Watchet at the Weekend

[Viv]

Had a nice trip to Watchet this weekend. Vince and I had already decided to make the trip when I saw on the Bristol Channel Forum on Friday that Tonybarebones was also intending to go. We had originally thought about going really early 04.00 or something stupid but Tony had said he was going at 14.00 whihc seemed a much more realistic time of day! So at 13.30 on Saturday, just about to leave the mooring when a horrid band of rain came in across the Bay and it didn't look like it was going to brighten up very soon. So then we were thinking ooh, shall we go or shan't we, but decided that we'd lock out and then see what was happening out in the channel. Waiting for the lock, pouring rain, no sign of Barebones, but then just as the lock was about to open we saw Barebones coming down the Ely. It seems that Tony also had been having second thoughts but decided not to be a ninny and to make the trip. And are we glad we did. Once in the lock, the rain stopped, and the weather improved greatly all round.
We motored down to the Ranie, then put up the main, and motor sailed probably two thirds of the way against the tide over to Watchet. For the last third of the trip though we put up dthe genoa and had a great sail in to Watchet, Alana making 7 knots through the water, which is pretty good for her.

Once in Watchet, had our dinner on board then moseyed along ashore with a couple of frinnds of ours to the British Legion Club, where the band The Electric Rocking Chairs was playing. We met Tony & Janet (Barebones) on the quay side so they joined us a bit later.

Watchet at sunset


The Electric Rocking Chairs - brill! A few familiar faces from CYC in the British Legion Club!

[Viv]

Afgter a great night in the BL we had a nightcap back on Alana with Tony & Janet, then waking early next morning Vince and I decided that we would leave before the gate closed at 08.15 to make the most of a glorious morning with hopefully a great sail back. I decided that the train ride on the steam train could wait for another visit.
We left Watchet and motored down to the next bay along (not Blue Anchor Bay I don't think, the one before that but can't remember the name - duh!) where we found Theodoxus also at anchor.

Had a nice breakfast then sort of followed Theodoxus out at about 09.30 for hopefully our good sail back. Had a reasonable wind, then decided that we needed to change course and Vince rigged up the boom retainer & poled out the genoa for a good bit of goose-winging for about an hour or so. Unfortunately it was quite a bumpy ride, so eventually decided to take all that lot down, and more or less as soon as that was done the wind, such as it was, became very changeable and we just could not find a good point of sail. Eventually, after about an hour of faffing about we decided to *** that for a game of marbles, and motored back to Cardiff for the 14.45 lock. A great weekend in great company!

[ishtar]

Glad you went. Lovely clouds in the first sunset shot.

[charlieskipper]

Good to see you're getting about a bit. Well done, did you see the Ancient Mariner at Watchet- not Vince the other one! Apparentl Coleridge was on his hols and was inspired by Watchet.

[Viv]

Yes, you can't miss him really. I usually pay a visit to the man sitting in jail as well!