Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: competition, event, Great North Run, kielder, Run Bike Run, running, sailing, winning
Everyone likes winning.
I frequently deny that it’s all about the winning, purely because I spend a lot of time not winning.
Because in any competition there can only be one winner – so that means for every one winner there are many non-winners. I have been very good being a non winner. I have tried not to be grumpy about being a non-winner. Despite the fact I am indeed very grumpy.
Since the beginning of last September I have not won the Great North Bike ride.
I have no idea why I am wearing yellow glasses.
Not won the Great North run (although I knocked 10 mins off my time – and yes – there was still a queue for the toilet).
Really, never again….
Not won the Kielder Run, Bike, Run (I did the first running bit!).
Yes we did arrive by boat again – epic.
So I was thrilled when this arrived.
Because I had won something! A ‘name that bay’ competition by Menorca Cruising and I got a hat. To be fair I had REALLY tried to win – going to Menorca about 47 times has finally paid off. And it has proved to be a lucky hat… When I went sailing the Sunday after, I finished two races – coming third and second (and yes there were more than three boats on the water!). It was the influence of the hat.
In fact it is now feeling so lucky I may have to wear all of the time. It’s even making me want to do big boat sailing in Menorca – when what we usually do is this.
Yes, you do sail faster if you wear funky shorts
Making me win is a genius marketing ploy. I think now I might want a go in this.
I think it might have a kettle – click on it to have a look at what Menorca Cruising are all about!
As everyone likes to win, in my next post I will also be sharing who the winners of the boat naming competition are – and an update on the knitting prizes!
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: anniversary, event, knitting, socks, wool
For our tenth anniversary I thought I would do something really special. This is a bit of a big deal for me – I am hopeless with it – as is the Mr – primarily due to when it falls. We got married between Christmas and New Year – a genius time to get married… the year you get married. Everyone is in that ‘I’m-a-bit-bored-of-sitting-in-the-house-and-eating’ mood and desperate to get away from the relatives. So a small wedding with a mahoosive party was a brilliant idea for all of our seasonally affected friends and family.
The years after it’s not so phenomenal. As an anniversary it does, in fact, suck. You are ‘eaten out’ so can’t be bothered to go out for a posh meal, and even if you could it would primarily consist of turkey. You have forgotten to buy a card and of course everywhere is shut now, even if you could muster the willpower to crawl across your front door and battle your way through the wind and snow. You would love to buy a ‘significant’ present – you know, like all those people you know on Facebook who got married in the summer and have nothing impeding their celebration of not having killed each other for another year and go on picnics and the sun shines and they buy ‘cotton’ and ‘tin’ presents and stuff, but you on the other hand have used up your one and only idea on the Christmas present – how are you meant to think of, and produce a second one after only a couple of days?
But I was determined that knitting was going to make it different.
Everything would change now that I could MAKE a present. It was our tenth anniversary – it was important.
So I covertly cast on a pair of socks. I had huge aspirations – I would buy a card, I would knit some socks, I would present them to him wrapped (and not in Christmas paper) and they would show just how much I cared. I knit them on the metro on the way to work, I knit them in my lunch hour. I knit them when I couldn’t sleep and the Mr was in bed, I knit them at the lake when he was at the pub. But then it was Christmas. And we were away. I only had one and a half socks. And a pit of despair – I had essentially failed.
The anniversary was no different – apart from that I had bought a card.
I didn’t knit the socks any more as I felt sad when I looked at them and the anniversary slipped by.
I found them last week having buried them on more than one occasion. And yesterday I picked them up and finished them. And it felt no different.
We have been together nearly twelve years and we are happy on more than one day of the year – so does it really matter they weren’t ready? It turns out probably not. And I think that there will be plenty of time for me to knit some other ones over the coming years – maybe just not with the deadline of an anniversary looming.
Don’t you just love self-striping yarn?
Oh yes – its a turned heel and everything….
And however long it took to knit them, it didn’t make them fit any better.
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: event, knitting, sheep, spinning, wool, Woolfest
It was totally epic! This year I took my mum who hadn’t been before and it was even busier than last year. Stuff that was exciting this year –
- Rare breeds show – this actually seemed to be ‘breeds that you may know and love in the British Isles’. They all still really looked like sheep to me. Apart from the Alpacas. Obviously.
He struggled with the goat. He’d lost his notes about that one.
- Re-visiting the scene of the crime. That’s right – this is where it all started last year, and I was determined that Kate got my mum hooked this year. Think she succeeded….
I got a hug when I told her I now had my own wheel and everything….
-
Look – its like real wool – and she’s only been doing it for three seconds!!
- Going to the fleece sale (I was SOOOO good – I didn’t buy anything (From the fleece sale. OBVIOUSLY I bought stuff from Woolfest…)
All of the fleeces had names and sometimes photos of the sheep on them – they were gorgeous and I was very restrained not to add to my herd….
- Admired the wool-art. This was actually made really close to where I live by a group at the Linskill Centre – it’s always the way that you travel to see something that’s local to you…
Millions of hours of work!
They’re not real
- Found this amazing display and blog – Land Keepers – please go and have a look – the photos of the farmers on their land and the beauty of the Lake District in rain, snow and hail are all there. I’m not showing you a photo to build the suspense.
- Took an excessive number of photos of sheep. You will be thrilled I am going to share with you.
Grumpy looking sheep
Curly looking sheep
Giant fringe sheep
- Took the bag of goodies I bought and hid it. I have a baby blanket to knit.
So here are five reasons why sailing the midweek regatta is not such a good idea.
1. Its sunny, so a force 5 looks TOTALLY do-able. Its a force 5 – of course its not. Especially when you are sailing with your husband from whom you had a sailing divorce some years ago.
2. Having put this aside – after a capsize and a blood injury the honourable thing to do was to retire gracefully.
3. Hearing the phrase ‘I can’t move as fast as you can talk’…. Well yes, but that just means that you need to move faster…
4. Realising that the second best thing about sailing is retiring to watch sailing with this.
5. And being able to nod sagely and talk about it when everyone else is doing this.
And this
And being recovered in bits by the safety boat.
Sometimes the better part of valour… is retiring and talking about it!
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: event, sailing, South Shields, traitor
As I’ve said before, the best place in the world to sail is obviously Kielder.
But as part of my commitment to 3LT, (Look, learn, listen, travel, turn up and take part!) I started the year at an open event at a much more local club, sailing in the mouth of the Tyne. It ended up that despite turning up a lot, I only got to sail once. However it was such a lovely sun kissed, steady breezes, beautiful and scenic sail I did something a little foolish.
I joined the club.
I do have a plan and in essence it’s a good one. South Shields sailing club is only 8 miles from where I work. And they race on a Wednesday. So my genius master plan is to race there on a Wednesday night in my Vareo and do more cruising at Kielder. This makes perfect sense when you analyse that my very favourite Kielder sailing involves puttering up the lake to the pub for a pint and a bowl of chips – something that can be achieved in a particularly civilised manner in our Wayfarer.
I am as yet uncertain as to how this will go down with my compatriots at Kielder. So far it’s been very quiet. Particularly when I have extolled the virtues of the sailing area and the fact that you can swing a very large cat in the ladies changing rooms. The only downside so far seems to be that I’m the only one in there.
Hellloooooo!!!! Are any of you girls???
So I’m waiting for the horse’s head or a black spot to appear.
Note to self, 3LT is all well and good, but you aren’t meant to join every sailing club you visit….
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: event, racing, sailing, sea, South Shields, Vareo
It was the second week of the Spring Splash. It was snowing. It was cold. I didn’t want to get out of bed. But I forced myself and having pontificated about, got my arse in gear and found myself launching my boat with the snow full in my face.
