Boat : ELAN " Liver Bird" 38' 2007.
Crew : Pal Johnson (Late of Master Chef) Bob Hayes (Holder of the Sleeping at Altitude Record, Sea Level Category) Roy Burkill (Boats Bladder Control Champion) Jim Hoyle (Boats Cholesterol Regulator) Trevor Postle (Chief Navigator, Ships Photographer) Roger Bignell (Skipper and Keeper of The Flaming Ring)
Monday 5th September.
Previous weeks weather superb but predictions of The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse arriving today being underlined by monsoon weather on Roy's and mine journey to Plymouth. Roy driving his swish Merc which has a water sensitive windscreen and wipes at the hint of moisture. Broke journey to see and give Mel a good luck hug.
Contact the rest of the team and they are all on their way.
We stop at a local Salisbury's to stock up for the week. Still raining. Provisions cost circa £100 and we don't seem to have bought very much.
Diversion into Marina met boys in bar and decided to eat as did not want to stock boat in rain. Anyway the barmaid had a couple of bronzed boobs that she seemed determined to show off. She obviously did not know how close she came to having to do CPR. At our age, the strain of trying to remember what to do, given the opportunity, is too much!
Anyway rain finally stopped and had to endure a long "Spoon Counting" takeover by "Liberty Yachts" Layout of boat similar to all the others (Designed for the charter market) except two stupid steps on the cabin sole, everyone tripped over and cursed the at least half a dozen times.
Some small faults found but she seemed sound enough.
Finally Liberty Yachts left and we decided, too late to go sailing, so a visit to The Dolphin was proposed. Found out that Sutton Lock closed at 2130! so would have to taxi back if later.
The "Dolphin" has been decorated! sacrilege, blasphemy, the heretics have daubed over a national heritage, Bah, Humbug! you can even see what the floor is made of!
It was so unsettling that we could only manage two pints before moving on to find an Indian. Ate in The Eastern Eye, where all tastes were accommodated. I had a Chefs Special Curry, which at the time was delicious but was to come back and haunt me for the following three days.
Taxied back £5 and settled down for the night.
Tuesday 6th September. Night.
Extraordinary night, extraordinary sounds. From the fore cabin, ripping sheet noises followed closely by loud groans and windows opening, door opening then curses at both steps encountered, another door, more weird noises then the pump going, door opening, Jim in mid cabin, adding to the cacophony, curses as steps encountered again, door opening, finally loud snores. This was the pattern for the whole night as the Chefs Special reeked (Good choice of word!) its revenge on the Skipper.
Tuesday 0900
Weather sunny with some clouds. Light SW wind. Slip and motor sail to Foey. Arrive 1230. Talk to harbour master who said we could pick up any buoy in Pont Pill. Successful pick up then skipper changes mind and rafts on pontoon. Sun shining with dark clouds threatening.
Lunch on board then zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Paul stays on board to prepare his gourmet supper as the rest of the crew catch the water taxi ashore to sample the flesh pots of Foey. Ferryman looked like a minature Churchill with a cigar as big as he was. It seems he lives in London and just comes down for the season to run his taxi!
We all have a £1 shower at The Gallants Yacht Club. Now smelling more acceptable head for the pubs.
Selected a pub, not for the beer more for an attractive barmaid who had large child bearing hips, or so I was informed.
Back to cigar smoking ferry man and finally boat.
Paul waiting in the cabin with the table laid for 6. Superb gourmet meal with fine wine. Too tired to talk all slipped off to their respective berths for an early night.
Wednesday 0600.
Find Bob in an extraordinary position He has built up a 4' seat adjacent to the chart table with all available cushions so that is level with the chart table. He then slept partially on the cushions and partially on the chart table in a foetal curve! It would seem that Paul had lost his Hannibal Lecter mask and snored all night forcing Bob from the shared cabin, and in a desperate attempt to escape the cacophony to move and climb to the farthest and highest point in the boat to get some sleep.
Change of passage plan, decided to head for Salcombe. Estuary is foggy and there is a threat of rain. Paul ? ashore to buy papers and water then off. Very little wind so under engine head east.
1430 just off Bolt Head engine revs suddenly died then picked up again! Water in the fuel?
Moored V7 strong tide running. Boys went ashore I stayed on board for zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz then to watch the estuary, lovely!
They said that The Yacht Club was doing a carvery but they fancied something from the Queen Victoria. My stomach has just settled down so will give curries a miss.1800 Joined boys in Fortescue for a quick one then on to The Vic. Poor meal, not worth the money. Went back to boat Jim and Trev stay for a quick one.
Thursday 0700
Moored on short stay pontoon, showers at the yacht club. Bought pasties for lunch.
Motored out through rough bar. Engine dropped revs. Called Liberty Yachts they suggested carrying on and to call lifeboat if in difficulty!!
Sails up, its a cracking day with a good wind and the tide in our favour. Super sail into Plymouth.Electrics went blank then came back on!!!
Anchored in Cawsands Bay for food and a zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Motored up The Hamoaz to look at the war ships.
0730 Moored Q.A.B. Run ashore for beer and chips.
Friday
Cleaned up boat and did hand over questioned cost of fuel. They are looking into it!
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| Sailing in Liver Bird |
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