Saturday, June 27, 2009
BOYARDVILLE
Well, however hard we tried - and that might not have been very hard - we just couldn’t get away from the charms of Oleron this year. The day before yesterday (or was it the day before that? Time passes as easily as water past the keel) we left St Denis and motored out to test the engine (it passed, so far so good). Decided it was such a great day that we would spend the night on one the visitor’s buoys outside Boyardville. We slept that night with the companionway wide open so could feel the breeze and see the stars - almost as good as being on passage, maybe better. It was a quiet night with the smell of pines wafting over from the beach and the sound of distant surf from the Saumonard point.
THERE WAS MURDER IN THE AIR.
We decided to go into Boyardville the following day for a last hit of pine woods, beach and oysters. We rented bikes and cycled to Le Douet - a tiny port with some very swish villas outside it. It seems as though Oleron was quite undiscovered until the late 80s when it expended its 3 small fishing ports into yacht marinas, with the fishing boats all migrating to La Cotiniere on the wild East side of the island. They only allow yachts in at times of genuine maritime distress.
At the beginning of this year’s blog I think I rashly promised to say something about facing 60. Well nothing very profound has happened but there is a sense of time ahead being rationed, and the necessity of using those years well bangs on the door quite often, especially when it comes to the number of good sailing years left.
You might also wonder how we get on as a couple sailing. At home we spend more time together than most, and here we are together in a space not much larger than a wardrobe for much of the day. We are not always the most harmonious of sailing couples, but this year has been less eventful when entering and leaving port, when we are most of the time a well-oiled machine. Until recently Al has been responsible for lines and fenders, getting off the boat and tying us up so that we don’t immediately float away again. This season has seen a bit of role reversal so that I can start getting my lines mixed up all over again, and he can start frightening the neighbours. This morning I was rearranging our lines so we could move Snork Maiden into a better position for the off. This involved untying a line that belonged to a very nice big Benetaeu, with another one tied on to the side of it. Absent minded, I dealt with our line and next thing I know, 2 large white sterns are drifting harmoniously out into the marina. Ooops! I grab the line (fortunately not yet in the drink) and pull several thousand kilos of boat back to the pontoon, just as the owners of the outside boat came back. I have to say, I was embarrassed.
As Carol and Sally know, we have a magic tool for grabbing the ring on a mooring buoy and pulling a rope through. (I’ll see if I can put up a pic and YOU can see if you can work out how it does it.) That has also been Al’s job for ages, and the first time I tried to do it this year I gaped at the buoy with the tool in my hand, as if frozen. (Good practise for him to go around and line up the boat again - which he did very well.) You’ll be glad to know that I re-acquired the knack, and My point is, it doesn’t do to get too specialised!
Just now Al’s recording guitar sketches. I think I can feel a breath of wind coming, so maybe we’ll set sail on the last leg to Marans. Aha, we’ll catch the tide me hearties!
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Boyardville Again
Saturday, June 27, 2009
BOYARDVILLE
Well, however hard we tried - and that might not have been very hard - we just couldn’t get away from the charms of Oleron this year. The day before yesterday (or was it the day before that? Time passes as easily as water past the keel) we left St Denis and motored out to test the engine (it passed, so far so good). Decided it was such a great day that we would spend the night on one the visitor’s buoys outside Boyardville. We slept that night with the companionway wide open so could feel the breeze and see the stars - almost as good as being on passage, maybe better. It was a quiet night with the smell of pines wafting over from the beach and the sound of distant surf from the Saumonard point.
THERE WAS MURDER IN THE AIR.
We decided to go into Boyardville the following day for a last hit of pine woods, beach and oysters. We rented bikes and cycled to Le Douet - a tiny port with some very swish villas outside it. It seems as though Oleron was quite undiscovered until the late 80s when it expended its 3 small fishing ports into yacht marinas, with the fishing boats all migrating to La Cotiniere on the wild East side of the island. They only allow yachts in at times of genuine maritime distress.
At the beginning of this year’s blog I think I rashly promised to say something about facing 60. Well nothing very profound has happened but there is a sense of time ahead being rationed, and the necessity of using those years well bangs on the door quite often, especially when it comes to the number of good sailing years left.
You might also wonder how we get on as a couple sailing. At home we spend more time together than most, and here we are together in a space not much larger than a wardrobe for much of the day. We are not always the most harmonious of sailing couples, but this year has been less eventful when entering and leaving port, when we are most of the time a well-oiled machine. Until recently Al has been responsible for lines and fenders, getting off the boat and tying us up so that we don’t immediately float away again. This season has seen a bit of role reversal so that I can start getting my lines mixed up all over again, and he can start frightening the neighbours. This morning I was rearranging our lines so we could move Snork Maiden into a better position for the off. This involved untying a line that belonged to a very nice big Benetaeu, with another one tied on to the side of it. Absent minded, I dealt with our line and next thing I know, 2 large white sterns are drifting harmoniously out into the marina. Ooops! I grab the line (fortunately not yet in the drink) and pull several thousand kilos of boat back to the pontoon, just as the owners of the outside boat came back. I have to say, I was embarrassed.
