Plymouth weekend 20 - 22 May  – report by Brian Adams

Sailing out from Plymouth with Plymouth Sailing School yacht ’Cleo  ’, a 34 ft Bavaria.

Crew Ian Collins  ,Richard Trim  , Brian Adams  , Spike  and Sharron Davies 

Ian & Richard arrived first loading provisions for the weekend, we followed arriving at 1800 hrs and loaded our gear. Forecast was for a very wet weekend .We loaded the provisions on board and slipped our moorings for the Plymouth Yacht Haven just a short half mile down the estuary. We secured our lines alongside our usual berth near the Bridge restaurant /bar, where we had a fine dinner and a few drinks to discuss our possibilities for the weekend. After a few more glasses of wine on board we retired to our cabins to ready ourselves for tomorrow’s first time trip for Spike and Sharron.

Saturday: It was as forecast wet, wet and wet, the fine drizzle type of rain which always gets you wet.

However after looking out at the dull overcast sky over breakfast we let go and headed out into the sound where we made several practice runs on laying up to a mooring buoy, We sailed in and around Plymouth Sound with winds at a steady 15-18 knots approximately as the wind speed indicator was not working .At least it had stopped raining and we were making progress when a securing clip at the bottom of the genoa to the deck fitting came adrift causing it to flap about. We managed to roll away the genoa and sailed on under the mainsail for more practice with Sharron and Spike taking the helm in a fresh wind. We secured to a mooring buoy for a few nibbles and sandwiches. The rain held off. After which we made our way back to the Marina for a session on knots and their merits and uses on the pontoon. An evening in the Clovelly Pub turned to be a great success, the meals being good quality and of an enormous size filling some hungry sailors.

Sunday: We were up and showered and ready for our proposed trip outside the Sound.

Forecast was SW 15-20 knots of wind. This turned out to be a beautiful day for sailing, steady winds, moderate sea state. We sailed from the sound to the delightful river Yealm with a mind on the tide and time, completing a tricky entrance. We moored up to the pontoon in the river with lots of current, ferry gliding to an awaiting couple who took our lines .We had lunch with one of Ian’s mandatory pies and a glass of beer. We set off an hour later to have one of the best sails I can remember. Sun was shining fine temperatures and gentle seas. We all had spells on the wheel.

It was a glorious example of how wet and horrible sailing can be and how nice it can be. All in all a most enjoyable weekend with novice crew Spike and Sharron undoubtingly getting the bug.