After Rutland

Attentive readers will remember that Vagabond was at Gwbert, in a queue at the Swallow Boats yard, waiting for a few changes to be made.  These were to be completed in time for me to collect her and take her to Rutland Water for a meet up with other Swallow Boats and their owners.


A queue of Bay Cruisers at Gwbert

Matt and his team had done the work and I just had time to collect her and tow her across England to arrive at Rutland Water on the Friday evening before the meeting. I slept on board. Ice formed on the cockpit. It was cold and I had forgotten to take any gas cylinders for the heater, so I was up early the following day and started to rig up. 
I had persuaded the Purser to join me as I thought he might like a couple of days sailing and because I needed his muscles  to help me get Vagabond into and out of the water. He arrived just as I was taking the mast down  (I had forgotten to rig the main halyard).

Anam Cara BC 23 at Rutland

We were on the water by midday and pottered about around the lake, in and out of company with several other Swallow boats, including one immaculate BayCrusier 23, which sported a Swallow logo and a sail number.
 
Vagabond was very jealous and I have now ordered the necessary for her!


Vagabond gets under way at Rutland, the Purser at the helm

Vagabond sported her new name plates on either side of the bow, the improved tension in her mainsail and a less raked rig thanks to an extra couple of inches added to the lower part of the mast. This last is an attempt to reduce the weather helm by bringing the centre of pressure forward (that sail trim book I was talking about....)

With the exception of the new wind speed indicator, all seemed to be "shipshape and Bristol fashion" in the F2 - 3 winds that we had on the Saturday and we found that the dinghy oars, when used as paddles, could get Vagabond moving quite well in the nil wind conditions on Sunday. I'll have to learn how to scull with one oar over the stern....

She's now back in the barn and Freddie has been collected from the outboard specialist so I need to get on with planning the northward journey in earnest. I'll have to have meaningful discussions with the Owners Agent to find out when we can leave....