Shakedown Cruise to Moelfre

Our first trip out in Jenna since launch. We decided to take Ian and Llew with us for company, and were not expecting any problems.
 
Date Saturday 15th April 2006
Time 1230
Tide UTC 1129 7.56 2348 7.27 0544 1.27 1805 1.13
Crew list Carolyn and Glen
Ian Cragg
Llew
Distance 14 miles

Route

 

– note, GPS switched on after clearing Beaumaris

Notes


Saturday was the first clear, warm and sunny day that we had coincided with us being available for some sailing.

Soon after leaving the mooring, we began hoisting sails. Carolyn was on the helm, Llew and me were untying the sail cover. Llew for some reason undid the topping lift from the cleat causing the mast to fall hitting Carolyn on the head. Fortunately she had her sailing cap on so was more shocked than injured.

We had the boat serviced by ABC (at a cost of £343!) which included a re-packing of the stern gland. As is usual practice, the gland was not tightened up, and so leaked, but we were unable to fix the problem out at sea owing to not having a Stilson or spanner big enough. I also wanted to get some advice from our fellow yacht club members. There was also a leak from the impeller unit that I fixed using a pair of pliers.

I also noted that our automatic bilge pump would not work unless I pulled the pipe from it first, established a flow and then reconnected.

We decided it would be prudent to turn back before we had gone very far past Puffin island. We had to push tide on the way back so it was slow going.

It was low tide when we got back so we picked up a deep water mooring; one we have used before. We took the dinghy to the main slip outside the lifeboat station.

Later that evening at the start of season party we got some advice.

Lessons learned: