Sailing – Page 3 – ɔimoɈɒ

Marina

I love Marinas. No, not No, Marinas I’m still enchanted with the idea of a decent marina in Belfast. There are nice marinas in Carrickfergus and Bangor but it seems odd not to have one in Belfast. Not only would the location be good for visiting sailors, but also a community amenity. The whole of … Continue reading “Marina”

I love Marinas.

No, not

No, Marinas

I’m still enchanted with the idea of a decent marina in Belfast. There are nice marinas in Carrickfergus and Bangor but it seems odd not to have one in Belfast.

Not only would the location be good for visiting sailors, but also a community amenity. The whole of Airport Road West is filled with office blocks and heaps of technology-related companies but, if you’ve ever worked there, you have to leave there if you want to eat – either through the entrance at Dee Street or Holywood Exchange.

Depth chart, courtesy of Navionics (used without permission) — Belfast Lough

My vision would be for a full service marina complete with an on-site chandlers and supplies. It would have a serviced bar serving pub grub as well as a proper restaurant. these facilities would be open to the many government departments in Clare House as well as the dozens of other businesses (CEM, BT, Fujitsu, Phoenix, Equiniti ICS, White Noise, Level Seven and more) which are along that road.

It would not compete in any way with B&Q, Sainsburys and IKEA (and Decathlon, NEXT or Harvey Norman) in Holywood Exchange but the presence of these retail outlets highlights what a great location this would be for visitors.

Being close to George Best International Airport would just encourage the development of a charter business which offered the coverage of the North Coast of Ireland and the Western Coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man. And the proximity to bus routes (Holywood is a brisk 1.5 miles away and Belfast City Centre is 4.5 miles away) and a train station passing by would make such a difference to the region.

It’s close to two nature reserves (both on Airport Road West), at the top of the Ards Peninsula, a couple of miles away from some nice hotels (Stormont, Culloden), a spa and gym or two within a stones throw away.

Now, all I need is an architect, a powerful alliance within Belfast Harbour Commissioners, a truckload of lawyers and marine architects and engineers and a couple of million quid. Simples.

Ten things loved about boats

(This post is about boats and sailing. So…if you’re not interested in this sort of discussion, switch off now.) Dylan Winter, of Keep Turning Left fame, asked this on the forum I visit: Ten Things I Love About My Boat. It’s a boat. The view from the cockpit is often spectacular It’s another world. Laying … Continue reading “Ten things loved about boats”

(This post is about boats and sailing. So…if you’re not interested in this sort of discussion, switch off now.)

Dylan Winter, of Keep Turning Left fame, asked this on the forum I visit: Ten Things I Love About My Boat.

It’s a boat.
The view from the cockpit is often spectacular
It’s another world.
Laying in bed in the front V berth under the glass hatch watching the clouds drift by
That special moment when the sails go up and you switch off the engine…….
anticipation about the journey ahead
Being rocked to sleep and listening to the slop, slop, slop of the water against the hull.
That moment when you pull the ring on a can of beer after mooring and a great days sail.
Just being on the boat is enough
Being half asleep and unable to decide whether that gurgling noise is inside or outside the hull
The bubbling forefoot, the gin and tonic at sunset at anchor. The only sound you can hear is the birds. The seal popping up alongside. When she is in the groove and she sails herself as if enjoying being free again from her mooring. The joy when most of the winter jobs are done and you feel safe within her bosom.
The sound of rain on the coachroof
Watching the sun go down with a glass of red wine in hand
The feel of the cool, slightly damp air when you open the hatch to go outside and turn the gas on, followed by the smell of matches, the gas burner and the freshly brewed coffee.
the sound of the wind through the sails
sailing at 4 knots against a 4 knot tide and admiring the still scenery
When she’s sailing smoothly and safely in strong conditions with the windvane steering,she feels complete.The noise of the wind in the rigging and the rush of the water going past and over the hull while I’m sitting at the chart table is intoxicating.And when steering her to windward she behaves like a living thing choosing the best path through the seas with only minimal input from the tiller.
I like being able to get almost 5Kts water speed out of 8Kts of real wind on a beam reach
I feel more myself on board than anywhere else I think. SWMBO has said as much and prefers the sailing me to the land bound one

Got out tonight…

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 … Continue reading “Got out tonight…”

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).