The wind was behind me so it was an easy get out this week, and I headed out for the start line! There was another Vareo waiting for me – along with a few familiar faces from last week. The wind was steady at around 12 knots – with huge swell coming in from between the piers. If only the snow would stop.
Miraculously – it did. And then the sun came out – and more importantly stayed out. South Shields obviously has magic weather.
I worked out where the start line was based on where everyone else was sailing (turns out I was nowhere near the only one who had no idea what the course was – it was set on the back of the power boat in letters, but I think most of the visitors were guestimating around the buoys the patrol boat had dropped) and I even got my watch sorted to do a race countdown. I had listened to my own advice this week and put on my SMALL sail. And I could already tell that it was making a huge difference to me on the boat – my handling was much better than last week and I was definitely feeling more confident in the boat. The whistle went and the countdown began!
Now – in a total aside – what is all this about a 5 minute countdown? All the club racing we do is three minutes. That is at all of the clubs who had people there (Kielder, Derwent and South Shields). But because it is an ‘open’ we move to a five minute start. I can understand this if there is a huge fleet which needs more time to get positioned etc, but this seems a little crazy otherwise – is it just me? I bet someone will go all RYA on me and tell me why I’m wrong……!
My aim for this race was to get round the course and get a finish – but I generally reckon that you can lose a race on your start. So I was underwhelmed when the whistle went and I had a Topper to Winward stopping me from pointing up – poor positioning on my part and I hadn’t been keeping a close enough eye on where everyone was – it was also a good reminder of why transits are a good idea – I was obviously a country mile off the line if there was room for a Topper between me and it!
So I tacked round the back and started to work my way up the course. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day and me and DiagoNelly were getting along famously! After my first tentative lap I suddenly realised I was in front of the other Vareo – or rather had been as it smoothly overtook me on the winward beat. Now I had my little sail on and he had a big sail, but there is no difference in PY. My sail shape was horrible as my outhaul was too short – so I had no adjustment in this area at all. And I obviously wasn’t paying proper attention as I hadn’t even realised I was ahead.
I felt sick. With adrenalin and excitement in a good way. No way was I going to let that pass, and I made a little time back on the downwind leg. It was still close but on the last lap there were three of us at the mark – myself, the other Vareo and a Laser. To say I had a poor mark rounding would be an understatement and I mournfully watched them sail off into the distance as I untied the mainsheet from my toe straps.
I finished sixth. That’s actually out of a field of eight, so not too bad…. BUT BEHIND THE OTHER VAREO. In fact I had watched him over the line and worked out based on my finish I was about 9 and a bit seconds behind him per lap. That’s huge.
Second race they moved the course – I had of course only just got used to the first one, but this time I got a good start as one of the first over the line. I was however heading for the wrong buoy. I corrected but lost some of my early advantage. My mantra was keep it simple. Keep the boat flat, use your sail settings quickly and get tight to the marks. It seemed to be working as I got round the course, but I was fighting neck and neck with the other Vareo. He got the inside line on a mark at the beginning of the second lap and I found myself behind him for the rest of the race. Not by much. Shouting distance (we shouted! In a friendly way obviously!). And by the last beat up to the finish line I knew he was ahead. I took a different path up towards the finish line – and must have got an advantage – as we came up to the finish line neck and neck….. and he beat me by 2 seconds. 2 SECONDS!!!!!!!
There’s only one thing for it. This means war. In a nice way. Kind of.
You will notice there has been no mention here of our gennakers. This is because neither of us used them. I have wanted to focus on getting my elf back in my boat, sailing on the sea etc etc without worrying about this one too. But it has become obvious that the next round could be won by whoever gets up the nerve to do this first.
I am also getting my outhaul extended so that I can correctly set my sail, and replacing my main sheet, which is a bit ‘sticky’ – it seems to be too thick.
