Listless

 

I have a check list to make sure I don't forget anything when I launch the Skerry.  Why the heck don't I use it?  

On impulse today I decided to launch the Skerry, as the rain seemed to be holding off and the predicted winds were light.  I got down there, rigged the sails, talked to Ron, a member of the Port Phillip Dinghy Cruisers group who happened to be there, and discovered, at the last moment, that I had forgotten the tiller. And the side seats. 

I managed to make do sitting on the floor and steering with a rope tied to the rudder stock.  Turning to port was easy thanks to the leverage of the asymetrical rudder stock, but turning to starboard required a bit of force.  But we got along, about 5 miles, over to the jaw bone, back past the red stick, a bit of footling around tacking backwards and forwards.

I sent of photo of the Skerry under sail to Mik Storer at Really Simple Sails, who made the sail for the boat.  I mentioned that I was trying to dial out excess weather helm.  He suggested that it might be the gap at the throat of the sail.  I made some other adjustments, basically moved the whole sail back a bit, and today I had a slight lee helm.  A couple more sails and I can nail it I hope.

It was exceptionally nice just to be pottering along on the water today, even in the light rain that set in when I was coming back home.  I am coming to seriously love the Skerry.