Two Day Sails - Part II - 11:16 PM, Dec. 30, 2005

Could hardly bring myself to write this up since it was a catalogue of disasters and almost no sailing took place. However, the old year draws to a close and I should do the same for the blog.

Sunday 16^th October

It was clearly going to be a late start to the sailing and so as soon as I felt capable I motored round the pontoons to avoid having to contend with low water at “shoal corner” and tied up astern of Fairwinds until we completed the breakfasting.

We were tied up along the inside of the bottom of a wide “U” of pontoons with the current flowing across the jaws of the U. Silkie pointed uptide and Fairwinds t’other way. I motored away first and turned to run parallel to the uptide arm of the U. I could see that the tide was flowing swiftly but in a moment of hungoverconfidence (or stupidity if you like) I nipped below to fetch something, leaving the engine at tickover and the helm untended. When I returned I was alarmed to see that although we still pointed in the right direction we had almost been swept onto the downtide side. No harm done though and I motored out of the bay and made sail.

When I looked back I was surprised not to see Fairwinds since it had seemed that they would only be 5 or 10 minutes behind. I started to sail back after a couple of minutes though the tide was against me and the wind was light. I was only just inside the entrance to the bay (probably about half an hour after casting off) when I saw Fairwinds approaching. We sailed in convoy while Nick told the tale.

It seemed that he’d had a momentary lapse of Yachtmastership and allowed Fairwinds to stray outwith the envelope resulting in her being swept down onto the boat I’d so narrowly missed. Long keels are such fun in reverse. Proceedings were enlivened by a demented onlooker screaming entirely inappropriate instructions! Nick did the decent thing and posted his details aboard the other vessel before setting off again. When I returned I had a close look but could see nothing worse than a dirty mark and her owner obviously took a similar view since nothing has yet been heard.

We set off down the Firth in light airs with Silkie leading the way. I’m not exactly sure but suspect I was tacking with a sheet in each hand at the time. In any event, I was steering with my thigh when there was a crack as the tiller snapped off at the base and Silkie rounded up! Sadly, Nick did not have his camera to hand to record my stupid expression as I waved the ex-tiller at him. I lowered sail, fired up the donk and headed for home steering with the stub, initially. Nick kindly shepherded me back (just in case) and I fished the tiller after considering the possible swirlies at the entrance to the bay.

Now It Can Be Told Department.

I had inherited an emergency tiller with Silkie but after my painstaking (but entirely cosmetic) refurbishment of the beautifully laminated original, I considered that such an ugly, rusty lump was “Not Required on Voyage” and had left it at home this season! So much for forehandedness then. The tiller had clearly been gently rotting away inside for years and was mainly sponge. The killer blow had probably come the previous day (before I’d reefed) when I’d used considerable force to keep her straight in a bit of a puff.

A memorable end to the 2005 season!

Miles this trip 25

Total miles this season 863 (s/h 238)