As Carol and Sally know, we have a magic tool for grabbing the ring on a mooring buoy and pulling a rope through. (I’ll see if I can put up a pic and YOU can see if you can work out how it does it.) That has also been Al’s job for ages, and the first time I tried to do it this year I gaped at the buoy with the tool in my hand, as if frozen. (Good practise for him to go around and line up the boat again - which he did very well.) You’ll be glad to know that I re-acquired the knack, and My point is, it doesn’t do to get too specialised!
Just now Al’s recording guitar sketches. I think I can feel a breath of wind coming, so maybe we’ll set sail on the last leg to Marans. Aha, we’ll catch the tide me hearties!
BOYARDVILLE
Well, however hard we tried - and that might not have been very hard - we just couldn’t get away from the charms of Oleron this year. The day before yesterday (or was it the day before that? Time passes as easily as water past the keel) we left St Denis and motored out to test the engine (it passed, so far so good). Decided it was such a great day that we would spend the night on one the visitor’s buoys outside Boyardville. We slept that night with the companionway wide open so could feel the breeze and see the stars - almost as good as being on passage, maybe better. It was a quiet night with the smell of pines wafting over from the beach and the sound of distant surf from the Saumonard point.
THERE WAS MURDER IN THE AIR.
We decided to go into Boyardville the following day for a last hit of pine woods, beach and oysters. We rented bikes and cycled to Le Douet - a tiny port with some very swish villas outside it. It seems as though Oleron was quite undiscovered until the late 80s when it expended its 3 small fishing ports into yacht marinas, with the fishing boats all migrating to La Cotiniere on the wild East side of the island. They only allow yachts in at times of genuine maritime distress.
At the beginning of this year’s blog I think I rashly promised to say something about facing 60. Well nothing very profound has happened but there is a sense of time ahead being rationed, and the necessity of using those years well bangs on the door quite often, especially when it comes to the number of good sailing years left.
You might also wonder how we get on as a couple sailing. At home we spend more time together than most, and here we are together in a space not much larger than a wardrobe for much of the day. We are not always the most harmonious of sailing couples, but this year has been less eventful when entering and leaving port, when we are most of the time a well-oiled machine. Until recently Al has been responsible for lines and fenders, getting off the boat and tying us up so that we don’t immediately float away again. This season has seen a bit of role reversal so that I can start getting my lines mixed up all over again, and he can start frightening the neighbours. This morning I was rearranging our lines so we could move Snork Maiden into a better position for the off. This involved untying a line that belonged to a very nice big Benetaeu, with another one tied on to the side of it. Absent minded, I dealt with our line and next thing I know, 2 large white sterns are drifting harmoniously out into the marina. Ooops! I grab the line (fortunately not yet in the drink) and pull several thousand kilos of boat back to the pontoon, just as the owners of the outside boat came back. I have to say, I was embarrassed.
As Carol and Sally know, we have a magic tool for grabbing the ring on a mooring buoy and pulling a rope through. (I’ll see if I can put up a pic and YOU can see if you can work out how it does it.) That has also been Al’s job for ages, and the first time I tried to do it this year I gaped at the buoy with the tool in my hand, as if frozen. (Good practise for him to go around and line up the boat again - which he did very well.) You’ll be glad to know that I re-acquired the knack, and My point is, it doesn’t do to get too specialised!
Just now Al’s recording guitar sketches. I think I can feel a breath of wind coming, so maybe we’ll set sail on the last leg to Marans. Aha, we’ll catch the tide me hearties!
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Toilet vs Engine
June 24
Short One
Waiting for engineer, running cleaning fluid in engine 50% diesel 50% light engine oil. Will pump it out shortly and resort to voodoo if engineer doesn't arrive 0930 as promised.
I intend to put up more pix of the engine. Al points out that I put up more pictures of the toilet. So far the toilet has required more mainmtenance Priorities, priorities. Off for my muslei.
HW St Denis 1849
Will we be able to leave?
Short One
Waiting for engineer, running cleaning fluid in engine 50% diesel 50% light engine oil. Will pump it out shortly and resort to voodoo if engineer doesn't arrive 0930 as promised.
I intend to put up more pix of the engine. Al points out that I put up more pictures of the toilet. So far the toilet has required more mainmtenance Priorities, priorities. Off for my muslei.
HW St Denis 1849
Will we be able to leave?
Toilet vs Engine
June 24
Short One
Waiting for engineer, running cleaning fluid in engine 50% diesel 50% light engine oil. Will pump it out shortly and resort to voodoo if engineer doesn't arrive 0930 as promised.
