After starting yesterdays race and being right in the mix with 10miles left the moment came to tack onto startboard and put the jury rig under load. The wind was up to 16kts so i double reefed the main and changed down to the #4 headsail. However immediately when the rig loaded up it looked wrong - something like a wobbly banana - so down came all the3 sails and i motored to the finish.
We had a nice evening in treguier and I have decided to get Psipsina home to fix the rig. Dissappointing, but it's all part of the game. It was good to be along with the group for most of the week even though I only put up one result (1st in race one).
I'm now passing Guernsey under engine and flying the storm jib only...I'm going to continue overnight all the way to gosport which i should reach tomorrow lunchtime.
I should have known there'd be problems from early on this week - When I stepped off the gosport ferry I caught my headphones and lost the little rubber earpiece - innocuous you might think - but crucial for listening to music. Since then it's not gone well!! Still the rig is in one piece and 2 new D2's will be put on before the fastnet as well as a full rig check. The engine is behaving very well and a new tank lid will be ordered to fix the air problem.
Life onboarrd is quite nice today - I've had dolphins, music (predominantly in one ear), sunshine and a good book to read. Back in gosport we'll have a full washdown and cleanout. Psipsina will compete again in the fastnet in August...
Paddy
2011 Channel week blog - We're back!! Note the pic is last years course, this year is slightly different. More time spent in France...
Thursday 21 July 2011
On the way home...
After starting yesterdays race and being right in the mix with 10miles left the moment came to tack onto startboard and put the jury rig under load. The wind was up to 16kts so i double reefed the main and changed down to the #4 headsail. However immediately when the rig loaded up it looked wrong - something like a wobbly banana - so down came all the3 sails and i motored to the finish.
We had a nice evening in treguier and I have decided to get Psipsina home to fix the rig. Dissappointing, but it's all part of the game. It was good to be along with the group for most of the week even though I only put up one result (1st in race one).
I'm now passing Guernsey under engine and flying the storm jib only...I'm going to continue overnight all the way to gosport which i should reach tomorrow lunchtime.
I should have known there'd be problems from early on this week - When I stepped off the gosport ferry I caught my headphones and lost the little rubber earpiece - innocuous you might think - but crucial for listening to music. Since then it's not gone well!! Still the rig is in one piece and 2 new D2's will be put on before the fastnet as well as a full rig check. The engine is behaving very well and a new tank lid will be ordered to fix the air problem.
Life onboarrd is quite nice today - I've had dolphins, music (predominantly in one ear), sunshine and a good book to read. Back in gosport we'll have a full washdown and cleanout. Psipsina will compete again in the fastnet in August...
Paddy
We had a nice evening in treguier and I have decided to get Psipsina home to fix the rig. Dissappointing, but it's all part of the game. It was good to be along with the group for most of the week even though I only put up one result (1st in race one).
I'm now passing Guernsey under engine and flying the storm jib only...I'm going to continue overnight all the way to gosport which i should reach tomorrow lunchtime.
I should have known there'd be problems from early on this week - When I stepped off the gosport ferry I caught my headphones and lost the little rubber earpiece - innocuous you might think - but crucial for listening to music. Since then it's not gone well!! Still the rig is in one piece and 2 new D2's will be put on before the fastnet as well as a full rig check. The engine is behaving very well and a new tank lid will be ordered to fix the air problem.
Life onboarrd is quite nice today - I've had dolphins, music (predominantly in one ear), sunshine and a good book to read. Back in gosport we'll have a full washdown and cleanout. Psipsina will compete again in the fastnet in August...
Paddy
On the way home...
After starting yesterdays race and being right in the mix with 10miles left the moment came to tack onto startboard and put the jury rig under load. The wind was up to 16kts so i double reefed the main and changed down to the #4 headsail. However immediately when the rig loaded up it looked wrong - something like a wobbly banana - so down came all the3 sails and i motored to the finish.
We had a nice evening in treguier and I have decided to get Psipsina home to fix the rig. Dissappointing, but it's all part of the game. It was good to be along with the group for most of the week even though I only put up one result (1st in race one).
I'm now passing Guernsey under engine and flying the storm jib only...I'm going to continue overnight all the way to gosport which i should reach tomorrow lunchtime.
I should have known there'd be problems from early on this week - When I stepped off the gosport ferry I caught my headphones and lost the little rubber earpiece - innocuous you might think - but crucial for listening to music. Since then it's not gone well!! Still the rig is in one piece and 2 new D2's will be put on before the fastnet as well as a full rig check. The engine is behaving very well and a new tank lid will be ordered to fix the air problem.
