Boat handling from Plymouth Yacht Haven, Oct 22-26  – report by Sue Fowle

Skipper – Gordon Ogden  , Crew – John Hartland  Ewart Hutton  and Sue Fowle 

Bavaria 34 ‘Cleo  ’

Whilst on a trip in June the three of us expressed an interest in a few days boat handling and Gordon agreed to undertake this. Whilst we get days out sailing there are few opportunities to moor a boat, both for skippers as a well as crew. We also wanted some refreshing on sail handling and trimming. The three and a half days were very useful and we covered pontoon mooring, ferry gliding, picking up buoys, reversing in a straight line then reversing into trots as well as through buoys, three point and tight turns, heaving to and reefing the main sail We spent the mornings doing the boat handling then headed into the Sound in the afternoons.

With varying winds in the Sound – from zero to 36knts we were able to play around with the sails. Cleo’s jib is quite stretched so did not reef well but when fully out was easy to trim. We were advised to use the working jib, a little larger than a storm jib. This required hanking on and when not being used to be flaked back into its bag. In anticipation of needing it on another occasion, we folded it carefully on the pontoon whilst the sail was dry, promising ourselves to flake it correctly before returning the boat. When that time came it would have got very wet if taken out to flake on the pontoon so apologies to Richard. However our folded sail was much neater than the crumpled mass we had unfolded on day one. The main was not easy to reef as the lines were very tight but again, good learning experience. Up and down, up and down, we soon grasped the 2 reef routine with Gordon eventually sitting quietly as we each took a turn at issuing the sequence of actions.

Gordon was very patient throughout all these activities. His nerves may have been a little frayed however as he sat below whilst we moored the boat! He kept peeking out of the side portholes to make sure there were no too close shaves.

Whilst the weather remained warm it was very variable regarding wind and precipitation. Directionwise it was mainly from SW with a very brief spell from NW. The water remained calm within the Sound but once outside it was a different prospect. We sailed with the working jib towards Cawsand but were tempted out around the breakwater for some more vigorous fun sailing. Another afternoon we reached Cawsand and hove to for lunch but though the wind appeared to have died we somehow managed to have a great downwind sail. As we were returning to PYH the tide was rising so we had the opportunity to consider sailing through The Bridge. Gordon had carefully crunched the numbers, especially as the depth readings on Cleo are calculated from the waterline not the bottom of keel. We all know Gordon’s blood pressure rises as the depth reading drops….It is always strange going via The Bridge as boats really do crab along through the marker posts. There were a few boats out that afternoon but otherwise we hardly saw any sails the whole time we were in Plymouth despite it being half term.

On the Tuesday the weather was very drizzly so we spent the morning down below doing some nav exercises, depth of water, height of tides and courses to steer. To put some of this into practice we decided to spend the wet and windy afternoon heading up to Saltash. After 2 nights at PYH we felt in need of a change of mooring and eating venues so Gordon rang Saltash Sailing Club. On a previous occasion we had been made very welcome on their pontoon. This time the reception was extremely chilly – no spaces and no opportunity to use the club facilities. However we set off with the possible alternative of the public pontoon under Saltash Bridge.

As we headed out with 2 reefs in the main we spotted a naval vessel approaching the breakwater. This gave us an incentive to get a move on. I did the on the hoof passage plan whilst Ewart and John did the helming. We enjoyed the sail up towards Devonport, reminded of our naval history as we passed the old yards and turned up into Hamoaze. As we did so we came face to face with two tugs which, anticipating the arrival of the Frigate, were pirouetting on station. A rib of boys in black sped past on our port side. Then the Torpoint ferries began trundling across in front of us, just to keep us on our toes! As we circled around we were approached by the police rib, the occupants heavily clad in black wet gear and helmets. They were very polite but insistent we could not hang around watching but accepted Gordon’s explanation we were en route to Saltash. We continued to circle awaiting for a gap between the ferries so did end up watching the tugs gently push the F boat into the dock. Sadly no salutes from the ship as has happened on a previous boat handling trip in the Sound when submarine top brass returned our cheeky waves!

Eventually we headed toward Saltash, admiring boats and houses on the way until we reached the public pontoon. A vote was taken about staying the night but noise of the rail and road traffic resulted in a 3 to 1desire to return. We about turned, cups of tea and cake in hand, put the engine on as the wind by then was very fluky and headed home to our easy mooring on P5 in PYH. By then the sun had come out for a few minutes so we hung around Drake’s Island for a photo shoot.

As we turned into PYH we saw a mature couple shouting at us from their large? Halberg Rassey, ‘Dutchman’. The lady was distraught and tearful, demanding we go out and save her HAT. Initially we were rather dismissive, a HAT?, but then thought it could be a useful exercise so we about turned – using our newly learnt skills – and went back out. It was a very unseawoman-like hat in pale blue velour, difficult to spot in the grey water and failing light. Gordon saw it, rushing away from us on the incoming tide. It was rescued by John and Ewart despite the boat hook being stuck. By this time the PYH rib was alongside us and we handed it over. Obviously a very important HAT. As we passed ’Dutchman‘ again we learnt that said HAT had been round Cape Horn twice and to the Arctic once so all in all it had a history. Travels with My Hat…..However there were no rewarding GnTs awaiting us that night in the bar. Well, the yacht was called ‘Dutch man.’

Wednesday and Thursday proved better weatherwise so we carried on practising manoeuvres between the work boats and an old tall master with a very threatening bowsprit…We felt rather sorry for the youngsters on their half term holidays, having day sails in such strong winds. At least they were provided with wet weather gear but looked a bit glum. Alongside too was one of the Volvo70 boats, its tall Kevlar sail being hanked on by a young couple. With coffee grinder winches it looked a bit beyond us.

We were cosily moored in PYH near the fuel berth and though there was a little traffic we, as usual, remarked on the value of the boats and their apparent lack of use. The staff were busy tidying away sails and very expensive looking equipment on several 50’plus yachts

The facilities there are very comfortable as is the restaurant. We ate there a couple of nights and the other two in The Clovelly Bay, remarking on the size of the portions served there. We looked at the Boddington Arms but from the window it looked like pie and bingo night so we gave it a miss. On one evening we were heading out for supper when several maroons went up, behind the club house. Gordon rang 999 and was informed our F boat was out on exercises. At least it was a dry and moonlit night.

All in all it was an excellent 4 days and really useful leaning /practise time. We felt Gordon should be nominated Emeritus Commodore BSA (Training).