I intend to put up more pix of the engine. Al points out that I put up more pictures of the toilet. So far the toilet has required more mainmtenance Priorities, priorities. Off for my muslei.
HW St Denis 1849
Will we be able to leave?
Short One
Waiting for engineer, running cleaning fluid in engine 50% diesel 50% light engine oil. Will pump it out shortly and resort to voodoo if engineer doesn't arrive 0930 as promised.
I intend to put up more pix of the engine. Al points out that I put up more pictures of the toilet. So far the toilet has required more mainmtenance Priorities, priorities. Off for my muslei.
HW St Denis 1849
Will we be able to leave?
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
More Oleron
22 june 2009
Ile d'Oleron
Engine progress, slight. Most of day spent up to elbows in grease and diesel - see picture.
Swim - yes at 6pm in wetsuit.
Food - fish soup out of a jar for lunch, followed by an orange and a chocolate eclair!, Petit pois and mushroom risotto for supper, fresh apricots and melon.
Travel - none.
Engineer - didn't turn up.
Reading - James Lee Burke, Pegasus Rising (Jenny) Serrafyn's European Adventure (Al)
Tides - HW 0540
Pix going up now! Racing Internet time limit.
Bunk calls.
More Oleron
22 june 2009
Ile d'Oleron
Engine progress, slight. Most of day spent up to elbows in grease and diesel - see picture.
Swim - yes at 6pm in wetsuit.
Food - fish soup out of a jar for lunch, followed by an orange and a chocolate eclair!, Petit pois and mushroom risotto for supper, fresh apricots and melon.
Travel - none.
Engineer - didn't turn up.
Reading - James Lee Burke, Pegasus Rising (Jenny) Serrafyn's European Adventure (Al)
Tides - HW 0540
Pix going up now! Racing Internet time limit.
Bunk calls.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Engine Trouble
Monday, June 22, 2009
St Denis d’Oleron
OK, so I promised you the list of the most annoying things about sailing.
Here they are:
• The engine
• The crew
• The weather
• Missing the Archers
• Doing laundry by hand
• Having to fill the tank with water at almost every stop
• Batteries are a dark art
• No fridge - veg & fruit live in a basket
• Having to find your way into harbours you’ve never seen before with fearsome currents and big tides
• Not being able to use the loo in ports (without terrible guilt)
Of course, some of these are also the best things about sailing, especially the crew and missing the Archers. (I cheat by downloading Podcasts).
This year’s weather has been very different from the last two summers around La Rochelle. They were windy, rainy and not very warm. This year we have had a lot of really summery weather. Winds have been quite strong, and mainly in the wrong direction, so we’ve been majoring on bikes, beaches and swimming. This year I brought my wetsuit with me and so have been swimming several times. We put in a Navtex last year, and this year have been making use of it, with weather bulletins coming in overnight from UK Met office and Meteo France. We’re trying to watch the Atlantic systems and understand what we’re seeing in the clouds. We are thinking seriously about bringing Snork Maiden home in September, so understanding the weather is pretty important. The sun has lent a real holiday atmosphere to this area. This time last year, and the year before, there were very few people and boats around, but now the summer is in full swing.
Now - for today: we were up at 5, to catch the tide and sail round the Ile de Re, maybe go on to Les Sables d’Olonne… It was a clear morning with the grey dawn turning blue by 6. All ready to go, I checked the oil and found a grey sludge on the dipstick where a nice translucent black should be. It had the consistency of mayonnaise. Long story short, we have water in the engine oil, probably a leaky water pump. We found an engineer who took off the rocker case (we were too scared) and found lots more goo, and some rather rusty rocker arms. (Rocker arms should be there, rust not.) The danger is that if we don’t deal with this now, the whole engine could seize up. Now, you could say that this is a sailing boat, so we shouldn’t fret about having an engine, but it’s not quite that simple. The engine is what runs the electrics, gets us in and out of harbours, and occasionally out of trouble, or at least, saves the labour of changing sails.
The second high spot of the day was when were on the beach and saw Joshua coming in from La Rochelle, where she lives next to the Maritime Museum. For those of you who knew me in the 1980’s, you might remember that I bought a steel boat. My ‘pin-up’ was Joshua, the boat built for and sailed by Bernard Motessier in the first round the world single-handed race. In the lead, he decided that racing was not for him, and he circled the globe one-and-a-half times to get back to Tahiti. Joshua was eventually caught in an out-of-season hurricane, and Motessier died in his beloved Tahiti many years ago. Joshua has been tenderly restored (with the dents left in place as a record of her past) and is sailed by enthusiasts out of La Rochelle.
