Hi there, I'm the other half of this intrepid, some say foolish, duo. Lionel will probably blog all the technical details and boring stuff. Me, I'll do all the trips and gossipy bits.
Well, Ruby Tuesday was viewed, talked about, surveyed then bought all within six weeks. She was the first we saw and it was love at first sight, however, we had our sensible heads on and decided to have a look at a couple more. They were no match for our Rub. The survey was done and she was ours, yes, on a Tuesday. Traditions have to be kept up you know. Excitement was an understatement. On the flight home all we spoke about was her and what we were going to do and not do and where we were going to go and not go. I think it would probably take ten lifetimes to do all we want to do so the quicker we get started the better.
Lionel and Zac had a road trip down to Haslar marina at the end of October. They piled the car high and headed down the road stopping in various places to visit people and take part in their other love, gliding. There was a list of jobs to be done - heating installation, gas check, checks the windlass, put the cockpit tent up, buy various items and check out the collection of sails we had inherited with Ruby.
I flew down from Inverness on Tuesday afternoon hoping all the hard work was done and we could go sailing for three days. The heating and gas work was completed and the tent was up so it was all very toasty on board. The windlass wasn't playing the game and there was more shopping to do. A storm blew through on Tuesday night so we decided to spend Wednesday sorting out a few things. After tightening up the connectors the windlass paid out the complete chain and brought it back again with no problems. Sorted. We went out and bought a few more things and spent the afternoon pottering about. Nigel, the former owner, had made a lovely wooden ladder to get on and off Ruby but it had been lost in the storm so I decided to go out in the dingy and try and find it. I'm sure many a sailor had a very entertaining couple of hours that day watching me trying to row the dingy about the marina and crashing into various boats and pontoons. But I rescued the steps successfully and they were tied back into place. And very nice they looked. I did get a cheer from a crew who were tidying up their boat.
On the Thursday, we went sailing. Off the berth at 11.30, a lie in for us, and we motored to Spit Sound. The sails were hoisted at 12 and off we sailed down the Inner Swash Way, carefully keeping the monument, yellow apartment block and steeple as a transit. It was me steering so it was a bit iffy at times but we got there. We continued to sail West through the Solent initially with one reef in but it soon got shook out and we were full sail ahead. A copybook sail past Cowes, admiring a three mast schooner and two 'Challenge' ships. Past the Needles, it was choppy but nothing Ruby or we couldn’t handle and the tide was with us so fast progress was made. As it was our first time sailing her we carefully passed the markers up the Swash Channel into Poole. It was fun finding the appropriate buoys and dodging all the big ships going into the harbour. It wouldn't have looked good if any damage was done on our first trip, better leaving that for our sixth or seventh one. The sails came down at 17.30 and we motored into Poole Quay Haven with Lionel only taking over at the entrance of the marina, not bad for a lady driver, eh? We moored with some help and set Ruby up for the night.
Elsie on a beam reach.
The log was written up, sailed 5 1/2 hours, motored 1. Overall we covered 34 miles under sail and 7 miles motoring with a S backing SE wind, 5 decreasing to 4. All in all the day had been magnificent with Ruby not letting us down. All our expectations had been realised, she just doesn't look good she sails fantastic. George, the autopilot, is a bit of a letdown though, not very good at holding the course with the wind behind and we really do need to read up on all the gadgets but a most enjoyable day.
Next decision, where to eat? Portsmouth Hoy was chosen. Very good food, but small portions and very expensive. Not the best choice. As we go on with this blog the reader will realise that both Lionel and I do like our food and few beers to wash it down.
