Starting Small

[Marianne]

Hi,

I've been reading your forums with great interest, you lot really are an inspiration!

I'm an infant teacher in the UK who sadly lives 70 miles from the sea, however that's not going to stop me . My boat "Tern" is a privateer 20 gaff rigged grp ( http://easternyachts.com/tern/ ) she has a swing keel so she is great for nosing up and drying out where most other yachts can't go. As a result of the size though she has quite a small freeboard, 1 cabin, a camp stove, and a chart table (with toilet underneath which we have never used!) so it's very much a sea camping holiday rather than a hotel, thats half the fun though and she sails wonderfully.

Apart from the usual weekend sails I have the hope of spending my school holidays cruising round the british isles, ah the perks of the job . As such with luck the middle of next week should find me heading west from the solent and aiming to get to Exmouth and back before school starts (weather dependent!). It's not as exciting as many of your adventures but I'm going to start small and work up to it!

Anyway, thanks again from a really interesting and informative forum.

Marianne

[Lighthouse]

Welcome aboard Marianne - good to have you here with us. We sincerely hope that you will tell us all about your preparations and trip to Exmouth.

[Nausikaa]

Hi Marianne,

At risk of offending larger boat owners (although no offence is intended) I would like to welcome you and other owners of smaller cruising boats to this forum. Ocean crossing and cruising in larger craft is always interesting but "gunkholing" in smaller vessels always has had a special place in my heart.

Do let us know more details of your trips. Why not start a blogg here?

Kindest regards

Aye // Stephen

[redbopeep]

welcome! Marianne,

It sounds like you'll be having lots of fun on school holidays. I went to your website--it looks like Tern has a sliding gunter rig rather than a regular gaff. Is that right? Very pretty and classic looking boat.

fair winds

[Marianne]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

but "gunkholing" in smaller vessels always has had a special place in my heart.

Heh, I hadn't heard the phrase gunkholing before, it suits

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

Do let us know more details of your trips. Why not start a blogg here?

I've got one set up at jumblies.wordpress.com as it allows me to update via my mobile phone, which is the largest piece of non-waterproof electrical equipment on the boat

I've added some of the first parts of our log to show just how much we have learnt in a year. Talk about learning curve, don't judge us too harshly on the earlier posts!

[Marianne]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

it looks like Tern has a sliding gunter rig rather than a regular gaff. Is that right?

It's an awkward photo on that site, it really does look like a sliding gunter doesn't it? The one here jumblies.wordpress.com is a lot better. She's a fairly high set gaff, with a throat and peak halyard and just about enough room to set a topsail (not that I ever do!)

Originally Posted by redbopeep

Very pretty and classic looking boat.

Thanks!

I'm currently thinking about buying/having made a balloon staysail for light airs...hmm..decisions, decisions...

[JeanneP]

The blog is delightful, the boat is a beauty, and you certainly have the spirit! What a great boat to start out your cruising life.

Enjoy, and please, please continue to keep us entertained with your travels and sailing education. Sharing is to be enjoyed by both the giver and the recipient.

Fair winds,

Jeanne

[Lighthouse]

The blog is indeed delightful!

[Nausikaa]

Yep, I must agree with the others. Nice blog! Glad also top spread the word "gunkholing". Unfortunately I can't take any credit for inventing the word. I think it has been used for a long time on the east coast of England.

Aye // Stephen

[redbopeep]

Again, nice blog! We'll so look forward to hearing about your explorations.

I couldn't remember the exact difference between the gunter rig and the look-alike high gaff rig. I just looked in the Sailmakers' Apprentice and its somewhat interesting. There, they state that the real difference is how you hoist the rig rather than what it "looks like" once up there:

"if in the proper setting of the sail the spar is first raised more or less horizontally and THEN peaked up, the spar is a gaff. If the spar is peaked up to the vertical first and then hoisted to its correct setting position, it is a yard..." and thus a gunter rig.

Learn something new everyday

[Marianne]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

"if in the proper setting of the sail the spar is first raised more or less horizontally and THEN peaked up, the spar is a gaff. If the spar is peaked up to the vertical first and then hoisted to its correct setting position, it is a yard..." and thus a gunter rig.