Seeing her (actually caught a line and helped moor her) was a really moving experience - hard to explain. It made me yearn for KiwiStar (my old steel boat) and stirred me with the knowledge of the possibilities for long distance sailing that a boat like that offers. And of course, Motessier’s spirit pervades the vessel. In difficult times mariners have hallucinated a pilot spirit guiding their vessel, and mine would be Motessier.
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Bernard-Moitessier/dp/0924486848
Al prompted me to take her line, and go aboard to have a look below. He also took some pix so I would remember the moment. The best thing about sailing….
G’night shipmates.
Engine Trouble
Monday, June 22, 2009
St Denis d’Oleron
OK, so I promised you the list of the most annoying things about sailing.
Here they are:
• The engine
• The crew
• The weather
• Missing the Archers
• Doing laundry by hand
• Having to fill the tank with water at almost every stop
• Batteries are a dark art
• No fridge - veg & fruit live in a basket
• Having to find your way into harbours you’ve never seen before with fearsome currents and big tides
• Not being able to use the loo in ports (without terrible guilt)
Of course, some of these are also the best things about sailing, especially the crew and missing the Archers. (I cheat by downloading Podcasts).
This year’s weather has been very different from the last two summers around La Rochelle. They were windy, rainy and not very warm. This year we have had a lot of really summery weather. Winds have been quite strong, and mainly in the wrong direction, so we’ve been majoring on bikes, beaches and swimming. This year I brought my wetsuit with me and so have been swimming several times. We put in a Navtex last year, and this year have been making use of it, with weather bulletins coming in overnight from UK Met office and Meteo France. We’re trying to watch the Atlantic systems and understand what we’re seeing in the clouds. We are thinking seriously about bringing Snork Maiden home in September, so understanding the weather is pretty important. The sun has lent a real holiday atmosphere to this area. This time last year, and the year before, there were very few people and boats around, but now the summer is in full swing.
Now - for today: we were up at 5, to catch the tide and sail round the Ile de Re, maybe go on to Les Sables d’Olonne… It was a clear morning with the grey dawn turning blue by 6. All ready to go, I checked the oil and found a grey sludge on the dipstick where a nice translucent black should be. It had the consistency of mayonnaise. Long story short, we have water in the engine oil, probably a leaky water pump. We found an engineer who took off the rocker case (we were too scared) and found lots more goo, and some rather rusty rocker arms. (Rocker arms should be there, rust not.) The danger is that if we don’t deal with this now, the whole engine could seize up. Now, you could say that this is a sailing boat, so we shouldn’t fret about having an engine, but it’s not quite that simple. The engine is what runs the electrics, gets us in and out of harbours, and occasionally out of trouble, or at least, saves the labour of changing sails.
The second high spot of the day was when were on the beach and saw Joshua coming in from La Rochelle, where she lives next to the Maritime Museum. For those of you who knew me in the 1980’s, you might remember that I bought a steel boat. My ‘pin-up’ was Joshua, the boat built for and sailed by Bernard Motessier in the first round the world single-handed race. In the lead, he decided that racing was not for him, and he circled the globe one-and-a-half times to get back to Tahiti. Joshua was eventually caught in an out-of-season hurricane, and Motessier died in his beloved Tahiti many years ago. Joshua has been tenderly restored (with the dents left in place as a record of her past) and is sailed by enthusiasts out of La Rochelle.
Seeing her (actually caught a line and helped moor her) was a really moving experience - hard to explain. It made me yearn for KiwiStar (my old steel boat) and stirred me with the knowledge of the possibilities for long distance sailing that a boat like that offers. And of course, Motessier’s spirit pervades the vessel. In difficult times mariners have hallucinated a pilot spirit guiding their vessel, and mine would be Motessier.
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Bernard-Moitessier/dp/0924486848
Al prompted me to take her line, and go aboard to have a look below. He also took some pix so I would remember the moment. The best thing about sailing….
G’night shipmates.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Fun in the Sun
La Rochelle
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We are off out again later today - very light winds yesterday, and hot and sunny. We are in the old port - downtown La Rochelle. Went to the market and bought lovely food, supper on board. Also since it was so hot in the afternoon went to cinema (2 minutes from the boat) and saw the latest Almodovar film (name escapes me). In Spanish with French subtitles which was actually OK most of the time. Demonstrates the differences between the 2 languages in emotional tone and expression.
Speaking of which, we might have to abandon any ideas of going to Spain in favour of reaching North to the islands. Time passing quickly as is always does on the boat. As soon as we have settled into a rhythm, it’s time to go home! But we are getting increasingly keen on bringing Snork Maiden back to England for the winter so we can re-fit and make some longer trips next year (longer than the 12-mile island hops that are very pleasant in this area.)