Life onboarrd is quite nice today - I've had dolphins, music (predominantly in one ear), sunshine and a good book to read. Back in gosport we'll have a full washdown and cleanout. Psipsina will compete again in the fastnet in August...
Paddy
We had a nice evening in treguier and I have decided to get Psipsina home to fix the rig. Dissappointing, but it's all part of the game. It was good to be along with the group for most of the week even though I only put up one result (1st in race one).
I'm now passing Guernsey under engine and flying the storm jib only...I'm going to continue overnight all the way to gosport which i should reach tomorrow lunchtime.
I should have known there'd be problems from early on this week - When I stepped off the gosport ferry I caught my headphones and lost the little rubber earpiece - innocuous you might think - but crucial for listening to music. Since then it's not gone well!! Still the rig is in one piece and 2 new D2's will be put on before the fastnet as well as a full rig check. The engine is behaving very well and a new tank lid will be ordered to fix the air problem.
Life onboarrd is quite nice today - I've had dolphins, music (predominantly in one ear), sunshine and a good book to read. Back in gosport we'll have a full washdown and cleanout. Psipsina will compete again in the fastnet in August...
Paddy
Wednesday 20 July 2011
Anything else?! No? ....so lets go sailing.
Have started race 4
Light and downwind so will nurse her along. Great to be back involved after epic struggles.
It;s just stopped raining, we have 10kts from behind and I'm in the leading bunch gybing along the French coast...:)
Light and downwind so will nurse her along. Great to be back involved after epic struggles.
It;s just stopped raining, we have 10kts from behind and I'm in the leading bunch gybing along the French coast...:)
Tuesday 19 July 2011
...and we're off
Engine running smootly and a jury rig on the D2.
Looking ahead i'm still not feeling great about sailing with the fixed D2. The rigger has put a dynema lenght in place now. I won't hold up to any serious conditions so for now I'll be nursing Psipsina around the course. The immediate goal is to reach St Quay for dinner in the stunning restaurant we were at last year...Should just make it.
Thanks to South Pier Marine in Jersey for all the work this morning, very keen to help and knowledgable.
6hrs motoring to st quay ahead.
Paddy
Engine running smootly and a jury rig on the D2.
Looking ahead i'm still not feeling great about sailing with the fixed D2. The rigger has put a dynema lenght in place now. I won't hold up to any serious conditions so for now I'll be nursing Psipsina around the course. The immediate goal is to reach St Quay for dinner in the stunning restaurant we were at last year...Should just make it.
Thanks to South Pier Marine in Jersey for all the work this morning, very keen to help and knowledgable.
6hrs motoring to st quay ahead.
Paddy
Monday 18 July 2011
RETIRED TO JERSEY WITH RIG DAMAGE - Trying stuff
Well todays race started well - we set off into about 20kts just forward of the beam and as we crashed along i was happy with my position just behind Dinah on the water. About 15miles into the race i heard a bery loud BANG and after looking around realised the starboard D2 diagonal had snapped !!!This is basically a steel rod that holds up the mast and meant I was in serious danger of the whole rig coming crashing down. So i quickly bore away and dropped all the sails as fast as i could knowing that the race was over...
So what now?!!?
I retired and set off under engine for the finish but then the old engine problem from earlier in the season started up again...with the power dropping on from the engine it meant i made almost no headway and eventually i decided to turn downwind and run for Jersey. So here i am, in the rain in Jersey. In the morning a rigger is coming to have a look at things and he may fit a wire stay as a stop-gap to get me back sailing, however i am nervous about this as it won't match the rest of the rig. There is still a whole season to go and i do NOT want to drop the mast. The engine I now know has a problem with the lift pump...so more playing with diesel for me tomorrow!
Fun Fun testing fun. I have done all i can for this evening so I'm off to find a shower, food and a beer.
It is all frustrating but i am glad it happened now and i got the boat back safely in one piece...lets hope tomorrow is productive and i can Psipsina get back sailing.I think she'd like that after all the diesel I've spilled in her recently.
P
ps: Well done Hindo on the interview...we're both drinking alone tonight. Normal.
So what now?!!?
