Harwich Sea Festival

We took part in an unofficial OGA race as part of the Harwich Festival of the Sea. We don't point up as well as some of the other boats. Managed to overtake the Quiz on a beam reach but drifted further and further behind on the beat.

Course was Halfpenny Pier to Fort to Parkeston, back to Fort and then past the pier. Rafted up by the Trinity House quay for a cup of tea and then went home.

Having problems

Decided to take her up the Orwell for a change. Bit of a swell. Motored a little way up the Orwell and turned round to raise sail. Couldn't make it work right and got quite stressed. Partly the new gaff saddle, partly the swell, partly getting our ropes mixed up.

New Gaff Saddle

Murray McPhail at Classic Marine in Woodbridge made us a new gaff saddle in steel.

We took her out into the bay to try it out. Very little wind, mostly motor sailing. Used the topsail too.

It doesn't sit right like the old one did. We have to pull on the throat halyard to nudge it into position against the mast.

Lovely broad reach back to Shotley. Big queue to lock-in. Messed about sailing on the jib alone for practice while we waited our turn.