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...

On the 20th June me and dad left the Exe heading southwest aboard Karuna, his Rival 34, with a vague plan to sail to the Azores.  By sunset the tide was turning against us as we approached Start point, and after beating into the southwesterlies all day we pulled in and anchored off Salcombe until 3am when the tide turned. We then continued on to St Maws, where we dropped the anchor and caught up on sleep.  The next morning we set off, tacking out into the Channel. By midnight, we had reached the French shipping lanes so changed tack and headed more west. At this point me and dad had been cooped up on his boat together for 3 days and the novelty was begging to fade.  On the fourth morning the wind began to pick up and the boat set into a horrible slamming motion, making living much more difficult. Anything from cooking to going for a pee was horrible and we avoided going below unless to sleep.  By the next morning the wind had picked up and was accompanied by a relati...

On the 26th May me, Falanda, and crew left the Exe for Brixham, where we stayed all weekend for the Brixham Heritage Sailing Regatta and Rally.  We had a great time with the regatta fleet and it was the perfect chance to splash our new mermaid despite the lack of wind during the course.  We left the harbour on Sunday once my crew had jumped ship, and the wind died off completely just in time for the start of the course. We lost all speed and steerage about 20m before the start line so spend the next 45 minutes or so drifting about before some wind returned. Then, to my delight the sails filled, and falanda glided gently past my parents on Karuna. Falanda started sailing herself so I let the tiller go and wandered up to the bows for a better view of Karuna sailing behind us. After rounding the first mark the wind went away again so the fleet drifted around until the course was shortened and a breeze came in.  Although I was again delighted to finish before my dad, one of t...

 Falanda is back in the water after a quick haul out for the annual repaint and hull checks. We've had the perfect week for it, allowing me to work on the boat almost every day after my exams. After sanding down the hull, a few seams were recaulked and on went some black primer, giving falanda the appearance of an exceptionally sleek navy vessel.  Although it was alright for the day, I much prefer her usual turquoise colour so back on that went, although very slightly darker this year. After two coats of gloss, on went the antifouling primer followed by new black antifoul. I then chalked on the outline of my mermaid, and spent the next couple of days painting it on. This is something I have been wanting to do for a while and I am very pleased that me and falanda will now have company at the bows of the boat. I sanded and repainted the bilges which are now almost shining, and did an endless amount of varnishing inside and out. I painted various floor boards and repainted the co...