Learn something new everyday

Ditto! I had assumed it was the number of halyards (I think sliding gunter rigs only have one). My raising of the Tern's mainsail involves hoisting the gaff horizontal to the mast (the only way it will go up without snagging) in order that the large, solid, wooden gaff boom is above head height as quickly as possible!

[Marianne]

Well, so much for gunkholing...mostly this week has found me hiding from gale force winds in overpriced marinas! I lured a friend into coming on holiday with me with promises of wonderful sailing (1 lovely sail so far, shame the poor fellow was sick 3 times!) and beautiful summer weather, nosing up creeks and anchoring in gorgeous locations..Tomorrow looks lovely though so We should be heading on from Poole to Weymouth in the morning, once we have given time for the Stugeron to kick in for Iain.

Hope you lot are having more success with your sailing!

jumblies.wordpress.com

[edsailing]

I should give Exmouth a miss, if you get that far, poor facilities and little shelter - better to go on a little further to Dartmouth. Weather forcast doesn't look too good either.........................

[Marianne]

Originally Posted by edsailing

I should give Exmouth a miss, if you get that far, poor facilities and little shelter - better to go on a little further to Dartmouth. Weather forcast doesn't look too good either.........................

Thanks for the advice Ed, Dartmouth it is then. Forecast looks dire again until about Tuesday...hurumph. British summer weather..innit great?

[edsailing]

When you come out of Weymouth keep very close to the nose of Portland Bill, about 100 metres, to avoid the tide race - otherwise you my have to go several miles out depending on the tide. The waer is deep close in and it's a great way to go.

When you get to Dartmouth go up the river, lots of good creeks and you can get all the way up to Totnes on the tide - it's a lovely river.

Ed

[islandseeker]

Originally Posted by Marianne

Well, so much for gunkholing...mostly this week has found me hiding from gale force winds in overpriced marinas! I lured a friend into coming on holiday with me with promises of wonderful sailing (1 lovely sail so far, shame the poor fellow was sick 3 times!) and beautiful summer weather, nosing up creeks and anchoring in gorgeous locations..Tomorrow looks lovely though so We should be heading on from Poole to Weymouth in the morning, once we have given time for the Stugeron to kick in for Iain.

Hope you lot are having more success with your sailing!

jumblies.wordpress.com

Marianne,

Cool blog! I am also new to "cruiserlog", I am sure you will find all the support and info you need right here, I'm really glad I found it. It's nice to know that today's technology has brought something good with it, like the ability to meet new people and friends all over the world who support and enjoy a common interest.

Sounds like you have a great boat, looks like alot of fun! I often wish I would have started smaller, I would be "out there" by now. Keep it simple, you'll have more fun! Hope the winds change in your region. Good luck and Tight sails (But not too tight!) Marianne...

Steve

[Marianne]

Hello from land locked Berkshire! I'm back on dry land and have finished adding photos to the blog of the strange boat swapping adventure that my holiday turned into. It all went a little funny...but in a good way...

Enjoy!

Here's way it all started going perculiar: http://jumblies.wordpress.com/page/2/

Marianne

[Nausikaa]

Thanks for the up-date Marianne. Always interesting reading.

Is Tern laid up now for the winter or will you get some more sailing in before we reach bleak mid-winter?

// Stephen

[Marianne]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

Thanks for the up-date Marianne. Always interesting reading.

Is Tern laid up now for the winter or will you get some more sailing in before we reach bleak mid-winter?

// Stephen

We're hoping to get out and about for a couple more weekends before the end of the year, we'll see if we can persuade the weather to agree with us.. (windwise it's been all or nothing this year) When we lay her up we may well trailer the boat back up here so I can have my chaingang of enthusiastic children sand down some sections of the boom and mast (what a great neighbourhood I live in!)

[Nausikaa]

Originally Posted by Marianne

I can have my chaingang of enthusiastic children sand down some sections of the boom and mast

If they have any enthusiasm left after having done that let me know please. I can offer work, work, work and work to them plus the odd bag of crisps and a soft drink or three.

Aye // Stephen