Yesterday’s drama involved my bank card ( our only euro card) being swallowed by a bank machine. It was retrieved, but then we were told we couldn’t have it because it had been canceled by some big brother central card control. Turned out to be a misunderstanding, but card canceling seems to be irreversible. Al is at the bank withdrawing bundles of euros. We are trying to exercise some self-restraint this year, eating out less. The food is not cheap in the market - I think we spent 40€ yesterday on fruit, veg, cheese and skate wings.
OK. Coffee time has turned into lunchtime at this free wifi spot and I should go back to the boat for lunch, and then a little amble over to a beach anchorage, I think. More fishing planned in view of market prices! Our hooks are rusty and the mackerel keep escaping - bad for all of us, fish and humans. Bon appetit.
(Coming soon - 10 annoying things about sailing.)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We are off out again later today - very light winds yesterday, and hot and sunny. We are in the old port - downtown La Rochelle. Went to the market and bought lovely food, supper on board. Also since it was so hot in the afternoon went to cinema (2 minutes from the boat) and saw the latest Almodovar film (name escapes me). In Spanish with French subtitles which was actually OK most of the time. Demonstrates the differences between the 2 languages in emotional tone and expression.
Speaking of which, we might have to abandon any ideas of going to Spain in favour of reaching North to the islands. Time passing quickly as is always does on the boat. As soon as we have settled into a rhythm, it’s time to go home! But we are getting increasingly keen on bringing Snork Maiden back to England for the winter so we can re-fit and make some longer trips next year (longer than the 12-mile island hops that are very pleasant in this area.)
Yesterday’s drama involved my bank card ( our only euro card) being swallowed by a bank machine. It was retrieved, but then we were told we couldn’t have it because it had been canceled by some big brother central card control. Turned out to be a misunderstanding, but card canceling seems to be irreversible. Al is at the bank withdrawing bundles of euros. We are trying to exercise some self-restraint this year, eating out less. The food is not cheap in the market - I think we spent 40€ yesterday on fruit, veg, cheese and skate wings.
OK. Coffee time has turned into lunchtime at this free wifi spot and I should go back to the boat for lunch, and then a little amble over to a beach anchorage, I think. More fishing planned in view of market prices! Our hooks are rusty and the mackerel keep escaping - bad for all of us, fish and humans. Bon appetit.
(Coming soon - 10 annoying things about sailing.)
Fun in the Sun
La Rochelle
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We are off out again later today - very light winds yesterday, and hot and sunny. We are in the old port - downtown La Rochelle. Went to the market and bought lovely food, supper on board. Also since it was so hot in the afternoon went to cinema (2 minutes from the boat) and saw the latest Almodovar film (name escapes me). In Spanish with French subtitles which was actually OK most of the time. Demonstrates the differences between the 2 languages in emotional tone and expression.
Speaking of which, we might have to abandon any ideas of going to Spain in favour of reaching North to the islands. Time passing quickly as is always does on the boat. As soon as we have settled into a rhythm, it’s time to go home! But we are getting increasingly keen on bringing Snork Maiden back to England for the winter so we can re-fit and make some longer trips next year (longer than the 12-mile island hops that are very pleasant in this area.)
Yesterday’s drama involved my bank card ( our only euro card) being swallowed by a bank machine. It was retrieved, but then we were told we couldn’t have it because it had been canceled by some big brother central card control. Turned out to be a misunderstanding, but card canceling seems to be irreversible. Al is at the bank withdrawing bundles of euros. We are trying to exercise some self-restraint this year, eating out less. The food is not cheap in the market - I think we spent 40€ yesterday on fruit, veg, cheese and skate wings.
OK. Coffee time has turned into lunchtime at this free wifi spot and I should go back to the boat for lunch, and then a little amble over to a beach anchorage, I think. More fishing planned in view of market prices! Our hooks are rusty and the mackerel keep escaping - bad for all of us, fish and humans. Bon appetit.
(Coming soon - 10 annoying things about sailing.)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We are off out again later today - very light winds yesterday, and hot and sunny. We are in the old port - downtown La Rochelle. Went to the market and bought lovely food, supper on board. Also since it was so hot in the afternoon went to cinema (2 minutes from the boat) and saw the latest Almodovar film (name escapes me). In Spanish with French subtitles which was actually OK most of the time. Demonstrates the differences between the 2 languages in emotional tone and expression.
Speaking of which, we might have to abandon any ideas of going to Spain in favour of reaching North to the islands. Time passing quickly as is always does on the boat. As soon as we have settled into a rhythm, it’s time to go home! But we are getting increasingly keen on bringing Snork Maiden back to England for the winter so we can re-fit and make some longer trips next year (longer than the 12-mile island hops that are very pleasant in this area.)
Yesterday’s drama involved my bank card ( our only euro card) being swallowed by a bank machine. It was retrieved, but then we were told we couldn’t have it because it had been canceled by some big brother central card control. Turned out to be a misunderstanding, but card canceling seems to be irreversible. Al is at the bank withdrawing bundles of euros. We are trying to exercise some self-restraint this year, eating out less. The food is not cheap in the market - I think we spent 40€ yesterday on fruit, veg, cheese and skate wings.