It all feels a bit OK Corral. And I’m liking it! It’s great to actually have another boat to class race against and I really enjoyed racing, for which I have to say my enthusiasm had waned – there’s only so long being last is appealing for.
Roll on next weekend – and watch out – I’m coming to get you!
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: event, sailing, sea, South Shields
So last time I posted it was with the disaster that my boat was missing vital equipment (something to steer it with). But I didn’t give you a full post – sorry – and I’m really impressed with the detective work (DEREK!). Turns out you can find out anything on the internet…..
So to get to the South Shields six week event, the Boatfixer had brought my boat back from Kielder. This had then been follower with the Mr helping me get the boat from Newcastle to our place and spending Saturday re-rigging to make sure everything was A-OK.
So Sunday came. It was a perfect sailing day – actually better than pretty much all the sailing from last year which had been cold wet and miserable. My boat was quickly rigged, and there were lots of other enthusiastic people about. The boat was ready – and so was everyone else’s – easily a dozen of mixed class… and there was another Vareo! Wow – someone to copy off learn from!
It was 14 degrees, the sun was shining and me and the winter cake layer had even ventured forth in my wetsuit! At the briefing we found out about things like shipping, tide, the channel, rocks on the entrance / exit to the club and big floaty things to mark the channel – which you could sail round as well. I had no idea what the course was, but that’s never a problem as I just follow everyone else anyway.
And we were off. Everyone dashed down the sand to get launched. Except me. Who was missing a tiller extension.
I don’t know how I had left it – I hadn’t put it on the boat the day before as it just flicks around and gets in the way when you are doing other stuff. I couldn’t believe it. Everyone else left. I sulked a bit.
There were some other people about the club so I asked about spare extensions (I know – any other ideas!?!?) – and we found a couple… but none with the right attachment.
It was about this time at the point of maximum peed off-ness that my brother arrived. He had come to watch. (or mock – I uncharitable thought at the time). And the next thing I knew he had jumped back in his car and sped off back to my garage to pick up the tiller extension!
I stopped huffing about now and instead felt guilty that I had doubted his motives. I also realised I was going to have to give him the £3.20 for the Tyne Tunnel toll.
So I spent the time taking a few photos and trying to identify the course (no joy).
Mouth of the Tyne inside the harbour walls
Committee boat wondering why they are a boat short
Even a topper made it!
By the time my brother got back the second race was well underway. But I didn’t care. I fixed my tiller and boldly marched my boat into the water. And after much to-ing and fro-ing got out of the club (I only ran into the underwater rocks once). I was sailing on the sea!!! In the sun!!!
I headed up to the area within the harbour that everyone was sailing in and sailed about a bit. I felt a bit like one of those baby lambs when they have just been born – I was wobbling a lot and totally overreacting to movement on the boat – who says sailing isn’t like the Hokey Cokey? There were what I originally was calling waves but apparently were swell and you could go whizzing along with them. There were birds sometimes coming and shouting at you and the views were amazing.
I was completely tentative and I wasn’t out long before everyone was heading for home. But had I enjoyed it? Totally. And my little bro even took a few pics to prove it.
You know you have the best brother in the world when you end up able to sail
So this was a very different experience to my previous sea sailing – and there are definite advantages in how ‘solid’ the wind is – Kielder is a myriad of shifts, puffs, shadows and gusts around a hilly and diverse landscape – whereas I really felt that once I had figured out the other stuff the level of consistency that you can get from this would be of real benefit.
I also need to remember to use my SMALL sail all the time – I am always tempted to put my BIG sail on for the POWER. The power is no doubt great, but far too much for me to handle. And no – I didn’t get the kite up!
So – only another 5 weeks to go. My goal for next week? Find out what the course is. Turn up with all the correct equipment. Start a race.
Oh, and pay my brother that £3.20.
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: boat, event, sailing, South Shields
So essentially I’m pretty much all out of excuses.
This is my boat.
