Crystal clear day but so cold.

Spent most of the day working on the computer,  so many things to bring up to date, then about 3:00pm we decided that we were wasting a perfectly good day.  With all the misirable weather we have had it's imperative to get out and enjoy the nice ones. 

It's Spring tide tommorrow and a particularly low one at that so I decided that the rocks along slippery ledge would be showing themselves rather well and with the good light was an opportnity not to miss.  I am way off getting stunning pictures and need to hone my photography skills a whole load more but I'm enjoying trying.    This one straight from the camera is quite pleasing Maybe tommorrow I can get down to Studland and take some piccys there .  Unfortunately it looks like it will be overcast.  Ho Hum.

Cirque du soliel

Lou and I travelled up to London yesterday to see the cirque du soleil performance of their production "Varekai".  For those that haven't heard of them they are a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment.

With the round trip to London the meals and the travel tickets it was an expensive day out but what a performance, and what fantastic athletes these people are.

Round the Island Race

Once again the brochure for the Round the Island Race has plonked through the letterbox.  I have competed in the RTIR twice before and  I look back with mixed emotions to the event.

In 2006 it was a pleasant experience sailed out on a very calm day on which a great number of boats were frustrated and didn't make it past the needles lighthouse. I had only had Watanga for about two months, so was not used to her size or her characteristics. The light winds gave me lots of time to think about the course and how to sail it. The finish was a tight squeeze through the line with strong tide causing major problems for most yachts. Overall we had a lot of fun and sailed back to Swanage the same day arriving tired but contentedly around midnight.

2007 however was a different beast.  We had collected more than £1500 for the MacMillan Charity so lots of people were interested in seeing how we did.  The day was windier and the start was way more crowded. With about 15knots blowing I decided to go with the Screecher which would be at it's top limit of safety, and off we went.  Now the only trouble with the screecher is it's a devil to tack and the wind was right on the nose. After a couple of bad tacks and lengthy tangles, we were being overhauled by all sorts of sporty boats. About 2 hours into the race,  on a Starboard tack, I was caught out by an indecisive skipper on Port. The result was £3500 of damage to us and we had to retire from the race.  I vowed at that time never to compete again, but 3 years on I've gained a lot more experience, I know my boat a lot better and it's starting to look attractive again!  I wonder what my insurers would say.   On the bright side I won the protest and the other boat was disqualified

The mysteries of the water leak.

Ever since I've had Watanga the damn thing has leaked,  at first it was a major headache and there was one serious problem the would in certain sea conditions cause quite a lot of water to come aboard.   Anyways over the four years I've had the boat I have corrected, sealed,  and genearally made good imperfections and design fault leaks.  But this latest one has got me stumped.  The boats on dry land, and it hasn't rained since I last emptied the port bilge.  Theres an inch of water in it ????????????.  Forward and aft are dry.   I think I must be going nuts.   Is the boat just sucking it out of the air?   Why only the port bilge.

To be honest there isn't a great deal of insulation internally  and the port side is in shade most of the day so it could be condensation.   It does produce large amounts of condensation, but just seems excessive and not consistant with other years in the same spot.  Ho Hum.

I found a great piece of youtube the other day.  It reminded me of a similar event that happened to my son Luke on a Ryan Air flight out of Belfast I think.  He watched baggage handlers mishandling his guitar, (They wouldn't allow it in the cabin) and when he recovered it the neck had been broken.  See what you think. 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo  

Now on the way into the house I saw a Redwing (Turdus iliacus) in the garden. I have to admit I thought it was a thrush but saw the same bird pictured the blog Purbeck Footprints  (see favourites). Thanks to the RSPB bird indentifier website I am now a better informed bird watcher.

This little fella is the UK's smallest thrush, and comes all the way from Scandinavia.  Only very few nest in Britain.

Success

A great weight off my mind as everything went well,  I started to think that people were starting to get a little bored after about 20 minutes but happy to say it was effective none the less as a couple of applicants came up afterward to say they changed their thoughts about application.

As for sailing the day got brighter and windier as time went on, the people staying or going out later enjoying the better wind and conditions.  

Membership duties call

The start of the membership processing starts today,  over 50 people have applied,  there will be some dissappointments I'm sure.  This is the best part and the worst part of the job.  Best because I get to meet lots of new people, some of which will become friends.  Worst because I have to turn people away just because we have no room.

I'm glad we went sailing yesterday as there is even less wind today, I'm sort of hoping the club will be quiet early on while I'm conducting my presentation.