Weston Bay

[sheila]

Anyone got any posts for the Weston Bay trip? Was thinking about you as we crossed the 2nd Severn Crossing on Sunday.

[Deleted]

OK someone has to get the ball rolling, so it might as well be me :-)

I had Linda & Nicola as my crew. Two potential members who attended the club open day and hope to buy their own boat at some point when finances allow. It's a small world as Nicola works with Karen Rix. Not closely, but she does know her.

I have to admit to being a bit of a numpty and didn't add BST to the tide times given on EasyTide when I posted my original plans, so instead of 13:00 we locked out at 14:00 with High Spirits. The boat High Spirits, that is, although our own spirits were pretty high too.

The journey across was with 10 - 13 knots of following wind, with some sunshine at times. So quite pleasant, although at times it dropped below 10 knots and Katy almost ground to a halt.

I heard Swansea Coastguard trying to contact a 'blue and white sailing vessel' that had been reported as being in trouble off Hinkley point by the security people at Hinkley Power Station and wondered what sort of trouble they could be having in light winds.

Then we got to Weston bay. High Spirits, who was slightly ahead of us, did a sudden and quite violent pirouette on the top of a wave and a little while later the wind hit us. My wind instrument registered 31 knots. Reefs were hastily applied and the genoa half wound in!!

Weston Bay can be quite choppy at the best of times, but now the waves were really beginning to be thrown up. Some of them were even breaking a couple of miles out to sea and at one point we had to go across them. With the roll from the waves added to the heel of the boat the deck felt as if it was almost vertical a few times and I began to grow concerned that my crew would be getting frightened. Not exactly the ideal introduction to sailing!

The Westonians were out in the bay, indulging in their regatta racing. We found out later that two of them abandoned the race due to the high winds and one had his genoa torn in half! He was left with a triangle attached to the sheets and the rest whipping out from the mast like a tattered flag!

Despite the wind my crew did a splendid job of getting the sails down, getting the sail cover on and tidying up all the ropes. Once we had tied up to Chausey and picked up the debris from the cabin floor the beer in the warmth of the WBYC club house was very welcome . There was a buffet for £6.50 a head and a live band, and as before the WBYC members made us all feel at home. My lady crew told me that they hadn't been at all frightened. They said that they felt quite safe aboard Katy. Although she was rocking and rolling Katy didn't feel as if she was doing anything that wasn't expected under the conditions, so they felt quite secure.

The following morning Bright Flyer and High Spirits left at about 6am on the early tide. Allan had said the night before that he might do the same, but when push came to shove the lure of a warm bed at that time in the morning was too great, so he stayed - and as it turned out I'm really glad he did!

We got up at a more civilised o'clock and Linda, Nicola and I had a pleasant, albeit windy, walk along the path to Uphill boatyard and the nature reserve next to it. We had a nose around the boatyard, watched some people being taught how to abseil down the quarry face and walked up the hill to the church, Then, perhaps more sensibly, down the other side to the pub! It was closed, despite the sign saying, 'Now open all day'. A quick check of the watch indicated that it was 11:45 so we loitered about, wandering away a bit so as not to appear too desperate!

I wasn't looking forward to the journey back. Katy's engine has been under powered for a while and I was concerned as the wind was howling up the river, plus there was a couple of knots of tide coming in to overcome as well. Later, when we got back Allan got on his laptop and checked the wind recorded at the weather station on Flat Holm and it was 28 knots.

Allan released the ropes from Chausey, 'Off you go', he shouted cheerfully over the wind.

We weren't going anywhere. 'That's full power!', I shouted back, not so cheerfully. The motor eventually struggled to push us forward at about half a knot, but without being able to swing the stern in ('coz we were against Chausey) and when both my crew and Allan all tried to push the bow out together the wind just pushed it back the only result was Katy moving into the slot in front of Chausey, vacated earlier by Bright Flyer.

What would we do without our hero Allan and Chausey's 50hp? Good old Allan towed us out just past the inner end of Brean Down and then we headed for Cardiff under sail. Straight into the wind - and waves. Without a spray hood it seemed that every wave, or at least every other, splashed over the bow. All three of us were soaking wet all the way back. But luckily only on the outside!

Chausey arrived in time to catch the 19:45 lock in, but we couldn't quite make it, so had to get the 20:15. Allan, being the gentleman that he is, waited in the lock for us, in case of further engine difficulties. As it turned out he wasn't needed. Katy's engine still starts first time over compression every time and still has enough power to chug against the 1.5 knot tide that was then in the Wrach channel. It was just the combination of a really strong head wind and the river current it couldn't cope with, but it was really nice of Allan to be so considerate anyway. Many thanks to him. He even invited us all over tto Chausey for a beer once we had moored up. Linda and Nicola declined his offer, having to get back home, but I didn't!

As I prepared to let them out of the gate I asked the girls if they had enjoyed the weekend and promised them that it isn't always like that! Baptism by fire. If you can cope with 30ish knot winds both there and back then everything else is plain sailing, so to speak. They said they had enjoyed it anyway... and then I had to ask the 64 thousand dollar question.... 'Would you come again?'. I must admit there was a slight pause, but then they said they definitely would, so we haven't lost a couple of prospective new members!

