Prizegiving

Went to the AZAB prizegiving on Saturday. Great to catch up with everyone although some were missed. Interesting that it had taken a lot of competitors longer to recover than expected, especially psychologically.

We didn’t do too badly, nominated for the John and Sally May Trophy for the crew contributing most to the Corinthian spirit of the event, won second in class on both legs and aggregated. We came sixth in the combined fleet, having come fifteenth on the outward leg and third on the return leg.

We also won the Visick Perpetual Trophy for the fastest vessel whose crew are related.

Not bad considering we have an old boat and our combined age is over 90.

Now how about the Triangle next year? Only a short one at 640 miles. Watch this space!

WE MADE IT

As you might have gathered, we have not had much chance to write up this blog.

Just a quick resume to bring you up to date. A fuller version will be posted on the website www.araminta.org.uk .

After a very hectic few days getting the boat ready and making modifications to satisfy the race committee, we finally got off and across the start line about 2 minutes after the gun. The weather was not good and we had some strong head winds but got there in just under 10 days. We beat the other Nicholson 32 by an hour on the water (a bit more on handicap) and came second in class and fifteenth overall.

After a week checking the boat and being very generously entertained we set off back into what was supposed to be a developing Azores high with no wind. It stayed like that for a day and then the wind filled in from the North. We were hard on the wind for 5 days with wind strength up to force 7. Very exhausting, wet and uncomfortable. Just moving about was a feat of gymnastics, yet alone cooking.

Finally made Falmouth in nine and a half days and were beaten to the line by the other Nicholson 32 by two and a half hours although we beat her on handicap. We came second in class again and third overall giving us an aggregate result of second in class and sixth overall. Not too bad for an elderly cruising boat.

Remarkably, after 2,500 miles (20 days sailing) we were beaten, by the other Nicholson, on the water by just over an hour. On the return leg we were a mile apart after 1,000 miles!

Once back Henry went off to get engaged to the long suffering Amy and I took two weeks to get the boat back to Portsmouth. Since then I have been trying to catch up on work and my life, I have almost caught up on the sleep!

Many, many thanks to all our sponsors for your most generous support.

The Start is getting closer!!

As the days get closer, the list of jobs get longer. We are only two days to the off and we are on the boat in Falmouth, getting the electronics working. We have succumbed to the pressure from the family and fitted a satellite tracking device that tracks our position every two hours, so no nipping to Spain for a sangria or Africa for a safari. On our website is a link to the site where you can follow our progress.

If anyone fancies a Saturday out then come down to Falmouth for the start!

Anyhow back to the list of jobs, perhaps more tomorrow.