OK. Coffee time has turned into lunchtime at this free wifi spot and I should go back to the boat for lunch, and then a little amble over to a beach anchorage, I think. More fishing planned in view of market prices! Our hooks are rusty and the mackerel keep escaping - bad for all of us, fish and humans. Bon appetit.
(Coming soon - 10 annoying things about sailing.)
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Breakfast on Board and pix
La Rochelle
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I thought you might like to have breakfast with us this morning. The sun is shining and temperature heading toward the mid 20’s. Al has had his toast, I have had my muesli and I am about to make coffee! We are looking at a short hop today to see if the engine has survived its annual maintenance schedule or whether vital bits are about to drop off.
I’m also going to upload some pix if I can to Picasa. Can’t seem to get more than one on the blog. Always hard to find the image that really tells the story - but I’ll try.
Here’s the link to the photo album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wikidrat/SNORKMAIDEN2009#
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I thought you might like to have breakfast with us this morning. The sun is shining and temperature heading toward the mid 20’s. Al has had his toast, I have had my muesli and I am about to make coffee! We are looking at a short hop today to see if the engine has survived its annual maintenance schedule or whether vital bits are about to drop off.
I’m also going to upload some pix if I can to Picasa. Can’t seem to get more than one on the blog. Always hard to find the image that really tells the story - but I’ll try.
Here’s the link to the photo album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wikidrat/SNORKMAIDEN2009#
Breakfast on Board and pix
La Rochelle
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I thought you might like to have breakfast with us this morning. The sun is shining and temperature heading toward the mid 20’s. Al has had his toast, I have had my muesli and I am about to make coffee! We are looking at a short hop today to see if the engine has survived its annual maintenance schedule or whether vital bits are about to drop off.
I’m also going to upload some pix if I can to Picasa. Can’t seem to get more than one on the blog. Always hard to find the image that really tells the story - but I’ll try.
Here’s the link to the photo album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wikidrat/SNORKMAIDEN2009#
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I thought you might like to have breakfast with us this morning. The sun is shining and temperature heading toward the mid 20’s. Al has had his toast, I have had my muesli and I am about to make coffee! We are looking at a short hop today to see if the engine has survived its annual maintenance schedule or whether vital bits are about to drop off.
I’m also going to upload some pix if I can to Picasa. Can’t seem to get more than one on the blog. Always hard to find the image that really tells the story - but I’ll try.
Here’s the link to the photo album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wikidrat/SNORKMAIDEN2009#
Monday, 15 June 2009
Boyardville Beach Bums
A bedtime blog, short since late and we're sailing tomorrow for - the fun of it really.Saturday was the perfect summer day in Boyardville - favourite port on the much underestimated Ile d'Oleron. It has a scary channel entrance but we're used to that now.
Saturday was so hot that all I managed to do was a trip to the market to buy oysters, mussels and white wine in the morning (lunch and supper), lie around on the boat for most of the afternoon, under the awning, dozing and reading, and then struggle into my wet suit for a late afternoon swim. The water felt so cold when I got in that Al had to hang on to me to stop me running out again. I did manage to enjoy it after a while. The beach was still balmy at 7 or so - a real Mediterranean feel.
Sunday morning all the visiting boats had to leave to make way for the 'Voyage of Hope' - a flotilla of boats sailing with kids who have cancer. The coastal French seem to believe that every kid should learn the basics of sailing... there are little chains of Optimist dinghies being towed out by mother ribs in just about every harbour.
Not much wind so motored back to La Rochelle where we have been riding bikes and doing admin & maintenance - lots of business with the bank, weather forecasts, post office, tools, oil change, and demanding refunds. The French seem to take those in their stride. They seem to expect that mistakes will be made, and mostly don't mind putting them right however many people there are waiting to be served (queue jumping in France is looked on very poorly). The nice ladies in Monoprix were very laid back about having charged me for one bra too many - the sales assistant even remembered that I had been hovering over a third one, that she then absent-mindedly rang up on the till. They are so nice you want to have a cup of tea with them and ask them about their families, problems and summer hols.
I just heard a tiny trickle and had to get out of bed and pump the toilet. That doesn't sound like much, I know, but an overflow can sink the boat, or at least result in embarrassing damp dreams when the water starts sloshing round the floor boards. Intimate friends of Snork Maiden will remember the red knob... You'll be glad to know that it's nothing worse than sea water. I do have another story about sea toilets, or the lack of them, but I'll spare you for now,
Night night shipmates. Sweet dreams.
Boyardville Beach Bums
A bedtime blog, short since late and we're sailing tomorrow for - the fun of it really.Saturday was the perfect summer day in Boyardville - favourite port on the much underestimated Ile d'Oleron. It has a scary channel entrance but we're used to that now.
