2014

A year in which damage to boat and owner was repaired by experts.

2014 was a trying year.

Our plan was to have a relaxed sail round the Solent area in February and then sail Ruby North, starting in March and then as time and weather permitted to a new home in the North East of Scotland.  It started well enough with fine conditions and little traffic to impede us.  With the newly installed heating and the cockpit tent rigged on unsailable days, we were very snug.  About 5 days to go, the weather looked favourable for a trip down to Eastbourne and back on consecutive days, so that was the plan.

Downwind

 During the first day, however, the forecast changed and, instead of North
Easterlies the following day, the wind now was going to back to North West and further in the following days.  We had no compelling reason to return to Gosport, so plan changed to be the start of the delivery voyage.  On arrival at Eastbourne, we were warned that recent storms had silted the harbour and to take extreme care.  We did and had no problems, though a following yacht grounded on soft mud and had to wait for the rising tide.  Our departure the following morning was again near low water and again we were warned of perils in the harbour.  Again we went very slowly and had no problems.  The major error was not to increase speed once outside the breakwater and the cross-current caught us, sweeping Ruby on to the bank to the North of the channel.  A departing fishing boat turned back and attempted to pull us clear but failed.  Nothing to do but lay an anchor and wait for rising tide, with life raft ready.  After about an hour of bouncing, we re-floated and proceeded to sea. The bouncing hadn’t seemed too bad and, although we wanted to have the hull checked, any reputable yard seemed as good as another so we elected to continue on voyage, to Ramsgate that day and Shotley the next.

At Shotley, we arranged for a lift out and survey the following day.  The survey showed no external damage beyond to keel paintwork, but a minor gel coat crack on the frame behind the keel mountings.  It was agreed that this was to be investigated and we went home.  The investigation showed nothing worse and we planned to re-join 2 weeks later and continue the voyage, with the assistance of a third crew member.  With 2 days to go, I phoned the boatyard only to be informed that they had found more, and worse, damage.  Bother! (To put it mildly).  4 weeks later, the work was still not complete and, with the Easter rush coming up, they could not give a firm date.  At home, I went for a routine dental check-up and got the second shock of the year.

A small lump on my gum was cancerous.  Small on the surface, but well developed in the jaw. Prognosis was not good but I was fortunate in ‘bagging’ a renowned specialist who did a remarkable job of taking spare parts from other parts of my body and rebuilding my mouth.  It did, however put me out of action for a couple of months.  I was finally fit enough to move at the end of June, as was Ruby.  Unlike me, she had been passed as stronger than new by the surveyor so, with the assistance of Elsie’s cousin and my son, we set about bringing her home.

Day one was a shake-down in fair weather up to Lowestoft.  All went well and we finished the day with a good provisioning for the coming voyage.  The plan was to sail a succession of 36 hour legs to suitable ports.  After 20 hours, with Flamborough Head coming up, we had a conference and with fair winds, fine weather and full moon all in our favour, we agreed to continue for another day.  24 hours later, abeam the Forth estuary brought the same decision and in the end we arrived at Kessock after 72 hours and 5 minutes, with 435 mile run.  An average of just over 6 knots for the voyage.  Very acceptable.  Ruby’s new home was a berth at Seaport Marina, just inside the Caledonian Canal.  Theoretically this gave us good access to both Scottish coasts within reasonable (2 hours) commuting from home.

The delivery voyage was made in a brief period of fitness before I started radio-therapy.  This took a big toll on my health again and, apart from a brief, 3 day, trip into the Moray Firth we did not leave the confines of the canal again until September.  This provided some therapy and enabled us to take some friends and family on day trips to Loch Ness or through the canal to Corpach and back.

In late September, I was finally fit enough to go to sea again and we planned a 3 week trip to the West Coast. I say planned but, at that time of year, it is the weather that does the planning and you arrange your voyaging to match.  We did plenty of sheltering from storms in the small Isles and Inner Sound but had some excellent sailing in between, mostly in strong winds.  We also discovered several new, to us, anchorages which confirmed to us what a magical cruising area this is. 

Tobermory

Another thing confirmed was that that the genoa was reaching the end of its useful working life.  A good, full, shape for downwind cruising in light airs but, once reefed just a misshapen bag unwilling to go within 60 degrees of the wind.  Accordingly we ordered a high-spec replacement, together with a full service for the main.

Back to the canal (sharing locks on return with an 80 foot Oyster) and, after just one more late cruise on Loch Ness, we tucked Ruby up for the winter.