts, I let the boys tour the town under their own steam and I gossiped all day.
Evening arrived and Norman crawled over my cockpit, turned on my instruments and made some notes. Muttering" I wonder what they did" but I kept quiet.

That night the boys went to the Masons and they were presented with a memento called "Nessun Dorma" , Norman had made a guess on the boys movements, photocopied a chart and added the comments and then presented it to the lads in the pub.
They came home giggling and so happy, they took it all on the chin and I was scot-free.

We set off later for Wigtown Bay , heading for the Isle of Fleet. It was a wonderful sail as I stretched my Foresail and my Main and flew along the coast tacking left and right as I felt fit.
The boys were glowing with pride. We sailed together for a long time and it was fun.

Tea was Corned Beef Hash and the guys quickly prepared it in my pressure cooker and scoffed the lot.
The boys slept sound and I beamed to the girls all night, as they had used their motors and we had sailed.
The guys had a day of rest and then set out together to prepare two sail plans, one for the Isle of Man and one for Whitehaven. We would sail where ever the wind sent us in the morning.

As we woke, Dave knew that we could only make the trip to Whitehaven but we were not disappointed as the lads could shower and go to Weatherspoons.
True . as we left Wigtown bay . the wind blew from the west and I lifted my hulls and skipped all the way to Whitehaven on one tack at speeds between 6 and 8 knots. Ken (in Florence) also took up the trip and as Florence is a Trimaran, I was proud to keep pace with her all the way.
We strutted into Whitehaven and moored up excitedly as the lads dashed to the showers and gloated to one and other over a wonderful trip. "and we will do the steak night at Weatherspoons" the guys said.

I slept well exhausted with a good 30 miles on one tack , my boys were out at the pub and soon they would be home with me, safe and sound.
Another day of rest and the lads toured the town and again suffered Weatherspoons. My guys are so good, still its their holiday too.

Thursday soon came and the guys had to say their goodbyes and we set off at high tide (7:00 am) for Piel.
Now the wind and I had a quiet chat last night and as soon the lads got over the lumpy bit at the harbour entrance , I lifted my hulls and surged to Half-Way shoal in 5 hours. "Wow !!" said Dermott as the two guys realised that they could actually get home before the high tide deadline at Glasson.
Florence (Ken ) and Freelance (Chris), set off at 10:00 and caught us up at the river entrance . They are 31 foot boats and very fast so I was not embarrassed .
Dave prepared a two can pressure meal and the lads tucked into "All-Day Breakfast" for tea as they waited for the tide and the two boats.
We moored in the sea-lock at high tide, the lads beaming, "All the way from Whitehaven to Glasson, on one tide" they gurgled full of glee and pride.
My lads were great, they tucked me up in the harbour and I slept a peaceful sleep and waited for Saturday as the lads came to put me back on my trailer.

Saturday morning and the guys arrived excitedly at 8 am, it was going to be a proud day and they brought Vic with them to enjoy the moment.
I was soon on my trailer and all tucked up as the trio giggled and laughed all the way home after a wonderful fortnight. Our trip was 206 miles and we sailed all but 30 of those miles . I was exhausted .


The tales of Esmerelda By Dave Burton

[Michael]

Has any of the girls told Esmerelda about the Regatta?