The 5 days of cruising were very laid-back partly due to the need for all hands to chill out and also the attraction of sausages on the sun-soaked west of Scotland beaches - not a very common occurrence!! Nevertheless ANNIE had a couple of memorable sails, one in very light breezes and the other in a F4-5. This was dead down wind heading east through the Gulf of Corryvreckan, a tidal channel much feared in these parts, at breakneck speed with four panels set. As the helm was worked hard to keep a roughly straight course in the crazy eddies and whirls of the Corryvreckan, there was no fear of sailing by the lee and the sail was as steady as a rock. No worries of weather helm either, and when we eventually lowered one panel going into Crinan Loch we didn't slow at all.
How we marvelled at this transformation from boomed-out staysail, and gaff main with preventer from the bitts to the boom end, not forgetting the nerves: what the hell are we going to do if we have to round up in a hurry, or if it breezes up off that headland which is coming up fast?! We were doing a very constant 6 knots through the water, not something ANNIE is used to mainly due to the last point above. Nerves and the weight of crew made us more cautious usually. OK we didn't have much sea running, and it was sunny and warm, but all indications are that life on board is going to be more relaxed and therefore more FUN!
The three attached photos illustrate what so many have said before, but I can't resist the temptation to make the point again. Chris who very kindly took pics of ANNIE on her trial sail was sailing in his very slinky HILTGUND. She is about 1.5m longer than ANNIE and, I thought, would sail circles round us. In fact, on the short windward leg of our mutual appreciation jaunt he was either being very polite or my recently raised 52 square metres were doing rather better upwind than we had both thought possible. When it came to the run back in, some time later, the pics tell all. Chris was alone, in fairness (as was I) and he said he had just come out for a quiet sail. But without spinnaker or whatever he was not moving.... Childish, I know, but it did make me take these photos!! The last one was taken with a lot of zoom on my phone camera.
We are off again for a decent cruise soon and of course I'll report back once we have had a greater range of conditions to talk about.
In the meantime, there's only one complaint, and for me it is quite a significant one. ANNIE has always sailed around a fair bit when at anchor. We almost never go alongside. This tendency is of course exacerbated by the whole rig being further forward. A bit unsettling. Arne and I did talk about a tiny mizzen as a steadying sail. Flat cut. Even just a small leg'o'mutton job sheeted to a bumkin. I'm sure this would make a great difference. Should not be too hard to fix up, but not this year unless this summer goes on until November! But I'm sure Annie mentioned some kind of snubber (is that the right term?) that they had on BADGER to limit her sheering around at anchor. Anyone have any suggestions on this? I need to do something if possible before our 3 week (yes, THREE WEEK - unprecedented) cruise coming up soon. Annie if you see this - I'd be very grateful for your suggestions
All the best, Pol.