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| Happy to helm - as long as Cuddlie Bear can join in |
(As always, click on the thumbs for larger images)
On the off-chance that this year, like the last two, would see a beautiful spring followed by a so-so summer, I'd had Arabella lowered in early. It turned out to be a good move - we had a wonderful three hours out, taking advantage of the three hour HW stand on springs in Southampton Water.
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| Don't you just love springs :o) |
I was a bit nervous at first, taking two small (and occasionally random) kids out - they'd previously only camped on Arabella, tied safely up in the marina. But I soon relaxed into it, although I sent them below for the gybes on the return trip downwind.
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| Happier posing than helming |
My seven-year-old daughter was very keen on helming - although as the chart below shows, we were a little bit wobbly as she is, after all, a novice. She even helmed through the tacks! My six-year-old son, in contrast, preferred playing with the electronics!
There was very little breeze, and we spent some time becalmed, searching for wind, any wind at all. Eventually a sea breeze filled in and Arabella ghosted along quite happily on a series of beam reaches - ideal for the letting the kids gain confidence. They're already asking when they can do it again!
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| Smile says it all... |
Conditions: F1, increasing to F3, ESE
Sea state: None!
Distance covered (GPS over ground): 9.2 NM
Total distance covered to date (2012): 9.2 NM
Engine hours: 1.0 (total for 2011: 1.0 hours)
