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| After all the bad weather in January and February the fitting out was finished by the start of March. Once the sails were back on her and I had an alternative source of propulsion to the outboard I started to use her. I took things cautiously at first, gradually increasing my range and duration of trip. |
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 First time under Bridge | 
First (rather ignominious!) trip. Using the outboard I headed for Northam Bridge (see photo) with the main mast down but the mizzen up. I was sure that there was plenty of headroom ...but there wasn't! The mizzen was maybe 2 or 3 cm too high and flicked each bridge girder as I passed under. That would have been OK but I'd used the mizzen to judge how far to lower the main mast. As a result the vane from the NASA unit and the point of the Windex were lost. Big cheer from the rowers on their hard. I raised the mast near Kemps, lowered it again, lowered the mizzen (!) and motored back up the river to Woodmill and hence back to home. Fortunately NASA sell a spare wind vane for £12 + VAT - cheaper than the Windex.
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First Sail (~2nm) | 
First sail - on the river near my jetty for about 3 hours staying between the bridges. Forgot to tighten the outhaul etc. etc. but for a first sail - great! Mike took some
photographs.
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To Hythe and met DCA (~6nm)
[diary entry]
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To Netley (~10nm) | Started at 1115. Raised mast beyond Northam Bridge and sailed under jib and mizzen raising main off Shamrock; beat down river, turned left at Weston Jetty and got level with Netley Dome before deciding to turn back due to tide. Was reaching at 5 to 6 kts (over ground). Fairly slow run up the river, sails and mast down just before bridge, Back at 1515 with about 45 minutes to spare on the tide. Forgot camera so no photos! | |||
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Windy, off Weston under jib and Mizzen (~6nm)
[diary entry]
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With Jon to Netley (~10nm)
[diary entry]
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Equipment Notes, etc.
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Diary/Sailing Log entry
