We arrived at the Club on Monday 27th July to glorious sunshine but strong winds so we didn’t get a sail on the first day. We eventually walked over the ‘access land’ from the top of the hill around the marsh to Crook Farm and then back to the Club across the fields.
Monday night was very windy but reasonably dry so the campers didn’t get wet but they lay awake waiting for the tents to blow away. Never again said Trudie (Jaja’s mum)
Tuesday was mostly wet but in late afternoon we walked round the coast path towards Lancaster. Across the bridge we found a new café, well new this year, where we had tea and cakes. Still too windy to sail safely. Tuesday night was wet and windy. Trudie slept on the boat but still had a bad night because she said it was like sleeping in a coffin! Jo slept well in one tent, as did Jaja, Jordan and Ethan in the other despite the rain and wind.
Wednesday was a little better and the wind promised to ease towards evening. Trudie was determined not to sleep up at the Club, even saying she would go home late and come back early. However if the boys got a sail it was agreed that we would go home that evening.
All the time the wind had been gusting, sometimes double it’s lower speed, but it did mollify towards sailing time. We decided to use the GP. I put the small jib on but kept the full mainsail and all four of us went out together.
Here we are returning to the apron after being out for 90 minutes or so. As you can see, they are still enjoying it. Jaja’s legs got cold, a la Becky. Ethan, on the right had felt a bit seasick.
We started with the jib unfurled, I helming, Ethan and Jordon - one on each front side seat and Jaja on the thwart. We sailed up towards Lancaster and settled down sailing up and down from the cottage towards the pylons. The wind was westerly so it was a little more sheltered there. Jordan got the first go at helming but working the jib got tricky so we furled it out of the way. Jaja then took the helm and showed the other two how to tack but his hand and shoulder started to hurt, he’s broken a bone in his hand and he shouldn’t really have been using it for another fortnight. Ethan then had his turn and did quite well. Jordan was the most enthusiastic but he struggled a bit. All this manoeuvring is what caused Ethan to feel queasy. It was getting late so by unanimous agreement, I took over and started back to the Club, however they wanted to go back and zigzag among the moorings and boats, which we did – much to the consternation of the mums in the clubhouse wondering why we’d turned upstream again.
When it rained, we played monopoly, much to everyone’s delight, and one of the twins played pool with Paul a few times. Paul was helping John Holt and Dave Gill to strip the damaged steel from the sloping jetty.
With the exception of Trudie’s nights, we all had a wonderful time.
Thanks to Ian, Barbara Sharples and Family for letting us use their GP14.