Forecast Sunny spells, patchy cloud, max 23 deg, min 15 deg

Wind southeast 3 or 4 variable 3 or less at times, thundery showers

Visibility moderate with foggy patches

H W 15.3 GMT 5.3m

Ian Johnson was getting the sails ready when Jack and I arrived at 1.30 pm. The head rope was lengthened so the stern of the Three Brothers touched the harbour wall. The assembled crew boarded and the large jib sail was positioned and the main sail lifted into position. The rudder was set and the boat pulled to the head buoy ready for the tow from the Madeline Isabella.

The mist was rolling in as we were towed out of the harbour towards the racing buoy No.9. The tow was dropped near the buoy and the bow sprit pushed into place followed by raising the jib sail then the main. The main refused to go more than three quarters of the way up the mast, and on closer inspection the rope had coiled round the mast. The main sail was quickly lowered and the rope unravelled, then the main was raised again.

With no wind the Three Brothers had drifted southwards and shoreward so the rudder was moved to steer the boat seawards.

The oars were deployed to give forward momentum as we slowly headed seawards. Darren and the Chevy motored to us and towed us seawards away from the marker buoys near the Spa.

After the tow was dropped we found a very small breeze but not enough to get the Three Brothers moving quickly.

The main sail was unfurled so that there were no reefs but the wind was still not strong enough to overcome the force of the current.

The Madeline Isabella motored to us at 4.00pm and as we were going nowhere we took a tow and were soon back in the harbour.

The Chevy followed us in and after we berthed the Chevy crew borrowed our dinghy to disembark. The Three Brothers was moored and the dinghy back in the rack by 5.00pm.

Crew members: Albert Brownhill, Frank Bull, Ian Johnson, Jack and Ian Thompson, Steve W

   Photos by Ian Thompson

Return to Home Page

Contact michael.wilson@tesco.net for further information.