2nd July 2014 - Plymouth Sound
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:10 am
Just a quick update to let you know we're now in Plymouth Sound. We sailed (and I mean sailed!) from Salcombe to here yesterday with Force 6's on the stern. We were making good time but as we approached Plymouth the wind dropped and the the motion worsened (it was already bad as it often is with wind from behind) so instead of making it to Fowey we chickened out and dropped anchor in Jennycliff Bay (Plymouth Sound) where I sit right now doing a VAT return while Rose and Nina enjoy a free trip the aquarium (using last year's ticket which lasts a year for some reason).
Another reason for cutting the trip short was that our autohelm was unable to handle the conditions so we were having to hand steer. It's amazing how tiring that is - and tiresome - and a problem when the sails need regular trimming, and Nina needs attention, and I need a fried egg sandwich, all at the same time.
Turns out the autohelm is set to a maximum angle of steer of 15 degrees each way from dead centre... the rudder can do more like 45 degrees so I'm going to play with the literally dozens of settings to see if I can't improve things for our next trip.
Must dash, VAT return beckons...
Another reason for cutting the trip short was that our autohelm was unable to handle the conditions so we were having to hand steer. It's amazing how tiring that is - and tiresome - and a problem when the sails need regular trimming, and Nina needs attention, and I need a fried egg sandwich, all at the same time.
Turns out the autohelm is set to a maximum angle of steer of 15 degrees each way from dead centre... the rudder can do more like 45 degrees so I'm going to play with the literally dozens of settings to see if I can't improve things for our next trip.
Must dash, VAT return beckons...