It’s quarter past nine on Saturday 30th May, and I’m about to go to bed. I have to get up at 3am and set off soon thereafter.
I don’t like this period. The imposing countdown to go back out to sea. It’s not that the sea worries me, quite the contrary, I feel relaxed as soon as I untied from the mooring and set off, but the fact that this leg is of a reasonable size and that I’m still not convinced about the auto pilot, means I don’t know what sort of day is about to happen to me. The weather is forecast for a relatively calm maximum of force 5, which is certainly no gentle zephyr, but well within the realms of a reasonable sail. It could be a great day, but apparently Southwold harbour can be treacherous to enter given the wrong conditions, and the wind direction lends itself to just that sort of treachery.
So up I will get at 0300, make a boiled egg sandwich thanks to the freshly baked loaf of bread I was given, a quick cup of coffee, and then away, back out across the sandbank guarding the mouth of the Deben and further to sea.
I have made some modifications to the boat while I’ve been here, which include fitting the other winch I had left over, a gybe preventer, and some spinlock cleats courtesy of the last dregs of my credit card. I am happy Kudu is now set up in a state to allow me to adjust things quickly, without a fuss, and that means she is much safer.
I can, at least, take comfort in the fact that the sea will be much more benign than it was on my last hop.
So here goes, further north and almost out of Suffolk.
Bon nuit!
Hats off to you, wish it was me, but alas, 2 kids and a ball and chain and a mortgage mean that I have to be content day sailing. Wish it was me getting up at 3am to slip the mooring.
Out of Suffolk huh! That means your into Norfolk. How can you spot a virgin in Nolfolk? Easy one to answer……
Safe trip and faie winds to you.
Hi Mate.
How come no Windvane Self steering? Has to be more reliable than an autopilot subject to the whims of electricity?
Also – have you read Roger Taylors writings? He has done the Jester in a Corribee.
Does your sailing strategy include gaining lots of sea room and sailing a reciprocal course if it is too hairy to enter a river with a stiff onshore wind?
Or do you just boot it form one harbour to the next?
I’d be keen to know, as I’d like to attempt what you are doing – one day.
Fair winds, and wish it were me out there now.
Oh – I see you mention Roger Taylor elsewhere in this blog.
HI there,
No wind vane because I set off with no budget. This is probably the most underfunded circumnavigation that’s ever been done. :p
The Tiller Pilot is still not playing ball, and somebody has actually given me an old Plastimo Navik wind vane, but it means I have to get stainless steel work made up and funds won’t allow it at the moment. Also, there’s the issue of fitting the thing to the transom when there’s a big 4 stroke outboard in the way.
The sailing strategy, so far, has been don’t go out if there’s an onshore, unless it’s but a zephyr. This boat is not yet kitted out for me to be happy staying offshore in a gale. I’m sure she would handle it, but since there are things I know need “fixing” I would be foolish to purposely put myself in that situation I think.
As for Roger, yes, he is somewhat of a hero to me. His book is simply essential reading, and the articles on his website are also well worth a read. I love the romantic ideal of the simple sailor methodology, but I have to face facts in that I am not yet experienced enough to get away with it. I will, in time, but for now I have enough to learn without added astro navigation to my list :p
All the hops so far, bar one, have been within sight of land. If they’re not, I have my chart plotter, and a paper chart backup to keep me going in the right direction. Of course, I am capable of DR but there’s enough to do on the boat when singlehanding in busy waters, so I take all the help I can get. :p
Best of luck in your venture, I hope you do it.
Yes, jeezuz Windvanes are expensive!
You could probably google a DIY one – but that might be a mission to build from scratch.
Or………….be ridiculously bold, and email these guys at http://www.sea-feather.com/index.htm and ask if they will build you one if you give them a plug during your writings about your Round Britian venture! They will probably tell you to get stuffed – but worth a try. (By the way I have no commercial connection to seafeather – I just noticed a reccomendation on their website from a Tony Tucker – whom could well be the son of the late Robert Tucker whom designed your boat).
Touche about Roger. A most articulate writer of great seafaring knowledge. I emailed him the other day for a bit of boat advice, and he is currently busy prepping for another offshore venture in less than a month. You may cross tracks.
As far as me, yes I will do it. I am a bit older than you, and credit crunch has stuffed me (like a lot of people) for a while. Once I am solvent again in a few years then instead of the suit and tie, I will be heading for the boatbroker, buy a good wee boat and just going for it. Will probably base myself on East coast (cheap), so I read with interest your Shotley and Deben postings.
I suspect by then you will have a Jester under your belt by the time I get my A into G.
Oh – I read your post too quickly. If someone has given you a Navik then you need to find a way to get it on your transom so you can complete your passage singlehanded as intended. Well OK – if some leggy blonde offers herself as crew, then you might reconsider – but don’t give up on the singlehanded bit too quick.
Just give some local tradesmen a sob story – and see if he will do the stainless job for a pint or two.
Look mate – you have way more experince than me so I ‘aint telling you what to do- but read Rogers article about “Patience”. So what if you have to take a week or two break to wait for better weather while you get this self steering dilemma sorted out? It is still early summer over your way (I am dowunder in that other hemisphere) so you have plenty of time.
It is not like you have some mind numbingly boring desk job to get back to in a hurry. You have done the sensible thing and given that load of bollocks a miss and gone sailing!
Another job you could look at is to get some sweeps and oarlocks for your boat so that you are not 100% relying on your engine. Try the forum on http://www.oarclub.org – those guys routinely sail engineless and will tell you how to build some sweeps. They are yanks mostly – but don’t hold that against them. Lots of good info on that site too about general sailing – similar to Roger, but with a that more up front tone that only the abrasive yanks can muster. But they are a mine of info.
Go for it!
Ok, last post before I shoot off to bed – reason a southern hemisphere wannabe sailor is planning on basing himself in UK for his sailing ventures, is that one can buy a GRPFolkboat orVega or similar ilk in Sweden for about 3,000 pounds in your money. Ridiculously cheap – even taking into account transport costs to get the thing over to England. Plus my cousin lives in England, and he is a solicitor – so if I bang into someone on the water, he can help me with the ensuing litigation! Lol.
So if in a few years you see some mad joker with a strange twang tapping away on some palstic boat in some boatyard probably on the east coast somewhere – then pop over and say g’day. I’ll buy you a pint or four – but only if you finish your current venture as intended – singlehanded. You can do it. And keep up this blog – it is inspirational.
Greetings Nathan. You might check out http://www.mindspring.com/~waltmur/Self-Steering/ for a really cheap DIY windvane. I’m thinking of building the Rudder Head Mount version for my West Wight Potter.
Great blog & videos. Best of luck to you & your recalcitrant autopilot!
Rob