The next morning we were off berth at 9. Have to catch the tide???? Can see this is going to be the wakening call many a morning. We motored to Sand Banks and out the East Looe channel. The sails were hauled up at 0945. Force 5 to 6 wind and it was very choppy. Pointed Ruby towards the Needles with two reefs in and off we went. Fantastic beam reach most of the way, pictures of Elsie with a huge beaming smile were taken. Passed the Fairway Buoy at 1115, yes we were going THAT fast and shook out one reef. Maybe once we get used to her we will not be as cautious but for now we’re looking after our baby. We reached St Catherine’s Point at 1240 on a close reach. ‘George’ behaved himself, yippee!!!!! We did some theory revision on the way, you know the conversation,
Lionel, ‘What does that buoy mean?’ ‘
Me, ‘Who knows, we’ll just stay clear of it?’
Lionel, ‘But what side do we stay clear off’
Me, ‘Oops, never thought about that’
So a pleasant hour was had reviewing knowledge of buoys and markers and rules of the road. Ok, it was pleasant for Lionel but trying to dredge up facts for me is sometimes very painful. I think the final report would have read must try harder.
Now, a word to the sympathetic ear, I suffer badly from sea sickness, usually only for the first few days. I was the tiniest bit worried that a started being ill today because the sea was rough and we were rolling from side to side which I find the worst movement so I insisted on hogging the steering as, I found out from experience, that concentrating helps. It worked; even Lionel admitted afterwards he felt rather queasy at points during the day.
Off we went, pointing at Bembridge on a beam reach then broad reach as we got closer. Approaching Portsmouth we passed several anchored tankers. This called for experimenting with the AIS on the chart plotter and soon we discovered how to identify them. We decided to drop the main and run with the Genoa into the harbour. Then we noticed this huge, and I mean huge, container ship steaming up the channel heading for Southampton. It was identified as Kula Lupa Express and it was a unanimous decision that we get out of the way. So instead of lining up with the Spinnaker Tower and sailing towards Portsmouth we lurked around the Forts and waited for this monstrosity to pass. Lionel and Zac had a boy’s conversation about how many containers were on it and how many tonnes that was, way above my head, I just admired the pretty colours of the boxes piled up high.
Once it was safe, we headed into the harbour, keeping well away from the Navy side of the port, don’t want to get on the wrong side of them, and dropped the sail at the end of the berthing channel. Lionel decided to try and go head first into the berth, instead of backing up the channel. Sucess!! I was impressed with his driving and Zac's tying up techniques. I just stood there looking pretty and doing as I was told. The distance logged was an impressive 48miles, sailing 45 miles and a mere 3 miles motored.
As we were leaving Ruby till February there was a few jobs to be done. The biggest was taking down and storing the Genoa. Thank you for the help of a kind marina worker who helped us pull it down. It was tidily stored in the cockpit locker. We did three laps of the deck to make sure everything was secure then our minds wandered to edibles. Chinese was on the menu and I would highly recommend Go Kitchen, the take away opposite the back gate of the marina. Cheap and very good food.
The next morning it was an early start again. Another round of inside and out of Ruby, making sure everything was done. The forecast was bad, a storm of Biblical proportions was due to hit the South of England. Up here in Scotland we would call it a wee bit wind so everything was checked and doubled checked and checked again. The one thing I forgot to do was turn off the gas which Lionel rectified quickly. I think a check list of things to do when we are leaving her would be good. We eventually said our last goodbyes to Ruby and Haslar, till February.
The few days aboard Ruby cemented the feeling she was the one. Everything was right, the accommodation, the sailing, the space, almost everything. The forward cabin looks as if it may be rearranged to give us more space for the planned longer trips and when we eventually retire and start living on her. And the large cockpit locker needs to be sorted out with the heating ducts boxed in so they don’t get damaged and more structured storage instead of everything being thrown in. Our instincts were correct. She’s the one and I, personally, can’t wait to get her up to the North of Scotland in March and get some serious west coast sailing done. The winter months will be spent pouring over chart plotter and other manuals and planning our trips in February and March. What’s best, the planning or doing? A question to ponder over.
‘Goodbye Ruby Tuesday’ for now.
Elsie
