Falanda Sailing

 In the last week of July, Falanda and I set off across the channel accompanied by my parents on Karuna.  The morning started out windless so we motored until torbay when the wind picked up and we started sailing, close hauled at about 4.5 kts. The wind increased and a few waves skirted over the stern, splashing the tillerpilot which in turn got wet and packed up.  We then had a few hours of perfect sailing, the helm so light that falanda was steering herself, under full main and slightly reefed jib. At sunset we hove to so that I could reef the main and get changed into some dry, warm clothes before it got cold.  Then it got dark, and we started approaching the shipping lanes, still sailing well at about 6 - 6.5kts.  At this point my batteries were getting low, and I needed the AIS on as we crossed the lanes so I tried starting the engine. I then discovered that the batteries were almost dead rather than low, so faffed around turning everything off, whilst also...

After having sworn to never go out in head winds or with company again, Falanda and I left the Exe with the wind on the nose and a friend onboard as crew. We were also towing my latest purchase, a plastic rowing boat that was to be used as a tender.  I wasn't planning to get a dinghy unless it was pretty and wooden and small enough to fit on Falanda's narrow side decks, however this one was cheap and blue so I couldn't help myself.  Me and Falanda ended up having major dinghy issues.  On the first day I noticed that the drag put us back about a knot, making the already slow day of tacking even longer. That evening, after anchoring in the Dart we discovered that the advertised '4 man dinghy' wouldn't fit both me and my crew without letting in enough water to sink it. We opted for the water taxi the next morning instead and I said goodbye to my crew in more civilised manner.  On the second day I dropped anchor in Cawsand, and, completely forgetting I was towing my...