I like Hammocks.

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
We launched from the left hand end of the line and were heading to the right end of the yellow line....

crashboat01.jpg


Rapidly.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
"Right (Im actually sounding calm and not frightened half witless!)..."
"In a mo, we need to turn. I cant do that without the centreboard down. When I say 'NOW', could you do it"

Yes he says all happy.

We are practically on the beach and doing about 15mph.

I threw the tiller accross to get the boat to turn.

"NOW", I said.

He seemed to have forgotten....

Nope, hes doing it....

Nope hes not.....Looks like its stuck...

We are now pointing down the map and heading sideways towards all those great big boat breaking rocks.

Fast.

crash02.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
"Please get the board down", I almost whimpered....

"Its stuck" he said.

Im a boat length from the rocks now....

ohshtohshtoh.....

crash03.jpg


Suddenly had a brain wave and stuck the tiller over the other way.

It accelerated straight at the rocks...

AAARGH !

It started to turn left....

The boat turned past the rocks and aimed itself at the beach...

There was a crunch as the back corner of the boat hit a rock...

The boat lurched as it accellerated out of control...

I flung myself onto the left side of the boat, which was the side now nearest the wind as I saw the boom start to come off the shroud on the left hand side...

I yelled "DUCK !"
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Boyfriend was sat on the wrong side - as I hadnt actually told him to move and he doesnt do it automantically.

He was sat right up by the mast.

He stuck his head up and said...

"Duck?"

The boom accellerated as it passed over my head, like a massive metal baseball bat being swung by a lunatic.

It hit him.

In the neck.

It had the full force of the wind on it.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Luckily, he was so close to the mast.

That piece of boom that hit him, while it had lots of weight behind it, it wasnt moving as fast.

However, it stip picked him up and threw him over the side.

There was actually a clunk which I think came from his teeth slamming shut.

The end of the boom hit the bottom as the boat lurched onto its side.

I grabbed the rail as the boat tried to roll over on me.

THe top of the mast hit the beach and I actually saw it flex as it bounced the boat upright again.

The steering stick hit me in the shoulder as the rudder dug in and sort of spun me round.

I was looking at him sitting in the water with a shocked expression on his face as the boat sort of jumped on his lap.

I jumped out and got it off him.

He said

"What happened?"
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I sat there, trying very hard not to start screaching and swearing at him....

After a couple of mins, I told him the boat wont steer without the centreboard being down.

He told me how he tried and tried but couldnt push the handle down....
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
After blinking and stuttering a bit.....

I apologised.

Id not made it clear.

To put the centreboard down, you have to pull the handle on it up.

centreboard.gif


Why does it always irritate me soooo much when I cant actually blame anyone else when it all goes wrong.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Sorry you two...

Missed that.

I did the next bit of the Potato tin project earlier tonight.

Ive managed to put out the fire and the alarms have now shut up.

Next door has now stopped hammering my door in a panic thinking there was a major fire and our houses were burning down, but I havent uploaded the pics.

Sorry.

Might get them loaded later or tomorrow.

Have you sorted out what the potato tin project is yet?

Dont forget there are kids reading....
 

Darkside

Forager
Nov 2, 2009
181
0
Aldershot, UK
No Idea - if you are out of control you can turn into the wind completelyto come to a stop or just slightly but let the sail right out so it spills the wind.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Hi Darkside...

You are right.

Had I known anything about sailing....

I didnt want to turn the boat into the wind as it meant pointing the boat into deeper water. Didnt occur to me it would stop.

Er.....

The sail was right out....

So far out that the mainsheet was in the water.

The boom was up against the shroud and with the wind on the rear quarter, it was still driving - at speed !

The centre board was up, I hadnt learned that you were supposed to push the rudder down, so it was stuck out the back.. so any rolling motion lifted it completely clear....

My crew hadnt sorted out that he should lean to balance the boat, and still hasnt got it...

I thought I had a choice of gybe, which as there were chains coming off... I opted to wheelbarrow, only it didnt work with no pigging centreboard....

The despreate gybe put me on the beach...Crew was still on the lee side when the boom hit him and catapulted him backwards heels over head onto the beach. The boat tipped over, was saved by the mast hitting the beach above the water line - I was that close, then jumped onto my crew as it rolled upright.

Still....

I hadnt managed to poke any more holes in the boat.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
The wind was getting really strong.

It didnt seem so bad on the slip with all the buildings around it.

Now it was really blowing.

The waves hadnt really got any bigger, but it wasnt very nice.

I got the boyfriend to sit on the windy side of the boat to help balance it.

I rolled the front sail as it wasnt really helping much

I set the back sail and then tried pushing off from the beach....
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Er....

with the wind hitting the beach square, I was trying to launch towards it.

With no board down, the wind just blew me onto the beach.

I dragged it back off.

I told boyfriend to pull the handle up when I said...

I set my sail, aimed the boat, gave it a push and jumped on.

NOW !

He yanked the handle and buried 6 inches of centreboard in the sand.

The boat stopped, turned square to to the wind and jumped back on the beach.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I stopped and sorted out the boat again and dragged it back into the water.

He did offer to help.

I decided he was better in the boat.

"This time, pull it up just a little, please"

Er.... OK.

I set my sail, I pushed off, I jumped on...


NOW !

Not enough board.

The boat went sideways and straight back on the beach.

Had another 4 goes before deciding this wasnt the smartest thing Id tried.

He was sitting in there looking all happy as I towed the boat off the beach and around the headland.

My sails were flapping, the wind was actually whining through the wire holding up the mast....

The sail banged really hard and it spat out a batton.

THese things are supposed to keep the sail nice and flat and not let the back edge turn over.

I was astonished when it hit me.

Boyfriend wanted to know if we had to put it back before I could tow him some more.

I think it was grinding my teeth together that was giving me the headache.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Dragging the boat that half mile....

I felt half dead.

crash04.jpg


I did think about dragging the boat out and going for the car, but you cant get into the park with the car and there was no way I could carry the boat, which is 18 ft long all the way to it....

Even with the boyfriends help...
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I had just about had it.

There was no way i could drag the boat back to the slip.

There were half a dozen jetties in the way.

I couldnt swim it, and I couldnt get it off the beach.

I had just about had it.

He wanted to know if I had enough cash with me that he coudl go get us a couple of cokes from the cafe in the park....
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE