Debutante21Sixpence
regular
Reged: 24/08/2005
Posts: 19266
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Don't know if anyone else has been through this, but I am rapidly losing patience with the weather window situation.
A bit of background info for those that don't follow my exploits
I have a 21ft plywood Debutante, she was recently launched after spending quite a few years out of the water. She took over a year in my barn to repair, with quite a lot of rot in the deck and the hull, all hopefully repaired and she is now sitting outside on the river.
I have been given the use of a mooring about 150nm South from here, which means sailing from the Wash to the Deben, so out into the North Sea, to get to it, but it's an offer I would be a fool to turn down.
I'm not overly experienced at sailing, but if I don't move soon I'm going to miss the rest of the season on perfect sailing grounds. So now I'm thinking that maybe it's time to bite the bullet and just go for it.
Not sure if I should or should not, but the frustration is pushing me to the point where I say to hell with it, and just go.
Ever been in the same position ?
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timtap
regular
Reged: 28/06/2008
Posts: 313
Loc: Paignton Devon
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I'm sat here on the balcony watching meteorites rush by thinking the same thing.
It's a beautifull night and the thought of the bad weather coming in depresses me even further. What a waste of a weekend, If I stay here SWMBO will get me to do something in the house that i've been putting off for months so I'm desperate to escape. Time to take a new project on and finally restore that dream of a boat that i've always wanted !!
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In a recent survey it was discovered that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the population
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Flipper_K6354
regular
Reged: 20/09/2001
Posts: 1783
Loc: Boat in Brightlingsea, Essex. ...
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Dave
Let me tell you a little story.
A few years ago a 'friend' was sailing from Brightlingsea towards Ramsgate and had worked out the tides were right to continue to Calais if he / she wanted. The boat was very similar to mine!
The weather forecast was not brilliant with mentions of S to SW 5 to 6 later so he / she was keepng a watchful eye on the barometer and listening to the available weather information. He / she ended up motor sailing to North Foreland due to lack of wind and so decided to continue to Calais and the delights of moules!
Once half way down the outside of the Goodwins and in the shipping lanes all hell broke loose - well a F 5 to 6 from the South. The boat had roller furling and slab main but whilst reefing the main the autopilot (he / she was singlehanded) broke loose from the cockpit seat and the boat turned down wind. To cut a long story short he / she frightened him / herself quite badly and it took a couple of seasons to regain confidence in own ability.
So in answer to your question if you do decide to just 'go for it' beware of your limitations. The coast of Norfolk doesn't have many all weather safe harbours and 21ft is relatively small. Are you prepared to scare the s*$t out of yourself and your crew and what about those at home worrying?
Peter
BTW I was terribly ill from the moules and haven't eaten them since! 
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homa
regular
Reged: 12/05/2002
Posts: 711
Loc: N.Sea
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If I were in your position with the current uncertain forecast I would beg, borrow, hire a trailer, truck and bring the boat by road.
It may cost a couple of 100 squids but at least the boat would arrive intact and you get to go sailing on the Deben this season.
Good luck with whatever you do decide.
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eastcoastbernie
regular
Reged: 28/07/2006
Posts: 883
Loc: Me: Cambs Boat: SYH Levington
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Yup. I'd put it on a trailor and bring it by road too.
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Click HERE and I'll have you in stitches.
Upholstery and other boaty sewing stuff too.
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jonjo
regular
Reged: 27/02/2002
Posts: 2347
Loc: Cambridgeshire, UK
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I know how you feel, at the beginning of July my 6 day easy solo delivery trip from Gosport to pick up the swmbo in Plymouth was cursed by a week of strong westerlies. Then 10 days ago after waving off the swmbo on the train at Plymouth I waited 8 days for a 2 day weather window to full fill an ambition to solo sail over the Ireland.
After 8 days of weather turbulence and at least another 7 expected I turned tail and did a 23 hour run back to Gosport. Brilliant sail, I never seen so much detail in the Milkyway before and saw 3 shooting stars. At 4am I was running at the highest hull speeds ever seen my boat with just phosphorescence to illuminate the event.
We yachtsmen are like drug addicts, we put up with all sorts of privations for the occasional hit.
Truck your boat down unless you are prepared to wait until next Saturday at the earliest.
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Gin
regular
Reged: 17/04/2005
Posts: 1832
Loc: Bromley,Kent
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Quote:
I'm not overly experienced at sailing, but if I don't move soon I'm going to miss the rest of the season on perfect sailing grounds.
Stay within your concept of your own limitations, and from there gradually extend those limits and thus deal with more demanding circumstances gradually, and competently. That way, I reckon, you will feel fulfilled without being overstretched.
I understand your frustration but as has been said so many times before " I'd rather be in here, and glad I'm not out there, rather than out there wishing I was back ashore" or words to that effect.
There's always later in the season- it may become an Indian Summer perhaps?, failing that next season which you must believe will be sooooo much better!
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Neddie_Seagoon
regular
Reged: 02/04/2006
Posts: 2857
Loc: IoM
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Dave, wait for the right weather or get her on a lorry. Don't just "go for it" unless you're really confident you can cope. Esp as boat is still untried and unfamiliar.
FWIW
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Those words came from a small ball of fat that sprang from behind a piano stool.
Ameera's Log Carraghyn's Blog
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Talbot
regular
Reged: 23/08/2003
Posts: 12508
Loc: Stavanger, Norway
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One item that occurs on most sailing tradgedies is that the crews were constrained by a time window and took a chance on a weather window that was not really there. Truck it, or continue to wait with patience.
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"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."
Robert A Heinlein
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SirSnoozalot
regular
Reged: 25/05/2008
Posts: 871
Loc: East Coast UK
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My heart is with you sixpence. But I'd wait for the weather window that you are confident with. The advice above is good. What is the all-up weight of your boat?
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