2011-5-8

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Memories – Sept 14th, 2008

It was a three hour sail on Ijselmeer or Markemeer in a Contessa 32 which convinced me that at some point in my future, there would be a sailboat. We then returned to the Marina and were served bitterballs, chicken drumsticks and pork satays when we ordered some soft drinks. We didn’t ask for the … Continue reading “Memories – Sept 14th, 2008”

It was a three hour sail on Ijselmeer or Markemeer in a Contessa 32 which convinced me that at some point in my future, there would be a sailboat.

We then returned to the Marina and were served bitterballs, chicken drumsticks and pork satays when we ordered some soft drinks. We didn’t ask for the food, it just arrived. We were also entertained by a travelling band from the West Indies which was just hanging around.

It was, quite honestly, a bizarre, unforgettable experience.

Better drowned than duffers. If not duffers, won’t drown.

I recently listened to an audiobook of “Swallows (by Arthur Ransome) and Amazons” and it struck me how much their parents trusted them. Not only were they camping outdoors but on an island, an island they had to reach by themselves. The eldest child, John, was perhaps 14 years old, the youngest, Roger, only 7. … Continue reading “Better drowned than duffers. If not duffers, won’t drown.”

I recently listened to an audiobook of “Swallows (by Arthur Ransome) and Amazons” and it struck me how much their parents trusted them. Not only were they camping outdoors but on an island, an island they had to reach by themselves. The eldest child, John, was perhaps 14 years old, the youngest, Roger, only 7. Their absent father, away with the Royal Navy, gives his permission for this adventure with a telegram (see the title of this post).

The mother of the Swallows was Australian and certainly “outdoorsy”. She grew up on a sheep station and sailed (and capsized) in Sydney Harbour. She also mentioned falling asleep on horseback. And the books were set in 1929; a different time certainly.

I know from personal experience that my kids love the outdoors just as much as they love the Playstation and Nintendo worlds.

Mayer Hillman writes:

“Children’s lives have been evolving in a way that mirrors the characteristics of the lives of criminals in prison. They, too, have a roof over their heads, regular meals, and entertainment provided for them, but they are not free to go out. Enforced detention, and restrictions on how they spend their time, are intended to seriously diminish the quality of their lives. But children are not criminals.”

As much as I want to learn to sail for my own enjoyment, part of it is to provide something of a legacy. I went out on a boat with my dad once, a bulky motorboat which grounded itself on an island in Lough Neagh. I don’t know what happened to it. I went fishing with a friend of my fathers, Davy, a few times. We caught perch and pike and cooked them up. I used to camp in the back garden but as a child I never went camping proper.

2011-2-20

Today I decided to actually sign up for the RYA Basic Navigation and Safety course that they run down at South-Eastern Regional College in Bangor. The course runs on Tuesday nights so there shouldn’t be a conflict with work or school. The only issue is that they need extra numbers to ensure the course runs. … Continue reading “2011-2-20”

This new course is for anyone new to boating e.g. powerboaters, sea anglers, drivers, boatmasters, experienced dinghy and keelboat sailors, and inshore racers.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
Subjects studied will include:

Charts and publications

Safety, including engine checks

Buoyage

Tidal awareness

Visual navigation and pilotage

Rules of the road

Electronic navigation

Anchoring

Weather forecasts

Passage planning

At £90 for 5 weeks (around 15 hours), it’s not a bad rate and the stuff really is essential in the long run, because you’re not going to want to be unprepared for this sort of thing.

The Coral Triangle

Photo slideshow (with audio) of The Coral Triangle. One for the “Places to visit” list. Related posts: Anecdotes about the WWF #RSA Movember update, Week 3 “Gateways” not “Gatekeepers” Holidays in England

Photo slideshow (with audio) of The Coral Triangle.

One for the “Places to visit” list.

Sailing Videos

I’ve been watching a heap of sailing videos on Youtube ever since some nice folk on my local sailing forum pointed out Seth Hynes channel. Seth took his new bride on a honeymoon sail from Norfolk, Virginia to Australia. Today, another chap posted a couple more links which I’ve not had the chance to really … Continue reading “Sailing Videos”

Today, another chap posted a couple more links which I’ve not had the chance to really digest. There’s the garish “Sailing Channel” and the rather nice “Sailing Channel Theater”

So, these links are really just for my reference. Move along, nothing to see here.

Photos from LIBS

Photos from the London Boat Show 2011 Related posts: London, City of the Future Where have you been? So, about that game company… Dystopia UK

Photos from the London Boat Show 2011