Odd Times II

Author: Stu

  • Tiller

    Tiller

    During our week off, we both noticed that if single-handed, we could do with a longer Tiller to steer and get forward – a trip to the chandler with the idea of picking up a cheap extension was quickly dissolved by the lack of style and high costs. So we made one.

    Purchased a Holt Allen standard tiller joint and a 48mm Ash pole. The streamer is a Karcher unit for cleaning floors and kitchens, and the box is a length of drainpipe originally used for team-building games with wood bungs at each end.

    I should have soaked the wood overnight; it had an hour of steaming – enough to start to soften the drainpipe, but it bent ok in the jig, but not as much as I hoped.

    A huge knot at the apex made it a challenge to bend further. It also straightened a lot once it was released the next day. Some practice is still required, but it was ok as a tester to see if the principle works.

  • A Week Off

    A Week Off

    We had a super sunny week off with which to potter where we may

    We had some key places but decided to go to wherever the wind and tide might be best. In the end, this was Cowes and then down the Medina and then up to Ealing – we covered about 100km, 54nm and a couple of overnight stay plus a bit of evening sailing to beat the heat

    Sort a new tiller xtn!

    Sort curtains!

    We can use the cuddy as a Bimini!

    Fuel is 0.75l per hour

  • Beaulieu & New Motors

    Beaulieu & New Motors

    After a weekend shakedown sail of the new outboard motor, we had a few things to sort. No better way than to test the fixes than a weakened jaunt round the corner to the next river along for the evening. F2 on the way there, F0 on the way back and a quick stop in the Hamble

    Rudder touches the prop

    Lazy Jacks

    No Curtains!

  • Winter Work

    Winter Work

    Winter this year saw the boat home and back under it big green tent – working off a lovely block floor rather than slabs and wet earth this year.

    The mast suffered some damage this year. Some self-inflicted with the peak halyard shackle the wrong way round, which, during a deep reef, rubbed hard against the mast, and the shroud band started to slip down the mast, indicating there was some issue either with the fixing or perhaps rot underneath.

    It was dropped off with https://www.drascombe.uk/, who looked after it, stripped it clean, and refurbished it. Seems it was just a weedy snapped screw and no manky wood!

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1F2aneRgJo

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18S3Zvde9w

    The bowsprit was stripped along with the gunwales and inner combing of all varnish, and Deks D1 was applied instead. Nancy valiantly battled the leaky lockers under the seats with new sealant, sealing strips and padding foam. The lockers are recessed and flat, so any standing water seeps in.

    The spars were stripped, varnished, the wood floor oiled, and the covers reproofed. The trailer was cleaned and wheels painted, and the antifouling reapplied.

    Some items that are now firmly boat fixtures, like the paddles, emergency box and a boat hook, are finding forever homes with straps to hold them in place. The new item for this year is a sapele crutch for the boom to enable the mid boom lazy jacks to be swept back and a tarp cast over the full boom.

  • Cowes for lunch and let slip the hounds

    Cowes for lunch and let slip the hounds

    The last sail of the year saw us head directly across the Solent to Cowes and hide behind the baffle wall to get lunch and chill. A fine sail to end the year though it did require leaving the creek with only 50cm and ploughing through the soft mud of the bar.

    The mast seems to be having some issues around the hounds where the shrouds and forestay attach – the fitting seems to be drifting down a bit , so it’s time to get the mast down and in for some checking and attention. Get those black marks sorted too.

  • Cobnor

    Cobnor

    Cobnor Camp is a two-week event with a very loose programme put on by the DCA Southern region. It wanders all over Chichester Harbour, dependent on the tide, and participants can join in as much or as little as they wish.

    A very lovely time was had sailing in this new spot, and a chance was taken, in the evenings, to catch up with University friends who live locally, one of whom is in charge of all the moorings and channel upon which we were based. There were visits to East Head, Pilsey Island, Thorney Channel, Chichester Marina.

    We trailed Odd Times II and Sparklefarts (the tender) and launched at Itchenor and moored at Cobnor with a night or two on a mooring in Bosham.

  • Ashlett Regatta

    Ashlett Regatta

    We were at the sailing club for the regatta and a few day sails of the Solent before packing up the boat for its trip to Cobnor. One of the trips took the Northern Channel along the Hill Head shore, bothering the nudists. The blog in one of the pictures is a seal.

  • Fastnet Groupies

    Fastnet Groupies

    After a month away from the boat, sorting transport issues out, a weekend of sailing, a ‘get afloat day’ at the club and seeing friends off on their Fastnet race.

    Credit to Barney Smith and Ian Luddington from With Alacrity for the shots of us getting in their way.

  • Windy Weekenders

    Windy Weekenders

    The wind was consistently strong at F5 WSW, so we discovered the second reef and also hid in the creek, practising mooring, reversing, and coming alongside.

    Pictures are courtesy of Clive Latham, a club member.

  • History of The Odd Times

    History of The Odd Times