The Mast is Un-Stepped

Saturday 22^nd February 2025

Finally, after weeks of dreich, windy weather with a named storm thrown into the mix, Éowyn was particularly wild, the yard were able to get the mast unstepped from the deck.

I arrived down at the yard to see the mast off the boat and looking rather green with alge. The first job was to find a bucket, hot water and a brush and start the job of cleaning the muck off. Surprizing how long that took, but very pleasing when I finished.

The next job was to sort out the halyards, knowing I had already caused one mousing line to fall down the mast did complicate the job. Just a matter of working out how to use the existing halyard to pull a new mousing line through then use that to thread the genoa halyard through.

A mousing line was attached to the bottom of the main halyard and then drawn up the mast. The next challenge was to pull the thin mousing line out of the gap beneath the sheaves then thread the halyard round the sheave, attach it to the mousing line, feed all of the lines back into the mast and pull gently.

Flushed with success I proceed to the topping lift only to lose that line and had to repeat the 'rescue' process again! I have replaced the topping lift with a second 10mm halyard as this gives me a spare should there ever be a problem with the main halyard.

With all of the halyards safely back on the mast it was time to move to the radar reflector and attach a couple of lines from the cap shroud round the reflector then off to the other side. This is to stop any halyard from being trapped behind the reflector. Something that has happened a couple of times and is a pain in the derriere to fix at sea.

I hope all my measuring works out, but if necessary can always go up the mast and tweak it when afloat - not that I enjoy going aloft!

The final job was to sort out the deck light. Having found out what make of lamp fitting it was I ordered a lamp from Boatlamps that had arrived on the day before I down. It fitted, but was not getting any power. Time to strip the fitting and find out what was going on with 40 year old wiring. As a result I've chopped the wiring and am re soldering the connections to make it easier to fix in the future.

Flag halyards replaced as they were getting rather sun damaged and breaking up.

Just the lazy jacks to sort out.

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Updated: 24/02/2025

Heat for Old Bones

Sunday 15^th December 2024

Adding a Heater

I've finally got round to getting a Chinese Diesel Heater for the boat and some bits and bobs so it can be plumbed in to a boat. Having got all the stuff, have it laid out in the cabin ready for several holes to be drilled in the boat for exhaust output and hot air ducting into the cabin.

Once I work out where exactly in the cockpit locker it is going, I need to route the diesel from the tank and the electrics from the house battery and switch in the cabin so I can start drilling.

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Updated: 15/12/2024

Winters Work - A Moveable Feast

Sunday 24^th November 2025

A post that will move in time over the winter as I record the jobs I need to do and when I have done them.

The Mast

There are a number of jobs that I need to do on the mast. Having discussed them with the yard I've decided to have it unstepped, do the work at ground level, then get it stepped again. I can then work at my own pace and ensure that the work is done to my satisfaction.

I no longer have a head for working at height.

The Windex

The windex has a habit of 'helicoptering' on certain points of sail, it whizzes round and round, as the masthead lights give an odd airflow. Which while not critical is a mild source of both amusement and irritation.

Either I need to raise the pointer higher on the antenna or get a new bracket to move the entire antenna above the level of the lamps.

Radar Reflector

On several occasions I've had halyards get trapped behind the radar reflector, easy to do it you are single handed and not controlling tension on the line, but a real pain in the butt to get the line back to its correct place.

My cunning plan is to run a line from the port shroud round the front radar reflector, perhaps with a clove hitch round the reflector, and connect it to the starboard shroud. The idea being the halyard cannot get behind the reflector.

Lazy Jack Connectors

Currently the lazy jacks run about three quarters up the mast, go through a block that is connected to the mast via a couple of D connectors that are pop riveted on. As a result I consider the slot that the sail falls into when lowering to high and narrow.

Planning remove the D connectors and blocks from the mast and have the lazy jacks over the spreaders, perhaps in plastic tubing to prevent chafe.

Mousing Lines

I've lost one of my mousing lines!

This needs replacing. I suspect that I'll just get all the halyards in place with the mast down.

Sail Track Clean

In my ownership I've not cleaned the sail track, just added more and more silcone lubricant. Now it the time to give the track a good clean.

Steaming/Deck Lights

The bulb of the steaming light is unknown and the deck lamp is missing.

Need to record the steaming light and sort out a deck light.

Replace the Topping Lift

The topping lift is of unknown age. I've decided to replace it with a second 10mm line that I can use as a spare main halyard.

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Updated: 04/12/2024

OYT: Trip 46 of 2024 - Day 1

Sunday 22^nd September 2024

0830 hrs

I climbed on board the train for the journey east to Southampton for the last trip of 2024 on Prolific. As ever the rain was hammering down, that is sailing in late September and early October for you. Part of my journey was to be by a rail replacement bus, a first for me.

At Gillingham in Dorset we de-trained and headed for the buses to take us to Salisbury, all quite painless if a tad damp. The unexpected drive through parts of the country I'd not seen before was enjoyable, but the grey sky dampen the mood.

While waiting at Salisbury for the connection to Southampton I spotted a couple with luggage who were clearly going on a cruise and we joked about the weather that we might encounter. They off to the Mediterranean and me round the Solent.

With the bus arriving to collect us outside the station we all clambered on and found a seat. Beside me was a retired Australian General Practitioner who was doing some travelling after a life of looking after patients. We chatted in detail about how the UK and Australia dealt, or did not deal, with the COVID pandemic.

1330 hrs

The bus deposited us outside Southampton Central railway station and headed off to its final destination. I then headed down to Ocean Village to await Prolific arrive from one of her short day sails and set up the camera to take some pictures of her arriving at her berth.

