Tonight I joined Jimmy and Adam on Belfast Lough.
It was brilliant.
Sorry!
We motored out of Bangor marina and headed west towards Belfast. There wasn’t much wind in the harbour but once we were clear of the wall, the wind picked up and increased to around F4-5. We spun up the genoa and I felt a bit nervous when the boat heeled 45 degrees – something to get used to! Adam is a much more experienced sailor though ostensibly both of us are there to learn to be crew for Jimmy.
The on-deck instruments wouldn’t fire up (apparently some water got in) but as we were just going to be sailing around well-known waters, we weren’t concerned.
Once we passed Helens Bay, Jimmy had us heave-to and then start up again. We reefed in the mainsail and I took over the helm. On the way back we were overtaken (on the port side) by what looked like a Snapdragon 24 which had 6 people in the cockpit. We did a bit of work to let them pass in front and then gybed behind them, our new course making us overshoot the marina and pass by a moored working boat and the Youth Trust Tall Ship which was moored just outside the harbour. All the way back we had been chased by a dark cloud which was bearing rain but luckily it continued east out the lough.
As we rounded the Tall Ship, Jimmy and Adam dropped the mainsail and I, on helm, lost control. From what I can tell, the genoa blew itself the other way and was impelling us the opposite of what way I was steering. It was quite nerve-wracking for about 10 seconds as we seemed to veer towards the ship. Luckily Jimmy threw the power on and we coasted to safety and headed back to the marina.
Adam and Jimmy are heading out again this weekend – I can’t due to family commitments – but looking forward to the next sailing experience. All miles under the belt before I buy my own boat (to crash).