Typical birthday blues
Rogue
Alan and Noi not sure which is which
Sat 23 Jul 2011 11:33
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01:30 on the 23rd July (Mr. Hogg's
birthday) the boat is ready to go with passage plan etc in place so off to
sleep.
06:30 up to complete filling water, getting dock
lines ready, breakfast, final shower, disconnect power cables, pack away water
hoses etc etc. to be ready for going through the lock at 08:00
There is a tight schedule that can't be disrupted
or all the boats will not get out on the rising tide. We have been allocated the
15 minute slot after Stomper, a red sailboat. While having an almost
leisurely breakfast I notice a red boat in the lock. All I can see is the mast
but I know Stomper and immediately think I have either got the time wrong or
they have brought the schedule ahead and I haven't picked it up on the radio. So
mad panic to get the lines cast off and out ready for the lock. There are two
almost identical red boats and we now have to spend 30 minutes going round in
circles because we have just jumped the queue, Stomper is actually still
happily having their breakfast.
08:00 out of the lock, dodge mud and anchored boats
while transiting the river mouth.
we decide to just head off instead of waiting for
the official 11:00 start of the rally with about 109 boats.
08:30 Jib up
09:00 Jib down and main sail up then jib
up
10:30 no wind so Jib down then Main
down.
10:45 Spinnaker up
12:00 really no wind so spinnaker down
12:15 engine on
14:00 wind so spinnaker up
17;00 Getting dark so spinnaker down. Main up then
jib up
20:00 no wind and sails flapping so jib onto the
spinnaker pole and bring down the main
21:00 engine on
22:00 really really no wind, jib down
Went by so fast I didn't realize it was my birthday
but definitely felt older by the end of the day. 2 beers and one glass of almost
champagne.
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