Prolific heading towards Ocean Village.

1600 hrs

Once Prolific had tied up alongside I made my way down to the boat to join her. The crew would be arriving tomorrow.

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Crew: Constantinos, Lauren, Glyn, Cathy, Lima, Rose and Sandy.

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Sunrise: 0552 hrs Sunset: 1802 hrs

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Weather: Forecast valid from: 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 22 Sep 2024 until 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 23 Sep 2024

Dover, Wight

Variable becoming east or southeast, then veering southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in Wight. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 22/09/2024

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Delivery - The Exe to Plymouth

Monday 19^th August 2024

I had answered an email from Halcyon looking for local crew on a delivery between the Exe and Plymouth and had been accepted.

After a few WhatsApp messages and a call with the skipper, Tris, we arranged to meet with the owner selling the boat at 0500 hrs beside Lympstone Sailing Club.

0530 hrs

Lat: 50° 38.65' N Long: 003° 26.13' W
Off Lympstone, Devon.

An early start and a short drive to Lympstone to meet up with Tris and the selling owner. A quick handshake and we all jumped on the dinghy for the ride out to the boat.

The owner talked us through the boats systems. We had been advised that there would be no kettle onboard and I had spent some time rummaging in the shed for my old camping Trangia kit, last used some 20 years ago, dug out the kettle and spent ages cleaning it only to discover some spiders in there not previously known in East Devon. Much to our surprise not only was there no kettle, there was no way of lighting the stove as neither Tris or I smoked! It was going to be a long day with no way of making a hot drink.

Given we were racing the tide there was no time to head back to shore, dash to the village shop for a box of matches.

We were later to find that while the boat had lots of engine spares, filters, fan belts - that sort of thing there were no tools onboard. If we had any engine or rigging issues there was very little we could do.

The current owner having finished the handover departed on the dinghy and we cast off from the mooring. As I had previously had a boat on the Exe I was given the tiller and not steered a boat with a tiller for some time it felt a bit odd.

Kingfisher on her mooring at Lympstone
© Tristran Brooks 19/08/2024

I was quite surprised to discover how much the Exe had changed. It felt like I was leaving a new harbour again.

Tris had opted to take the 'short-cut' as we left the river and cut the corner heading straight towards Dawlish. In the past I had always gone out to the safe water mark, but time was of the essence.

0700 hrs

Lat: 50° 24.22' N Long: 003° 28.10' W
Off Dawlish, Devon.

The morning is grey and overcast. Very few boats out on the water. Under motor as the wind is on the nose.

Note to self: Invest in a decent pair of gloves even though it is August it is quite chilly.

0920 hrs

Lat: 50° 33.94' N Long: 003° 25.25' W
Off Berry Head, Devon

Tris popped below and comes back on deck to say 'we've used 10 lts of diesel!', engine to tick over and fill the tank from the spare 10 ltr jerry can and ponder popping into Dartmouth as Kingfisher was drinking fuel at about 2 lts an hour.

We ran the engine up again, but with lower revs having come to the conclusion that the hull was foul with weed. While Dartmouth was an option as a refuel stop I calculated it would add another three hours to the passage time and the weather forecast, so far, had been pretty accurate.

1200 hrs

Lat: 50° 13.73' N Long: 003° 39.22' W
Noon Position

1230 hrs

Lat: 50° 11.85' N Long: 003° 39.99' W
South of Start Point, Devon

Just off Start Point we found some sailable wind, the forecast was proving to be very accurate as we now had a F6/7 with wind over tide. Tris hoisted the main which promptly got stuck half way up the mast!

On handover we were assured that all the running rigging was working perfectly!

Tris ventured onto the deck of this 24 foot boat, doing its best to be a bucking bronco fairground ride, and worked to fix the problem for about 20 minutes with only the 'occasional swear word' being heard in the cockpit as I was threading the vessel through mountainous seas - well they looked big in this tiny boat.

1500 hrs

Lat: 50° 15.90' N Long: 003° 58.87' W
South West of Burgh Island, Devon

A cracking sail, double reefed, but a serious lack of tea!

Not the only boat out on the water
© Tristran Brooks 19/08/2024

1600 hrs

Lat: 50° 17.58' N Long: 004° 04.59' W
South West of Yealm Head, Devon

The fog had descended and we were sailing blind. With two to three metre waves we threaded our way into Plymouth Sound, the far end of the breakwater only visible when there was a lift in the fog.

Once inside the breakwater we turned on the motor and dropped the sails.

1730 hrs

Lat: 50° 21.99' N Long: 004° 09.26' W
King Point Marina, Plymouth, Devon

The new owner took our lines and we tied Kingfisher up in her new berth at King Point Marina, Plymouth.

Kingfisher at King Point
© Tristran Brooks 19/08/2024

After the handover the new owner kindly drove me up to the train station and I headed back to Lympstone to collect the car and head home.

A comment from a friend who watched us enter King Point, you can't go anywhere without being spotted, was, 'your either very mad or very brave to be out in that wee boat on a day like today'.

Footnote:

Halcyon has a number of prizes for things that go on during the year and I nominated Tris for the "Above and Beyond" category and we were lucky enough to be joint winners.

All times are UTC.

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The Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	55.00	12h 00m	5.00	9.00	0

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Crew: Tristran Brooks (Skipper) Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0542 hrs Sunset: 1931 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Mon 19 Aug 2024 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 19 Aug 2024 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 20 Aug 2024.

Portland, Plymouth, North Biscay

Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in Plymouth. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except in southeast Portland. Rain later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 19/08/2024

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Updated 04/12/2024