last sail before lockdown

as wales is going into local lockdown i decided tp go do the last sail and bring ERL back for winter,

heading out at 0808 good progress was made toward Bala on what was going to be a nice sunny day.

first job was unpacking ERL and loading the van with everything, loading the new lightboard onto the trailer that had been left at Bala.

Dava Ansell is a few boats down and after talking we both decided to sail to gether, the boat was rigged and off we went, the course was a bit complicated to remember so we tried remembering half of it each. or we could just follow the others. the wind was very light with a few puffs here and there.

we only managed one lap and got stopped early and that took 31 mins, race 2 a bit more wind but again it dropped.

we had a good chat about retirement and sailing and got on very well.the repairs to the mainsheet block seemed to be ok.

after the race the boat was derigged and loaded on the trailer. it didnt take long as by now i was used to doing it.

now it was 1430 and a quick egg roll i headed off on a slow trip home following a few vans that were now going fast. a quick unload and ERL was parked for winter. a few jobs to sort  like the mast still leaking is one job to do

here are results from the short season that ERL did lack of sailing is evident in the results 

cruise to llangower bottom end of lake

 a 0730 start and a nice drive to Bala FORECAST WAS LOOKING GUSTY

when i arrived it was blowing north as predicted and steve and mike said i would be fine sailing the dart on my own , tbh i was reluctant but in the end afer doing some remedial work and a hearty breakfast from the cafe i set out a bit later than most but gingerly made my way to far side of lake and then head downwind. it was ok and by the time i got to the bottom end i had enjoyed the sail.

however the return story was not so good.

i looked at the the way i had come and thought OMG i tacked the boat around carefuly as it was really windy at the bottom end and made my way back up the lake, with only the main tacking was hard but managed it with reversing rudders here and there.

when i got near the shore of the old sailing club my hook came off so had to scramble to re hook it with out drifting too much. on the next tack  my mainsheet exploded out of the main block and spread it self on the deck, i quickly did A BOWLINE around the top bearing and re hooked the mainsheet back on once again. now with the blocks in abit of a tangle it was hard to sheet in and hard to get a good beat. i struggled on in survival mode and eventually got back to the club in 1h20m and 8.94miles later

max speed 12.5knts and average 5.6knts

glad i did it but was now feeling cold, the boat was packed away and a few more convos with people i decided to head home and miss the barbecue after all.

glad i did it only the 2nd sail of the season too.

a frustrated drive home was had by really sad drivers thinking doing 35 mph was ok in a perfectly good road prob sightseeing and not watching who they were holding up behind. got home to a nice bacon egg chips and beans followed by a pint of PM myrica gale yum 

sailing so far on ERL 2007

 

" ERL" 2007 Sailing at a a glance

2017 Swanage

1.  6.1nm   "ERL"  1H   SOLO      010417
     STRAYCAT with John Russ        020417
2   6.0nm   "ERL" 1H SOLO        250417
3   1.1nm   "ERL"  30M  SOLO   220517
4   4.1nm   "ERL"  44M   RACE  SOLO   270517
     STRAYCAT  with John Russ    100617   14.3nm  3hr 5m   NOT INCLUDED IN SAIL MILES 
5.  8.4nm   "ERL"  1H30M  SOLO  160617
6. 6nm approx "ERL" 1H55  SOLO  020717
7.  5nm  "ERL"  1H  approx  SUMMER RACE SERIES   020717
8. 9.6nm "ERL"  1H37M (test sail with jib  first time)  080717      ========46.3NM

2018 Tresaith

1. 5.8nm ERL 2H58M SOLO RACE 130518    MAIN ONLY 

2019 Bala S.C 

1.  4.2M    "ERL"   1h1m      SOLO  070419    MAIN ONLY 
2.  3.08M  "ERL"   38M19    SOLO 070419
3.  4.41M  "ERL"   42M 36   SOLO 070419
4.  2.55M  "ERL"   40M 55   SOLO  070419
5.  5.6NM  "ERL"   53M09   SOLO 090619
6.   6.1NM "ERL"   47M05   SOLO 090619   
7. 21.5nm  "MUTLEY 96"   3HR55 220619 SOLO                    =========== 47.44NM 

2020 Bala S.C

1. 2 LAPS "ERL" 58 MINS with Stuart Round 

2. 8.94m  "ERL" 1H21M  SOLO cruise to bottom end of lake 

3. 4 LAPS "ERL" 2HRS approx with Dave Ansell.....................   approx 4.5 hrs sailing on ERL in 2020 

 

first sail of 2020

 traveled with ERL 2007 to Bala to meet Stuart Round and do a race or two.

After 2 hours or less traveling thru rain as usual i arrived at Bala and started rigging as much as i could before stuart arrived.

with only the mast to put up when stuart arrived we were good to go, jib was on at last and we could furl it , first time ever for ERL with me.

wind was light, we ambled along and had a good chat, we viewed the other 3 boat dissappear into the distance , 2 laps later we finished , we went in for a break missing race 2.  abit more work on the furling line and we were ready for race 3  however it poured with rain and we decided not to go

overall we were happy to have sailed our first race as a team and look forward to more in the remaining weeks of the season