Saturday was so hot that all I managed to do was a trip to the market to buy oysters, mussels and white wine in the morning (lunch and supper), lie around on the boat for most of the afternoon, under the awning, dozing and reading, and then struggle into my wet suit for a late afternoon swim. The water felt so cold when I got in that Al had to hang on to me to stop me running out again. I did manage to enjoy it after a while. The beach was still balmy at 7 or so - a real Mediterranean feel.
Sunday morning all the visiting boats had to leave to make way for the 'Voyage of Hope' - a flotilla of boats sailing with kids who have cancer. The coastal French seem to believe that every kid should learn the basics of sailing... there are little chains of Optimist dinghies being towed out by mother ribs in just about every harbour.
Not much wind so motored back to La Rochelle where we have been riding bikes and doing admin & maintenance - lots of business with the bank, weather forecasts, post office, tools, oil change, and demanding refunds. The French seem to take those in their stride. They seem to expect that mistakes will be made, and mostly don't mind putting them right however many people there are waiting to be served (queue jumping in France is looked on very poorly). The nice ladies in Monoprix were very laid back about having charged me for one bra too many - the sales assistant even remembered that I had been hovering over a third one, that she then absent-mindedly rang up on the till. They are so nice you want to have a cup of tea with them and ask them about their families, problems and summer hols.
I just heard a tiny trickle and had to get out of bed and pump the toilet. That doesn't sound like much, I know, but an overflow can sink the boat, or at least result in embarrassing damp dreams when the water starts sloshing round the floor boards. Intimate friends of Snork Maiden will remember the red knob... You'll be glad to know that it's nothing worse than sea water. I do have another story about sea toilets, or the lack of them, but I'll spare you for now,
Night night shipmates. Sweet dreams.
Friday, 12 June 2009
LA Rochelle Again
LA Rochelle Again
Friday, June 12, 2009
Quickly - we are trying to leave La Rochelle for Boyardville asap. Boyardville is just 12 miles away on the Ile d’Oleron, and it has a tidal gate that opens according to the water level. Tides for this port are a bit hard to work out and the access channel is quite tight. It’s a pretty port with a market, small shops and bike hire close to the marina.
This morning we hired bikes (free from the city of La Rochelle and pedalled into town. We have had a small electrical difficulty - now solved courtesy of an Irish boat crew who kindly donated an adaptor. On the downside, I dropped yet another hose connector into the marina. Not life threatening, not expensive, just annoying.
Sorry that the blogstream is a bit more like a chain of puddles this year, nit the torrents of literary excellence you have come to expect (har har). I will try to do better and send more pictures. However, the response has been a bit skimpy too (hem hem) so feel free to comment / email / text. We ARE here.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Quickly - we are trying to leave La Rochelle for Boyardville asap. Boyardville is just 12 miles away on the Ile d’Oleron, and it has a tidal gate that opens according to the water level. Tides for this port are a bit hard to work out and the access channel is quite tight. It’s a pretty port with a market, small shops and bike hire close to the marina.
This morning we hired bikes (free from the city of La Rochelle and pedalled into town. We have had a small electrical difficulty - now solved courtesy of an Irish boat crew who kindly donated an adaptor. On the downside, I dropped yet another hose connector into the marina. Not life threatening, not expensive, just annoying.
Sorry that the blogstream is a bit more like a chain of puddles this year, nit the torrents of literary excellence you have come to expect (har har). I will try to do better and send more pictures. However, the response has been a bit skimpy too (hem hem) so feel free to comment / email / text. We ARE here.
LA Rochelle Again
LA Rochelle Again
Friday, June 12, 2009
Quickly - we are trying to leave La Rochelle for Boyardville asap. Boyardville is just 12 miles away on the Ile d’Oleron, and it has a tidal gate that opens according to the water level. Tides for this port are a bit hard to work out and the access channel is quite tight. It’s a pretty port with a market, small shops and bike hire close to the marina.
This morning we hired bikes (free from the city of La Rochelle and pedalled into town. We have had a small electrical difficulty - now solved courtesy of an Irish boat crew who kindly donated an adaptor. On the downside, I dropped yet another hose connector into the marina. Not life threatening, not expensive, just annoying.
Sorry that the blogstream is a bit more like a chain of puddles this year, nit the torrents of literary excellence you have come to expect (har har). I will try to do better and send more pictures. However, the response has been a bit skimpy too (hem hem) so feel free to comment / email / text. We ARE here.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Quickly - we are trying to leave La Rochelle for Boyardville asap. Boyardville is just 12 miles away on the Ile d’Oleron, and it has a tidal gate that opens according to the water level. Tides for this port are a bit hard to work out and the access channel is quite tight. It’s a pretty port with a market, small shops and bike hire close to the marina.