March

Not a good month for work on the boat. I seemed to be working every weekend and Henry was off to weddings – not even his own! The liferaft failed its MOT or more precisely it needed its contents renewing, the batteries had expired and it needs new gas bottles by November. All at a cost of about £800 and we still have a 30 year old liferaft. Tom managed to find a new one for us from M J Safety in Plymouth for £1,000 and, despite Henry’s email asking if I would think we should have paid more when we were marooned in it, we ordered a new one. Don’t know if the bank manager will approve. Araminta was finally launched on 15 March and still floated. Henry was due to take her down to Pendennis Marina, who have kindly agreed to let us have a berth until mid May, but the forecast was not good so he did not go but wired up the stereo instead! I then agreed to take her down the following weekend. The forecast was deteriorating, North West 3-4 backing West 5-6 and 7-8 on Saturday and even 10 on Sunday so I rushed down to move her on Friday. Stayed with Henry and Amy on Thursday night having a very good evening with them so did not get down to the boat until after 11 o’clock. Finally got away in glorious sunshine, after fitting the spray hood and lifelines, by midday. The forecast was a bit optimistic in that the wind was nearly due West with a lumpy sea running. Had to motorsail to have any hope of being in by dark, but even so did not make it, but got soaked in the process. The autopilot would not cope and as I had’nt set Aries up I ended up steering for most of the way although off Rame she was well enough balanced to steer herself if the engine was off. The weather deteriorated as forecast but quicker. The anchor, a new spade and as yet unused, threatened to escape from its locker and knocked the lid off. I went forward and replaced it, quite exciting and wet, only for it to happen again about half an hour later so I took the key with me and locked it shut which kept it in place. We have never had to lock it before and it never jumped out with the old CQR which is the same size. The family seemed to start getting concerned as it got dark and kept ringing on my mobile. Each time I had to retrieve it from the companionway, get back on course and then move my hood to be able to hear. Inevitably, each time I got at least one wave in the face and they wondered why I was getting bad tempered! Arrived in Carrick Roads about 8.30 and discovered that I had stood on the autopilot plug and so it was u/s. Got the sails down off Governor quite successfully despite lack of autopilot to hold her head to wind. I decide that we were getting too close to St Mawes reef (a lee shore) so put the engine in gear and kicked the throttle open only to be greeted by a loud clunk and the engine stalled. A quick investigation showed a jib sheet round the prop, it must have shaken free as I furled the jib and I did not notice it in the dark. DO NOT PANIC. Considered anchoring but I would have been in the main fairway so got the main back up again and sailed slowly up the harbour. The wind was still fairly strong outside the harbour but inside it was a bit gusty and variable. Called the marina on the radio a few times but got no response, same result on the phone. Caroline, meanwhile, having driven from Plymouth, rang the Harbourmaster’s Office and surprisingly got through. They were not interested in my problems. I decided to sail on in as there is a long visitors pontoon shown on the chart (I had never been in there before) which would be almost into the wind. I stopped to get fenders and warps ready. Meanwhile Caroline eventually found the pedestrian entrance to the marina but the codes we had would not open the gate so I was on my own going alongside. Sailed in to have a look and discovered the nice long pontoon neatly divided up by a lifeboat, a 40’ French sailing boat and a 120’ superyacht, none of which seemed to be occupied. Came in for a second look and decided on the gap ahead of the superyacht. As I turned into the wind it died and we stopped about 15 feet away. Needless to say Araminta gently swung round until she was pointing directly at the French yacht, beam on to the wind which conveniently filled in! Just managed to bear away enough not to hit her and rounded up and stopped in the other gap, bows in but near enough for me to get ashore with a warp. Almost fell in picking up the stern line which I had hung on a winch, must remember to put it on the hood next time. Dropped the main and then spent some time finding a gate with an exit button and managed to let Caroline in. By this time (midnight) she was cold and had sat in the car for three hours in the car park so was not in the best of moods. Had a drink (much needed) and supper and so to bed. Next day re-fitted the fluxgate compass, fitted the MOB alarm but could not complete the wiring as I was a dipole switch short (electronics supplies not Falmouth’s forte on a Saturday afternoon). Amy (Tom’s exgirlfriend ) came for supper and we spent Sunday morning scrubbing decks and generally cleaning before going home Sunday evening. Henry and Amy then spent the next weekend cleaning and sorting, complete with two dogs. I wonder how long it takes to clear dog hair from the bilges?

February

Very wet and windy. Had to cancel one weekend but managed one in among the showers. Achieved quite a lot, replaced anodes, anti-fouled and adjusted the boot-top. Looked like a very crooked line but hopefully it will look better in the water. Henry cleaned the topsides and we got a couple of coats of polish on. Really needs a couple more but I doubt that there will be time (work does get in the way when you have too work some Saturdays). She now looks very smart from the ground, but the decks and superstructure need a lot of work, at least this can be done with her in the water. Henry painted out the forepeak, it looks very smart as does his newly white hair! Cooker gas pipe stripped off to be replaced. Pity the replacement hasn't arrived yet. Thank goodness for Tom's boat in the same marina, his coffee, food and central heating are very welcome as is his assistance. Disaster with the liferaft, it has become un-economic to service needing lots of new equipment as well as new batteries and will need new gas cylinders in November. Total cost will be about the cost of a new one with SOLAS B pack. So we have had to bite the bullet and order a new one. New sail cover has not arrived yet but I am assured that it is ready and we have paid for it. It is only made 100 yards away but I think the snail delivery is on go slow.

January

Wet and cold all month, very hard to get motivated but time marches on. Spent one weekend on board, managed to re-bed a leaky chain plate, paint out various lockers and get the sterngland and seacocks serviced between the rain and snow showers.Lots of planning, discussion and letterwriting but not too much achieved, especially on the fund raising front.

December

Did'nt achieve a lot in December. New cushions were ordered and the inside cleaned, seacocks serviced and the genoa off to the sailmaker to be serviced. The main has only been used for 4 days so should be OK for another season without any more tlc.

Eventually came out of the water on 20 Nov. Why does nothing to do with boats happen on time? managed to get everything off the following weekend but the de-humidifier would not work due to lack of power from the yard. Thank goodness Tom is there to supervise and he got it working. The chain plate is still showing signs of leaking (it drips when it rains!) so that is also on the list to do.