Season review

[TheOldDuffer]

The end of the season is nigh, even though there might be a few days up to December that might prove amenable. Counting back, I think I've only managed 12 or 13 outings this summer. I've found that the planets really have to be aligned; the weather, obviously, but also the tide times (especially springs) are important for me when launching and retrieving. Also I mostly sail single handed, and launching from my slip can be awkward in a strong cross breeze. I did put the boat in the marina for a month on account of a sore back, but only managed 5 outings which worked out at €100 a pop 

I also have other interests - fly fishing, clay shooting and Scouts. It's difficult to fit everything in!

So, did anyone get out much?
 

[Sea Simon]

Imho. Here in Cornwall,  It's certainly  not been the year that last year was...weather just not settling.  Good nor bad.
Just a few good days here and there, all seemingly very random.

Trips around at home, perhaps 4 off each of about 5 days all interrupted.  Two days storm bound in Plymouth!
Struggling to get back home from Falmouth/Helford a couple of times too.

Trips away (other boats)
Round the island blown off, for smaller boats. Time n money wasted there.
West Highland week. Maybe 2 nice days? Tobermory shone.
2 dreadful.
We DNF'd races both for no wind, and too much wind.
This was too common an outcome in Fowey racing too.

Bottom fouling was however consistent...consistently BAD this year.
Even my "top spec" £150/2.5 L Shogun Emperor on rudders and waterline really struggled. Required two dry outs n scrubs, with weekly scrubs of my permanently immersed rudders.

[Nicky R]

Our season wasn't great either. Sulis was ready to sail from mid-March, but a combination of the awful weather and me developing what we now know is arthritis meant that it was May before we got out. We had a lovely week in Mylor for half term, although a couple of days were blown off and we got soaked to the skin trying to sail to Helford. The combination of the weather and other commitments meant we only got a couple more sails in, although we had a lovely long weekend on her at the beginning of September. Now we're grounded because of a pair of new kittens, so probably won't go out again this year. At least Sulis lives on a trailer so doesn't suffer from fouling problems!

We're hoping to do more sailing next year, when the arthritis should finally be under control. (Luckily it's an immune system type so treatment should be possible). We're crossing our fingers that the weather is better as well!

[MarkLB]

Well, I can confirm that the changeable weather has not only been present in the north. Here in the Lake Geneva region it has also scuppered our plans to get out on the water on a number of occasions this year. Unfortunately, part of the problem has been self inflicted, as we have discovered wind predicting websites, which we have consulted before hooking up Miss Chief our BRE to the car. On one particular weekend Windfinder predicted 50+kts of "la bise" for those familiar with the area. So we left Miss Chief at home and went a walk around the lake. To our bemusement, it was almost becalmed. On the positive side, we did however have a few nice outings from Versoix, our normal starting point and have achieved much more consistency and speed for the rigging and derigging compared to last year (our first with a bre). Additionally, I am becoming a bit less terrified of the towing (probably should get a more appropriate tow car given the mountains here...) and managed to venture a bit further afield to Lac Annecy. Here we had a wonderful week sailing from a campsite with its own moorings. So lessons learned and new experiences had + it's not over until the snow comes.

[garethrow]

Not a brilliant season for us either. Twelve days on the water and about half the distance travelled that we would normally expect to sail in a year. April was poor weather so we didn't get going until Mid May. Lost all of July and some of August due to illness. Had my last sail on Thursday in a good F4 offshore wind, 3 up - so finished on a high note. Now starting the winterising process.

Regards

Gareth Rowlands
GRP BR20 Halen Y Mor

[TheOldDuffer]

Was out myself on Thursday. I was in two minds; one forecast said F3, another F4 gusting to F6 and the latter proved accurate but with only the lulls dropping to F4. The worst of it was that it was a South Easterly, so a good swell and a steep chop for good measure. I left the outer harbour at Dun Loaghaire but turned back in, pretty sharpish. The outer harbour is big enough so I practiced short tacking, pushing myself to get nearer and nearer to an obstacle before tacking round.

I'd noticed a girl on a Wasp foiling dinghy go out and I thought to myself, "it won't stay foiled very long in these waves!" She went down but at every pass across the harbour mouth, she was still down. I ventured out again to make sure she was alright; she said she was ok- seemed to be fiddling with something but I got a good soaking for my troubles No drysuit for me! And I hadn't bothered to put on my salopettes!

[Graham W]

As others have said, the weather got in the way a bit this year.  I managed multi-day trips to Pwllheli and the Llyn Peninsula with Apus and friends; to Barra in the Outer Hebrides and a few of its surrounding islands; and to Raid England out of Plymouth.  The forecast for the latter was atrocious but we still managed an excellent three days of sailing.

No sailing on my favourite Lake Bala this year and nothing on the muddy waters of North Kent, where I live and which is definitely not my favourite.  I had previously forecast 16+ days of sailing in the poll https://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,3566.0.html but probably only managed 12 or 13.  On the plus side and after years of cosmetic neglect I've done a lot of work on Turaco this year and she deserves to get out more.  Must try harder next year!

[Graham W]

Well, I can confirm that the changeable weather has not only been present in the north. Here in the Lake Geneva region it has also scuppered our plans to get out on the water on a number of occasions this year. Unfortunately, part of the problem has been self inflicted, as we have discovered wind predicting websites, which we have consulted before hooking up Miss Chief our BRE to the car. On one particular weekend Windfinder predicted 50+kts of "la bise" for those familiar with the area. So we left Miss Chief at home and went a walk around the lake. To our bemusement, it was almost becalmed.

I lived and worked on the shores of Lake Geneva for many years and well remember the flashing orange lights all around the shore which meant 'big winds coming, head for safety asap'.  I don't remember them ever being wrong!

[MarkLB]

I lived and worked on the shores of Lake Geneva for many years and well remember the flashing orange lights all around the shore which meant 'big winds coming, head for safety asap'.  I don't remember them ever being wrong!

Indeed, 40 clicks per minute and you should not be out, 90/min and it is time to feel very foolish. Probably more reliable to invest in a strong telescope to look for the warning lamps  (30km from our house on the side of the jura) rather than believe in local weather models.