This morning we hired bikes (free from the city of La Rochelle and pedalled into town. We have had a small electrical difficulty - now solved courtesy of an Irish boat crew who kindly donated an adaptor. On the downside, I dropped yet another hose connector into the marina. Not life threatening, not expensive, just annoying.
Sorry that the blogstream is a bit more like a chain of puddles this year, nit the torrents of literary excellence you have come to expect (har har). I will try to do better and send more pictures. However, the response has been a bit skimpy too (hem hem) so feel free to comment / email / text. We ARE here.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
PREPARATIONS, PREPARATIONS
PREPARATIONS, PREPARATIONS
Well when we got here the weather was fantastic and the winds good for Spain. BUT it takes a while to get sorted out for sailing - all more time-consuming than we ever think it will be! We are moored just past the bend in the harbour and on the outside of 2 boats that look as though they haven’t been anywhere for a while - moss and mould growing on the poor old things. So everything has to be brought down a ramp or a ladder and carried across and onto Snork Maiden. Not much compared with a hard sail in strong winds, of course. There’s also the stocking up on food, camping gaz, diesel, petrol and all the things we seem to need for a 3 week cruise. We’ve evicted as much as we can from the boat and it still feels like we’re carrying excess baggage.
The weather for the next couple of days is fairly breezy with heavy rain showers. The wind has turned more West and South, and according to the forecast there will be more fine weather ahead after that. The direction means that our plan to go to some of the islands further North looks feasible. We might not make it to Spain this year, but we’ll keep you posted.
Marans is what you might call quiet. It’s Saturday night and there’s no one about, not even the ducks or mullet doing mad time. (They swim about at sunset with their heads out of the water, really weird.)
Another neighbouring boat set out for the Scilly Isles a couple of days ago. Otherwise there are not too many people going in and out. The lock times go with the tides and have been late afternoon the last few days. If we are ready to go tomorrow, our time will be 1700, making us get to La Rochelle around 2030. It’s light until 2200 so it’s possible.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This is not going too well from a sailing point of view - there are at least 3 lows lurking around and controlling our weather and the toilet flush pump linkage finally parted this morning. The latter we are getting fixed, the former is busy generating choppy seas, swell, storms, squalls and strong winds. Too expensive to eat out these days so we read and fix things!
This from the Capitanerie in La Rochelle. Still hoping to bring Snork Maiden round here soon, weather permitting. Not our most successful cruise so far bu enjoying following the weather forecasts and general boat pottering. Debating the merits of the Mediterranean vs the Pacific as future long-distance destinations.
Meanwhile - here are pix of where we are, and Al checking out the weather forecast in the local paper.
Fair winds - may we all have them.
PREPARATIONS, PREPARATIONS
PREPARATIONS, PREPARATIONS
Well when we got here the weather was fantastic and the winds good for Spain. BUT it takes a while to get sorted out for sailing - all more time-consuming than we ever think it will be! We are moored just past the bend in the harbour and on the outside of 2 boats that look as though they haven’t been anywhere for a while - moss and mould growing on the poor old things. So everything has to be brought down a ramp or a ladder and carried across and onto Snork Maiden. Not much compared with a hard sail in strong winds, of course. There’s also the stocking up on food, camping gaz, diesel, petrol and all the things we seem to need for a 3 week cruise. We’ve evicted as much as we can from the boat and it still feels like we’re carrying excess baggage.
The weather for the next couple of days is fairly breezy with heavy rain showers. The wind has turned more West and South, and according to the forecast there will be more fine weather ahead after that. The direction means that our plan to go to some of the islands further North looks feasible. We might not make it to Spain this year, but we’ll keep you posted.
Marans is what you might call quiet. It’s Saturday night and there’s no one about, not even the ducks or mullet doing mad time. (They swim about at sunset with their heads out of the water, really weird.)
Another neighbouring boat set out for the Scilly Isles a couple of days ago. Otherwise there are not too many people going in and out. The lock times go with the tides and have been late afternoon the last few days. If we are ready to go tomorrow, our time will be 1700, making us get to La Rochelle around 2030. It’s light until 2200 so it’s possible.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This is not going too well from a sailing point of view - there are at least 3 lows lurking around and controlling our weather and the toilet flush pump linkage finally parted this morning. The latter we are getting fixed, the former is busy generating choppy seas, swell, storms, squalls and strong winds. Too expensive to eat out these days so we read and fix things!
This from the Capitanerie in La Rochelle. Still hoping to bring Snork Maiden round here soon, weather permitting. Not our most successful cruise so far bu enjoying following the weather forecasts and general boat pottering. Debating the merits of the Mediterranean vs the Pacific as future long-distance destinations.
Meanwhile - here are pix of where we are, and Al checking out the weather forecast in the local paper.
Fair winds - may we all have them.
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