14:25.025N 60:53..292W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Fri 18 Jan 2013 02:29
|
St Anne's Bay,
Martinique - 16th January
We finally took delivery of our dinghy yesterday and named her Rustle. We had immediate fun with her, motoring around the lagoon to check that my posterior stayed dry and that our 2.5HP engine was man enough to drive her. All was well and we progressed in a gentle stately and stable fashion. We then took her around to the Rustler 42, so that Allan could try her on his deck. In a matter of minutes our engine was removed and she was hoisted up on deck by halyard and turned over. Rustle just about fitted but with the tanks deflated slightly it would be better and she would then not interfere with his roller furling gear, sail etc. Back in the water we then hoisted Allan's 5HP engine on board to try it out (this is the maxim size engine for her). Allan and I went off to test it out, we raced across the lagoon cutting through the wash of other boats and our own, my posterior remained dry. Next we went back for Noel and repeated the exercise, this time I reported a slight dampness in my nether regions, but nothing significant! Sea trials over, we returned to Whisper to complete the ultimate test, would she fit on deck? We hoisted her up easily, using the spinnaker halyard, turned her over (her ultra light weight making it an easy task for us) and she fits beautifully. For our long passage home, we shall deflate her, but for our island hops she is perfect as she is. The long wait has been worthwhile, she is the ideal dinghy for our needs. We left St
Lucia this morning in glorious sunshine, blue skies and white fluffy
clouds. It was glorious to be out on the open sea again which was so
beautifully blue. The wind was force 4 freshening in the afternoon to force 5,
the seas were quite high to start with but moderated the closer we got to
Martinique. Naturally the wind was on the nose, but Whisper was not
deterred and we had the most glorious sail making between 5-7 knots with a reef
in the main and a full headsail. Rustle traveled well and the only problem
we found was that the lazy jib sheet caught under her tank on the transom.
This will be easily avoided in the future by securing a short line from the mast
to Rustle's lashings so that the jib sheet cannot drop down in between the two
and hook itself under the air tanks.
We arrived at St Anne's Bay (Marin), at about 5pm having sailed all the way and making only 2 tacks. Crossing into the bay was fairly interesting as it was full of small fishing floats made up of various sized plastic bottles. We had to negotiate and tack around them and were grateful to have arrived in daylight and under sail, so that we could see and avoid them. Once anchored we made every thing ship shape then enjoyed a "sundowner" in the cockpit watching the sun set on the horizon before having supper. The end of a perfect day! |