I retired and set off under engine for the finish but then the old engine problem from earlier in the season started up again...with the power dropping on from the engine it meant i made almost no headway and eventually i decided to turn downwind and run for Jersey. So here i am, in the rain in Jersey. In the morning a rigger is coming to have a look at things and he may fit a wire stay as a stop-gap to get me back sailing, however i am nervous about this as it won't match the rest of the rig. There is still a whole season to go and i do NOT want to drop the mast. The engine I now know has a problem with the lift pump...so more playing with diesel for me tomorrow!
Fun Fun testing fun. I have done all i can for this evening so I'm off to find a shower, food and a beer.
It is all frustrating but i am glad it happened now and i got the boat back safely in one piece...lets hope tomorrow is productive and i can Psipsina get back sailing.I think she'd like that after all the diesel I've spilled in her recently.
P
ps: Well done Hindo on the interview...we're both drinking alone tonight. Normal.
Sunday 17 July 2011
DAY OFF IN ST. PETER'S PORT
DAY OFF IN ST. PETER'S PORT
So with a forecast for up to 45knots today it was decided last night to cancel the race to St Cast today and give oursleves a rest here in Guernsey. I've been using the day to finish some small johbs onboard and get everything ready for the rest of the week.
It has been really gusting in the harbour and i think the right call was made to not sail today - especially for the smaller boats who would get a tougher time in the big conditions out there. It is early in the week for all that.
We finished at 0813 yesterday morning. I squeezed Psipsina through a narrow channel to the west of the main channel between Guernsey and Herm. By doing this we avoided 5kts of adverse tide and caught up about 1.5miles on the guys ahead. This was the race winning move and meant i finished first with Solan Goose second. I think Dinah and Jbelino came next - so it is the same old faces that will be in the mix all week. Other good performance came from Fasttrack, Santana and Edith. It is a smaller fleet than last year but no lass competitive, still Pispsina has put up a good score and it is for the rest to catch us now.
I've ticked everything off my list now excet going to buy batteries....somehow i think there may be a detour into the pub for lunch on the way there. Demain - nous depart pour St Quay a 0700.
Bon
So with a forecast for up to 45knots today it was decided last night to cancel the race to St Cast today and give oursleves a rest here in Guernsey. I've been using the day to finish some small johbs onboard and get everything ready for the rest of the week.
It has been really gusting in the harbour and i think the right call was made to not sail today - especially for the smaller boats who would get a tougher time in the big conditions out there. It is early in the week for all that.
We finished at 0813 yesterday morning. I squeezed Psipsina through a narrow channel to the west of the main channel between Guernsey and Herm. By doing this we avoided 5kts of adverse tide and caught up about 1.5miles on the guys ahead. This was the race winning move and meant i finished first with Solan Goose second. I think Dinah and Jbelino came next - so it is the same old faces that will be in the mix all week. Other good performance came from Fasttrack, Santana and Edith. It is a smaller fleet than last year but no lass competitive, still Pispsina has put up a good score and it is for the rest to catch us now.
I've ticked everything off my list now excet going to buy batteries....somehow i think there may be a detour into the pub for lunch on the way there. Demain - nous depart pour St Quay a 0700.
Bon
Saturday 16 July 2011
IT IS NOT HOW YOU START BUT HOW YOU FINISH
I was about 3min late for the start due to some technical isses, but finished very well taking a narrow channela and rock hopping out of tide.
Just tied up in st Peter's Port Guernsey. Time for some much needed sleep. More later
Just tied up in st Peter's Port Guernsey. Time for some much needed sleep. More later
Friday 15 July 2011
Welcome to channelweek 2011 !!
I'll be keeping this up to date during the week ahead. This years race course is slightly diffferent, the route being from the solent to guernsey, then st cast, st quay, treguier, weymouth and back to the solent.
I'm motoring to the start in about 20kts right now so it will be a tough first race to guernsey. Lots of last minute fixing has been going on but now we're ship shape.
The start is a 4pm so we should finish tomorrow morning sometime. The forecast is for this wind or maybe more throughout. Will be pretty bumpy.
Hope everyone is enjoying work this afternoon....
Paddy
I'll be keeping this up to date during the week ahead. This years race course is slightly diffferent, the route being from the solent to guernsey, then st cast, st quay, treguier, weymouth and back to the solent.
I'm motoring to the start in about 20kts right now so it will be a tough first race to guernsey. Lots of last minute fixing has been going on but now we're ship shape.
The start is a 4pm so we should finish tomorrow morning sometime. The forecast is for this wind or maybe more throughout. Will be pretty bumpy.
Hope everyone is enjoying work this afternoon....
Paddy
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