Ahoy, (this is a bit boring)
well for a while the Ol' Girl has needed a preventer, a couple of lines running Port and Starboard that stop an accidental Gybe. That is to say with the wind behind and the boom right out there can be a danger in, lets say lumpy sea's and tired crew, for an accidental Gybe to occur, the boom whips from one side of the Ol' Girl to the other, either braining the crew, or, breaking something that cannot be repaired with ease. I have decided on a mixture of old fashioned three core "rope" and braided core, one has some give the other does not.
I will be trying this layout on the way down the coast for the next few days as the wind will be behind, that's the prediction, of course as soon as I have set this rig up there is a probability it will not be needed.
Tomorrow the Ol'Girl and me find out.
On a different tack I have decided to find out if it is possible for a novice like me to attempt my Yacht Master as a pre cursor to my Ocean Master, I have already contacted a couple of companies, time to cross some fingers in regard to how many pieces of silver they may require.
In the next blog I hope to have some pics.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Fog, Rain and a Neck Strain
Ahoy,
let me be the first to apologise for the lack of content in Pull on What of late. Camarinas despite being an enjoyable Marina had no WiFi(and nasty showers).
The Ol' Girl and me arrived at Camarinas late, around 22:30 on the 11th, mooring up went without a hitch and after slipping the lock on the gate with my pocket knife, to my great satisfaction I found that the bar was still open, in fact it remained open until 4am, I may have had one or two beers in memory of Nauta Coruna(no tears).
In Camarinas I met the most Brit's I have met to date and despite having the odd tipple in the same way one might have at home, I do not know yet if it is preferable. This aside Camarinas was a very multi-cultural Marina with boats of all shapes and sizes from all over the World, young, old, in the middle and youngsters too, a great place to meet boaties. My thanks to the many that bought me a beer or two.
So the day after I arrived, I awoke at a surprisingly reasonable hour to discover that there was about to be a grand Fiesta for the Mary of the Sea, I do not believe myself to be particularly superstitious, however, as a novice sailor with a big chart I thought it could not hurt to stay and join in.(this is only partially true)
After what seemed like a week of drinking, dancing(wiggling for me) and eating the finest sea food I have had in my life I was a little weary and it took a day'ish to recover from what was only 4 days of revelry. During this time I caught up with Andy and Pam from Felice and Mike and Jane from Muhuhu, it's a big ocean but a small world and seeing them made my stay even more enjoyable, I wonder if the feeling is mutual?
Of course there was a price to pay, not illness, high fatigue or even a great fiscal one, it was the weather, the wind did not want me to leave, in the end I left twelve days after arriving.
The afternoon I left I decided me and the Ol' Girl would head to one of the Ria's on the way down to Villa Gratia and anchor up for the night, alas with strong swells and the wind determined to stay SW this was not an option, so I pressed on to Villa Gratia. This was the first night passage on the "Coast of Death"(thanks Maria) without a chart-plotter, I did have my GPS coordinates, what a shame the GPS kept on re-setting itself which did not increase my confidence in it, in the end everything went OK, despite a ten hour passage becoming twenty two and a very uncomfortable one at that.
The very second I arrived in the Ria that Villa Gratia is in, the fog descended, the heavens opened and I still had just under two hours to go before I could make berth, surrounded by unlit mussel rafts.
It did not take too long for this bizarre climatic greeting to disperse and soon I was being greeted by the Marina staff and on my way to a hot shower and a bit of a snooze before sorting out the formalities in the afternoon.
I awoke with a minor neck strain and a healthy appetite, I met the Marina Manager, who was expecting me, as not only had the delightful Maria from Nauta Coruna been in touch, my parcel from Jeppeson had arrived, new chart chip's for the plotter, what a fantastic welcome.
The intention is to stay here for a couple of days and head to Baiona, where I may even get to use a bath, an invitation from some Red Ensigns with a property there, I do sometimes dream of a bath these days.
let me be the first to apologise for the lack of content in Pull on What of late. Camarinas despite being an enjoyable Marina had no WiFi(and nasty showers).
The Ol' Girl and me arrived at Camarinas late, around 22:30 on the 11th, mooring up went without a hitch and after slipping the lock on the gate with my pocket knife, to my great satisfaction I found that the bar was still open, in fact it remained open until 4am, I may have had one or two beers in memory of Nauta Coruna(no tears).
