Out in the Vision…

On the 10th May, we took the club RS Vision out since our boat was, and still is, out of action.

Now I hate this boat! It is a great, big, heavy plastic thing which I have christened the floating bath tub. However, that is not the reason why I hate it. I actually find this boat easier, in a way, to sail than our National 12. This is because it is easier to cross from one side to the other as the hull is more flat compared to the National 12 which has quite steep sides, and it is easier to use the jib sheets. On the National 12, when you pull the jib sheets, you have to cleat them on the side you are sitting on. It’s not really a problem, however as I have a slight fear of toppling over the side of the boat, I don’t always pull them as tight as I can before cleating them as it requires me leaning out at an awkward angle to get enough strength to do so. Bit weak of me, I know. However, in the Vision, the cleats are on the opposite side so I am able to pull the sheets a lot tighter before cleating them as I don’t have to lean off the boat at an awkward angle, in fact I don’t have to lean off the boat at all.

National 12 Second Outing

So this was eventful….

We went out for the second time in the National 12 on the 26th (would have posted this sooner only I was hoping for some pictures, unfortunately there don’t appear to be any), it was overcast and a bit chilly, but a pretty good day for sailing according to Dan. I am a bit dubious, as always, about the weather when it’s cold as I am worried that being in a wetsuit, I am going to get very cold when out on the water. Actually though, it wasn’t too bad when we had pushed the boat out and got in. But then the problems began!

Firstly, just after we had pushed away from shore, Dan asked me to pull the centreboard down, but it wouldn’t budge, even when he pulled it, so we had to turn around and go back to shore so Dan could tip the boat on it’s side, burying me under the sail in the process, and fish out the stones that had caused it to jam whilst I kept trying to pull it down from inside the boat (under the sail). We did finally manage to get it down, and get back out onto the water, by which time we had about 5 minutes to make it to the start line.