Tuesday 31st July 2007

Left home about 1040 hours.

Good run to Glasson.

Opened up the big boat, Suukyi, moved boom out of the way.  Connected up electricity and put the battery on charge, 12.4 volts.

Got the Mirror ready and launched about half an hour before high water.  The wind was westerly and had freshened a little, 14 knots on wind speed indicator?

We had beans on toast, Jaja had egg on toast.

Periwinkle looked to have her riser wrapped round her keels and was dancing around a little.

Derek Rolean was around.

Derek Shona turned up with two grandchildren and took them for a sail in Shona. 

We, Jaja and I, set off towards Sunderland but turned back about racing mark B.  Sailed over to George who had just reached SkylArk. 

Periwinkle appeared to have sorted herself out.

Sailed round him and across to Derek with two of his grandchildren.  As we approached them they were just sailing off in Shona.

Sailed up river a little way, just past the cottages.  It was hard work holding the mainsheet and tiller.  The wind was too strong for Jaja to helm.

Tacked back to Club and recovered the Mirror.  Out for just over an hour.  Jaja said he’d enjoyed it.

Derek Rolean couldn’t get the strimmer working and John Heron found what looked like water in the fuel.  Derek took the can and said he would bring some new petrol tomorrow.

Suzie cooked chicken for tea with tinned vegetables.

Walk out to racing mak D tonight?
Put tent up!  No torch, no nothing.  Put neoprene on floor and got main cabin cushion for  Suzie.  We went to bed as it went dark. 

The tent

A lovely view

The Campers

It had been a gloriously sunny day.

A beautiful Glasson Sunset

We had a good night.

Wednesday 1st August

Didn’t do a shore walk.

Cloudy, overcast not as nice as yesterday.

George and Levente returned.

Sue and Jaja went to Thurnham Hall for a swim after lunch while I worked on the remaining big lorry wheel and tyre.  Norman helped me drag the wheel over to the garage.  He used the blue tractor.

Got together all the bits of chain that I could find and secured the tyre to the rim, the retaining ring had been removed and without the chain arrangement the rim would just pull out of tyre.

Sue and Jaja enjoyed their swim and were considering joining.  It started to rain so we put all the bedding back into Suukyi.

For the evening meal Sue wanted to go to the Mill so we did and enjoyed a lovely meal.  Jaja told the waitress it was delicious.

We slept in Suukyi.

Thursday 2nd August

I helped with the recovery Levente while Sue and Jaja went for a swim.

I set up the Mirror with the mast forward to just use the mainsail.

Derek Rolean turned up with the petrol but it still wouldn’t start.

Before Hound Dog’s trailer went down the slip I  got the Mirror into the water but the water was coming up the slip so I struggled to walk it along the wall onto the marsh.  Rigged the sail and we set off about 15-30 minutes before high water.  It was so much easier and more room so even though the wind was F3 we managed to get Jaja helming ofr most of the sail.  We set off out to sea but turned back around A and sailed up river towards the pylons a little and tacked up and down there a few times.

We got back and straight into Peter Johnson’s inflateable with the two marker buoys D and G.  Peter motored us to the positions and we attached the buoys.
 
After a pasta tea we had a shore walk.

Sue and Jaja bedded down in the tent and I stayed in the boat.  They used torch and lamp loaned from Heidi.

My bunk cushion was in the tent so I slept in the pilot berth.  Really struggled getting in and out!

Friday 3rd August

Sailed GP with Firefly jib and reefed main.  Wind varying from F2 to F6.  Frightened of tipping him out.  Jaja said when serving behind bar that I don’t like wind and am soft!   Really thought it was too strong to sail with Jaja but Sue pressed me to go as he would have been very disappointed.

Packed the tent up.

Frank back from holiday, he and Kath had spent a few nights at the Mill.  Much more convivial atmosphere in the clubhouse when he opened up.  Mind you that was because of the returned sailors.

Very windy night – F6?

Saturday 4th August

Strong wind, scotch mist rain so cancelled junior training.  Also cancelled junior and beginners sailing in the afternoon.

Returned home mid-afternoon.