In Camarinas I met the most Brit's I have met to date and despite having the odd tipple in the same way one might have at home, I do not know yet if it is preferable. This aside Camarinas was a very multi-cultural Marina with boats of all shapes and sizes from all over the World, young, old, in the middle and youngsters too, a great place to meet boaties. My thanks to the many that bought me a beer or two.
So the day after I arrived, I awoke at a surprisingly reasonable hour to discover that there was about to be a grand Fiesta for the Mary of the Sea, I do not believe myself to be particularly superstitious, however, as a novice sailor with a big chart I thought it could not hurt to stay and join in.(this is only partially true)
After what seemed like a week of drinking, dancing(wiggling for me) and eating the finest sea food I have had in my life I was a little weary and it took a day'ish to recover from what was only 4 days of revelry. During this time I caught up with Andy and Pam from Felice and Mike and Jane from Muhuhu, it's a big ocean but a small world and seeing them made my stay even more enjoyable, I wonder if the feeling is mutual?
Of course there was a price to pay, not illness, high fatigue or even a great fiscal one, it was the weather, the wind did not want me to leave, in the end I left twelve days after arriving.
The afternoon I left I decided me and the Ol' Girl would head to one of the Ria's on the way down to Villa Gratia and anchor up for the night, alas with strong swells and the wind determined to stay SW this was not an option, so I pressed on to Villa Gratia. This was the first night passage on the "Coast of Death"(thanks Maria) without a chart-plotter, I did have my GPS coordinates, what a shame the GPS kept on re-setting itself which did not increase my confidence in it, in the end everything went OK, despite a ten hour passage becoming twenty two and a very uncomfortable one at that.
The very second I arrived in the Ria that Villa Gratia is in, the fog descended, the heavens opened and I still had just under two hours to go before I could make berth, surrounded by unlit mussel rafts.
It did not take too long for this bizarre climatic greeting to disperse and soon I was being greeted by the Marina staff and on my way to a hot shower and a bit of a snooze before sorting out the formalities in the afternoon.
I awoke with a minor neck strain and a healthy appetite, I met the Marina Manager, who was expecting me, as not only had the delightful Maria from Nauta Coruna been in touch, my parcel from Jeppeson had arrived, new chart chip's for the plotter, what a fantastic welcome.
The intention is to stay here for a couple of days and head to Baiona, where I may even get to use a bath, an invitation from some Red Ensigns with a property there, I do sometimes dream of a bath these days.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Maniana?
Ahoy,
yesterday was for the most part a wasted day. Having said this I did catch up with a friend, Graham on yacht Isabella and his rather formidable looking crew. I waved them off at Marina Sucka, where I would wait for the delivery of my head gaskets, eight hours later and having twiddled the skin from my thumbs, my gaskets had not arrived and I returned to the Ol' Girl. A cab ride across town feeling frustrated, bored and very hungry.
Without a second thought as soon as I arrived at Nauta Coruna I headed straight to the bar for a cold beer and some Tapas. Before long Manolo the very sympathetic mechanic that is helping with the Ol' Girls ticker arrived, we exchanged views about Marina Sucka.
Again it seems the world did not want me to feel too low, as Monolo's wife Maria had bought some Spanish food for me, in fact the most food the Ol' Girl has ever had in her stores.
The following day Manolo unbeknown to me, took his rather swish BMW motorbike for a one hundred and forty kilometer round trip to collect the gaskets for the Ol' Girl. Unbelievable sympathy. The next surprise was that Danny, who manages the pontoons and his family had brought food for me, a shopping trolley full, this was becoming surreal, I was being treated so well and with such consideration I felt like I must be someone else, such absolute hospitality and caring.
Not one day has passed here at Nauta Coruna where I have not been surprised by a kindness from one or more people, it almost seems as though there is some social tradition, custom or etiquette concerning the kind treatment and bearing of gifts to travelers. So my sincerest thanks to Manolo, Manuel, Danny, Maria the staff at the bar and in point of fact everyone that I have met. May I apologise to everyone for not listing every gesture as the list would be so long I fear I would not be able to complete it.