Home Sweet Home
That’s right a combination of the BOATFIXER and my Mr has got it down from the Lake and delivered it to my drive. Friends are all you need.
The weather is looking totally reasonable. It doesn’t even look like it’s going to rain.
Hmmm. No easy out there then.
I’ve checked my boat over and only found one small issue (a hole in the deck – I fixed it with some Pritt stick. To be fair it’s not actually fixed. Pritt stick doesn’t actually fix boats) – but it’s good enough to sail tomorrow.
The screw thing has come out of the hole thing and now wont go back in the hole thing as the hole thing is now to big for the screw thing.
My kit is in a heap in the kitchen. It’s all there.
I have had Facebook advice.
“Suss out the tide before you launch, STAY UP TIDE before the start, when sailing to a mark look behind as much as forward or take a good transit and STAY UP TIDE of that line, when nearing a mark STAY UP TIDE until you are clear or you will hit it. It’s easy to dive down tide but takes forever to claw back up.”I love this the helm of Frakka… how do I admit I don’t understand it??? I know it will be wise advice – this is from someone who goes to Europeans and all sorts. Tide? Really? Oh dear.
Turns out no one else I know is going. So my first travel of the year is solo – although it’s also only 20 miles away.
My aim tomorrow? Turn up. Rig the boat. Get round without drowning.
So thank you (I think) for making sure I have no excuses!
So wish me luck – Fingers crossed I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: boat, cake, event, racing, sailing, South Shields
Things I have done in preparation for going sailing on Sunday
• Asked on facebook if anybody else is going
• Thought about it a bit
• Checked the weather forecast from my desk – this involved both checking a website and looking out of the window, so a lot of time went into this.
• Done sit ups at least twice to get myself in peak physical condition
• Eaten some cake to make sure I am warm on the water with my extra layer of winter cake fat
Things I haven’t done in preparation for going sailing on Sunday
• De-grot and chase mice out of my boat
• Collect said boat from the lake
• Work out how to fix the tyre on the road trailer that has got broken over the winter so that I can collect my boat from the lake.
• Check over and re-rig my boat with kite etc.
• Pulled out my sails and inspected to ensure they are nice and sparkly
• Worked out how to get to the sailing club involved.
• Entered the regatta
• Read the sailing instructions
• Gone through and sorted out my sailing gear
So I am obviously SOOOO prepared!
Anything I’ve forgotten?
Filed under: the Captains Cabin | Tags: boat, event, sailing, South Shields, wind
There’s that moment when you finally get everything right, your boat is running smoothly up on the plane, you have a good line, enough room from others to think and your boat is flat and you’re working hard enough to know and to feel the water hit your face and your legs are straining, but you have it and its perfect.
And then you see it.
The grey wind shadow moving down the lake which you can’t quite see from your angle over the side. But you know the terrain, you’ve been here before and you know that any minute now it’s going to slap into you’re boat and you will have to react, you don’t know how – it might be something or nothing, but every part if you is poised for it, ready to make a move, haul in or jump back in the boat, knowing that even then it might not be enough.
I can see that shadow right now. Between work, sailing and personal I can feel my hand tightening on that sheet already and I’m holding my breath. There is so much about to hit this week – I have team meetings which I am not fully prepared for due to a number of unexpected gusts of other things that have popped up on the work front, I’m away in London the end of the week and then have two days on a safety boat course over the weekend. I know it will be fine, but I’m panicking a little about fitting everything in and managing anything successfully.
Worry about this is the first sign of needing to get back out on a proper boat, where actually it is as easy as just trying not to fall in. So my boat is coming back with me next weekend and I am going sailing at South Shields in their Spring event the weekend after. Definitely. Without fail. Regardless of weather and the fact it’s on the sea. And I don’t know anyone. And I haven’t sailed for ages so I’m setting myself up to be embarrassed in front of strangers who will then think I am incompetent.
Strange – this week isn’t looking so scary all of a sudden….
