The season closes

It is always with mixed feelings that I pack Aurora up for the winter. It marks the end of the boating year, but I am also glad our little boat is sheltered from the sea and the weather.

This year was a near perfect haul out. I arrived at the mooring to find that the shackle on backup chain had worked loose, so it was none too soon to attend to that. I had Alice to help me and the boat was soon on the slipway. It was a warm sunny day, which made the necessary hull cleaning less unpleasant.

The only mistake I made was to put off de-rigging Aurora to Sunday morning, because heavy rain rolled in during the early hours and, despite an extended breakfast hoping the rain would ease, I was forced to work in the downpour. At least the boat was thoroughly rinsed of salt.

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Southampton Boat Show 2018

It was my pleasure to help Nick and Suzy Scroggs on their Cape Cutter Marine stand at the Southampton Boat Show this weekend. As usual, the Cape Cutter 19 attracted a great deal of interest. A big boat show like Southampton provides an ideal opportunity to look at several similar boats in quick succession; lots of people I spoke to could see “the CC19 advantage” over its competitors. I really enjoyed meeting potential new owners and promote the Class Association.

OGA55 rally part 3

Race day! It was with much excitement that we released from the raft and made our way out through Cowes. Since we were third out, we left early and picked up a mooring outside the breakwater to observe the fun.

It was quite a sight to see the fleet massing- 68 boats started. Alice helmed our start and then Niki took over. We were against wind and tide both and kept to the shallow water on the mainland side, but still could not got past Lepe at the mouth of the Beaulieu River.

After about 3 hours of beating, we reluctantly retired and were back in Cowes in 20 minutes!!

Alice had time to join the dinghy race and then, after a rapid wash and brush up it was off to Cowes for a very enjoyable evening at the celebratory dinner, where the race was replayed over and again between skippers and boat stories shared.

OGA55 rally part 2

Today was fun day at the rally, with all manner of entertainments. Alice and I started by constructing our “log boat”, using a “one design” hull, some garden cane and plastic bags for sails.

Alice then began preparing her entry for the “bake off” – fresh rosemary and tomato bread in the thermal cooker.

This was then followed by sailing the OGA dinghy (a new design of modern gaff dinghy for Home construction) and Alice had a go helming another dinghy.

Meanwhile there was rowing, sculling and smack dinghy sailing. We made sure we took time to see the larger gaffers in the sun on their pontoon.

To Alice’s delight, not only did her log boat win the race, but her bread beat off stiff competition to be judged top in the bake off!

A thoroughly enjoyable day was rounded off with some live music. Tomorrow is race day!

OGA55 rally part 1

One of the pleasures of owning a gaffer is being a member of the OGA and attending their rallies. I always meet like minded sailors and find out more about boats, how to sail them and interesting places to visit.

The weather has been a little mixed, so I sit here writing this with the rain clattering on the cabin roof, whilst the others are at the cinema.

We are based at the Folly Inn, with various excursions up and down the river. Yesterday I had a lovely sail to Victoria Yacht Club in Wootton Creek with Bob Steele, skipper of another Cape Cutter.

There has also been an opportunity to send the drone up and capture some of the action around the moorings. Lots of social time too, chatting to the other crews, who have travelled from around the uk and also from the Netherlands.

Back to the Solent

It was not until July that Aurora was launched back at Portsmouth, following the rally in June in Scotland. Having got her afloat and sorted out the new mooring, a shakedown cruise was in order.

It was the weekend of the Round The Island Race, and a hot one too, so I pottered over to Ryde and anchored in the shallows to watch the fleet go by. It gave me a chance to fly the drone too, though I ended up too far away from the fleet to get any particularly dramatic shots.

After a quick swim under the boat, I had a lovely sail round to Bembridge, where I was rafted alongside a nice Drascombe. We were even treated to a fireworks display when we got back from the pub.

The weekend was then rounded off with the return to Portsmouth on Sunday morning.

19.6nm in total.

Cape Cutter 19 rally 2018 – day 7 – Return to Largs

The final day of the Cape Cutter week was to have been a good sail across open water around the back of Bute to Largs. However the weather had other ideas. Just like our regatta, the warm settled weather was coming to an end, but in the meantime, there was no wind.

We passed the day under motor and were able to get a little help from our sails as we traveled south, but they were no use at all once we rounded Garroch Head at the southern end of Bute.

The motor was very pleasant in the sun with plenty of wildlife to spot- porpoise, dolphin, gannets, razorbills and guillemots.

Many of the fleet hauled out today, whilst a number are staying on to enjoy some sailing.

Official proceedings were brought to a close with a celebratory meal as guests of Largs Sailing Club, where we were treated to another wonderful meal. Organisers Gary and Malcolm presented prizes and were thanked by one and all for their stirling efforts in organising this most enjoyable rally.