The Beast of Bideford

Cuddly toys in East-the-Water are quaking in their kapok pelts as a killer has been unleashed on the neighbourhood.

Here a Beanie Babies lioness suffers her cruel feat at the paws of a swarthy felix thrice her size.

Final Sail of 2006

From Sailing

 

To end the season Martin and I had a good blast on Bada Bing, before the jib halyard gave up the ghost and shredded. We had to put into the bank to take the jib down, as it was impossible to sail with it flapping on the roller-reefing. A few minor repairs to tide us over the winter, but all in all, an excellent season.

Welcome to Sally - our new kitten

Poppy and Jake insisted on a new kitten - who are we to refuse?

She's 8 weeks old and very sleepy. Fred, the older cat was not overly delighted until he discovered Sally's food bowl - but then he is very greedy.

We're keeping them apart for now, as I think that Fred could probably eat Sally in one sitting!

Highest Tide for 20 years

Tonight was the highest tide in 20 years. I went for a sail this evening with Martin, and the current was incredibly strong, with wind over tide. At first it was a steady F5 then an F6 gusting F7 which got a little hairy, so we reefed, then headed up towards Bideford.

When the wind died down we shook out the reef again and arrived back at the slipway as the alarm on my watch sounded High Water. It was the shortest walk to pull the boat up the slip that we've ever had to do.

Sailing a Catamaran in an F7

Well, today we learned that discretion is the better part of valour. The wind picked up rapidly after we'd rigged and was an F6 by the time we reached the end of the slipway.

We reefed at that point and launched with our hearts in our throats. On a run we nearly pitched, so at the earliest opprortunity we tightened up onto a reach and headed towards Inner Pulley.

We fitted the extra long tiller extension, so that Martin could steer from the wire, and I could power the main with both hands. This worked very well, and we didn't capsize. By the time we got to Inner Pulley, it was blowing old boots, and we decided to head for the beach at Instow, rather than risk getting stuck with other boats in the moorings. By now it was blowing a good F7, and possibly gusting as high as F8.

We derigged on the beach and I went back towards the club to pick up the trolley wheels. Mary Jane Scott kindly gave me and the wheels a lift, and Ellie also gave us a hand getting back the half mile along the Esplanade.

Only one other boat went out was a Dart 15, and that was Ellie's brother Sam, with two crew. Their extra weight made all the difference.

A thoroughly enjoyable and exhausting sail.  Maximum speed only 15.3 knots.

The Yellow Welly

Tony Smith and I were most surprised to be awarded the Yellow Welly in the NDYC Open Week Prizegiving this evening. This was for our impressive broach on Moonshadow on Wednesday.

At least, having looked at the previous recipients, we are in prestigious company.

Poppy's Cadet Training

This week (7 - 11 August 2006) Poppy has been learning to sail with NDYC cadets. She's had a really great time, and photos appear here. She's been buzzing every evening with all that she's been up to.

Porpoise

Today, whilst sailing off Lundy, I saw a porpoise break the surface near our boat. It only broached the one time, but it was a wonderful moment, nevertheless.


Apparently, there have been reports of basking sharks seen off the north end of Lundy this week. I've only seen one once, from the MS Oldenburg, but it was still a very impressive sight.

There were also a number of gannets on the sea around us. Their wingspan and flying ability on ground effect, just above the waves, is fantastic.

18.5 knots!

 Martin Caddy and I were in two minds whether or not we should go out.  It had blown a gale in the night and was still pretty lively when we got to NDYC.  However, the forecast was for the conditions to improve, so we rigged the boat with a reefed main and went for it.

Conditions were far from ideal, as it was very gusty off Appledore, and Instow Beach was very exposed and lumpy.  However, just inside Crow Point there was a flattish stretch of water before the wind's strength was killed by the dunes.

Our speed runs gradually crept up, and we soon beat the 16 knots of earlier in the season.  Martin kept his balance on the wire and we passed 17 knots with ease on several occasions.  We also were in danger of pitch-poling in the less than ideal conditions.  We hit 18.2 on one stretch and then maxed out at 18.5 knots recorded maximum speed shortly before capsizing off Yelland Jetty.  We called it a day at that, and retired with no breakages.

Given marginally less wind and flatter water we'll go faster yet.  This trip has been entered in the Yachts and Yachting Garmin Speed Freaks League.

Up, up and away...

This evening I helped ground crew for Sheila's balloon. Photos on the Picasa link here, and Google Earth GPS file here. It was good fun. We started near Petrockstow, and she landed about 4 miles to the south.

Moon Gazing

Last night the sky was incredibly clear, with a bright waxing gibbous moon.

I got out my birding scope to have a clearer look and the sight was incredible. We could clearly see indentations and shadows on the limb of the moon.

There was a planet nearby, which after a little debate, and consultation from my astronomical almanac, we deduced to be Jupiter.

Viewing through the scope revealed two of the four Galilean Moons, whih was certainly a first for me. It was an especial treat.

Fairport Acoustic Convention

Fairport Acoustic Convention
Originally uploaded by tflaxman.

We all visited darkest Cornwall to see Fairport Acoustic Convention in the Rum Store, at the Carnglaze Caverns.  The venue is an abandoned underground slate quarry just outside Liskeard, and is so named because it was used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War to store its rum supplies.

It was a really great concert - the first time we'd seen the band minus Dave Pegg. The band were on top form, as usual, and it was a change to see them in their acoustic configuration.  We didn't get home until the early hours of the morning, and once again saw a badger whilst we crossed Bodmin moor at night.

Prior to that we visited Boscastle on a wet, windy and very foggy day.

16 knots

Achieved 16.2 knots in a blustery F6 yesterday with Martin Caddy as crew. Only used the mainsail as the conditions were very lumpy, and we nearly pitchpoled several times. With luck we'll improve on this speed this season.

You can get a sense of what the conditions were like from a photogallery here. This sail has been entered in the Yachts and Yachting Speedfreaks Competition.

Beltane

DSC00098
Originally uploaded by tflaxman.

As today was Beltane, Pete Melville and I went for a walk to Bucks Mills. We had the best of the weather - it was glorious.

Boat Trip

DSC00089
Originally uploaded by tflaxman.

Today we took a trip on the MS Oldenburg, from Ilfracombe to Bideford.

We made an adventure of it, by walking to Bideford Quay to catch the bus to Barnstaple, and another to Ilfracombe.

It was so cold that we could see our breath on the boat. Poppy and Jake took a trip around Ilfracombe Harbour on a horse drawn cart.

We were very tired and full of fresh air as we walked up the hill to our home.

Seal

Today, whilst on the Safety Boat, I saw a bull seal near the Inner Pulley buoy. It was the first time that I'd seen one in the estuary. He kept "bottling" up for air, but was very shy, and disappeared whenever we tried to approach. When I killed the engine he hung around and watched us. A wonderful experience.

Rock Balancing

DSC01085
Originally uploaded by pandjmum.

Well I blame Dave Gorman for this inspiration.

A very therapeutic way to spend an afternoon.

Flickr

We've just joined Flickr (See Thom's and Anna's here), a fancy photo sharing thing.

Sailing Soon

Dart 16
Originally uploaded by tflaxman.

It's been a long and very cold winter.

I can't wait to get back on the water in April.  

Poppy has joined as a Cadet this year, and will soon be up to speed with all things nautical.