Julian.

And thanks once again to Allan.

[duncanhall]

Looks like an eventful trip. Pitty I didnt have my crew available sounded fun.

Duncan

[Fred]

Allan should get bonus points for all the towing he doing

Fred

[Martyn & Sarah]

Another great wknd.
Had to fuel up so headed for Penarth marina got our diesel and met Chausey and Rhianan in the lock.
Lovely breeze as we got out into the channel got to weston ok but the wind did get up abit 30 knots plus but no dramas.
Managed to get onto the pontoon ok there was 4 of us alltogether Chausey, High Spirits and Katy.
Headed for the bar where we were made very welcombe they laid on a buffet for £6.50 which filled everyone up.
By then the boats were taking the ground they settled in ok ,Julian was jumping up and down with a big grin on his face cause his being a fin was bolt upright.
















As you can see they have settled in ok.
Had an early start with the high tide and had another top sail back to cardiff . Locked in at 9.45 and we were on the pontoon by just after 10.
My dad really enjoyed it brought back loads of memories from the good old days. Later Sarah got the cottage pie on the go and had lunch ,packed all the gear away ,put the boat back on our mooring and of we went. who needs to win the lottery with wknds like that.

Martyn and Sarah &Tilly

[Martyn & Sarah]

More pictures from the Weston trip.
















Where to next?

[Camelot]

May 17, 2011 18:17:04 GMT Fred said:

Allan should get bonus points for all the towing he doing

I've awarded Allan an additional point for coming to the rescue of other members on such a regular basis. This puts Allan in 1st place, 5 points clear of Bright Flyer and Katy who are sharing 2nd.

[allan]

Many thanks for that Huw. I will try to post some pictures of Weston tomorrow.
I think Moontide earned some points by going to the NUYC regatta at the weekend.
Allan

[Andy-High Spirits]

I can't add much to Julian's summary; I was very pleasantly surprised with Weston, a lovely place. It would make a good day trip, a pint in the pub and back home. High Spirits left with Bright Flyer and we close hauled on one tack all the way back with between 10 & 16 kt of wind on a flat sea.
A good trip,
Andy & Marian

[Deleted]

Ah yes, now that Martyn has reminded me, I'd forgotten to mention one of the main benefits for a fin to visit Weston. I was gloating because the bilge keels were at an angle and Katy was bolt upright. What a refreshing change! Chuckle Chuckle.

Actually, as the outgoing tide undercut the mud away from under Chausey she did slip down the bank a little way on the Sunday and push Katy over a bit, but that was during the day and we weren't eating or sleeping aboard then. Just waiting for the tide in preparation to leave.

Huw.... I certainly don't begrudge Allan getting extra points for all his towing activities(Chausey should be renamed CYC Tug!) but following his request for points for a 'non' visit to NDYC at Instow you haven't commented on my request for a 'non' visit to Barry too! (Posted on the thread for the Easter Trip)

Julian.

[ishtar]

Great to see these reports. I think a lot of people enjoy reading them, and it definitely shows how active the club is. Great stuff.

[Deleted]

Correction Huw... the request about whether Barry counts for BB points for which I am awaiting your comment was posted in the Blue Book Challenge thread!

[Camelot]

May 18, 2011 11:01:19 GMT @julianc said:

Huw.... I certainly don't begrudge Allan getting extra points for all his towing activities(Chausey should be renamed CYC Tug!) but following his request for points for a 'non' visit to NDYC at Instow you haven't commented on my request for a 'non' visit to Barry too! (Posted on the thread for the Easter Trip)

Julian.

I awarded Allan the point for his trip to the North Devon YC, because he visited on a Saturday, when I felt it reasonable to assume the club would be open. Having sailed all the way to Instow singlehanded in search of some Blue book points, I thought a consolation point in order when he arrived to find the place shut up. Also Allan's was the first individual trip to another club with the BB challenge running.

I don't really want to set a presidence for 'non-visit' points as the aim of the challenge is to get CYC boats and members interacting with the other clubs. But, equally I need to keep things fair. So, I've decided to award you the point on this occassion, but be stricter and more clear in future.

If a club's website, or a pilot book (particularly the Blue Book), suggests that a club will be open during your visit, and you arrive to find it's not, I'll award a consolation point, as you've clearly endeavoured to visit their club house.

However, if you visit when the available info shows the club in question is likely to be closed, or the tide table makes it clear the club will be in accessable, no points will be awarded.

It's great to see that these points are so hotly contested though!

[Deleted]

That's fair enough Huw... and thanks.

While we are on the subject of being strict, can you clear up something that a few of us were wondering about the other day. If we visit the same club several times during the year do we get the points each time? Or are you keeping a record of where everyone has been and only award the points for the visit to any particular club that earns the most, if one visit happens to be during their regatta etc?

Julian.

[Camelot]

You can only gain points for visiting a destination once in any year, though your visit which gains you the highest number of points will be the one used.

Full rules available here-
greyreef.co.uk/bluebook/Points.htm

[Martyn & Sarah]

Hi Alan ( Capt Tugwash)
didnt see you this wknd were you down Milford assiting the local guys helping those big tankers in the Haven?
Martyn