Each place I have visited so far has been difficult to leave, Nauta Coruna is certainly no exception and without making this a competition, may be the most difficult to date.
Thanks to Manuel Farina Garrido or "Manolo the wizard of engine's", the engine on the Ol' Girl is not only fixed but has never sounded better, he has worked from the heart and I am unable to thank him enough.
The Ol' Girl is ready, sails are good, the tanks are full, water and diesel, the lockers are brimming with food, I have the charts (thanks Maria) and we have plenty of Earl Grey Tea.
So I am about to leave, or rather tomorrow morning I show my rudder to this Marina and all the charming people, I hope I can return one day and thank them again.
yesterday was for the most part a wasted day. Having said this I did catch up with a friend, Graham on yacht Isabella and his rather formidable looking crew. I waved them off at Marina Sucka, where I would wait for the delivery of my head gaskets, eight hours later and having twiddled the skin from my thumbs, my gaskets had not arrived and I returned to the Ol' Girl. A cab ride across town feeling frustrated, bored and very hungry.
Without a second thought as soon as I arrived at Nauta Coruna I headed straight to the bar for a cold beer and some Tapas. Before long Manolo the very sympathetic mechanic that is helping with the Ol' Girls ticker arrived, we exchanged views about Marina Sucka.
Again it seems the world did not want me to feel too low, as Monolo's wife Maria had bought some Spanish food for me, in fact the most food the Ol' Girl has ever had in her stores.
The following day Manolo unbeknown to me, took his rather swish BMW motorbike for a one hundred and forty kilometer round trip to collect the gaskets for the Ol' Girl. Unbelievable sympathy. The next surprise was that Danny, who manages the pontoons and his family had brought food for me, a shopping trolley full, this was becoming surreal, I was being treated so well and with such consideration I felt like I must be someone else, such absolute hospitality and caring.
Not one day has passed here at Nauta Coruna where I have not been surprised by a kindness from one or more people, it almost seems as though there is some social tradition, custom or etiquette concerning the kind treatment and bearing of gifts to travelers. So my sincerest thanks to Manolo, Manuel, Danny, Maria the staff at the bar and in point of fact everyone that I have met. May I apologise to everyone for not listing every gesture as the list would be so long I fear I would not be able to complete it.
Each place I have visited so far has been difficult to leave, Nauta Coruna is certainly no exception and without making this a competition, may be the most difficult to date.
Thanks to Manuel Farina Garrido or "Manolo the wizard of engine's", the engine on the Ol' Girl is not only fixed but has never sounded better, he has worked from the heart and I am unable to thank him enough.
The Ol' Girl is ready, sails are good, the tanks are full, water and diesel, the lockers are brimming with food, I have the charts (thanks Maria) and we have plenty of Earl Grey Tea.
So I am about to leave, or rather tomorrow morning I show my rudder to this Marina and all the charming people, I hope I can return one day and thank them again.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Vulvo Spenta
Ahoy,
this is going to be brief, the picture is my engine. The title is the polite version and I am plodding on. I have met some wonderful people who are helping me keep an even keel in this funny old world. Thankfully add that to some Ol Brits that are helping too and I guess I don't have anything to feel bad about.
The Ol' Girl does, no engine and plenty of diesel Cologne all over the main cabin.
We hope to be all back together in 48 hours and cracking on.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Nauta Coruna
Ahoy,
so after resting for a couple of days I donned my wet suit and despite being in a Marina took to the water to check the prop. As I had feared it had been fouled, luckily not by fishing net or rope but heavy duty polythene sheeting. After repeatedly diving down, trying not to taste too much of the water, I had removed it all. This would have contributed towards the engine overheating and having reduced power. Unfortunately there is still the problem with the rings on one of the pistons, I am sure the issue can be resolved at some point.
On a very positive note, Jeppesen are going to provide me with free digital charts for a year, an amazing offer and much appreciated.
In set is a picture of me after a delightful lunch with Mike and Jane from Muhuhu a couple of red ensign boaties, thanks for lunch it was a real treat.
The Ol' Girl and me will be heading south in a few days, towards the end of the world as it is imaginatively called. Maybe Camarinas will be the next port of call .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
