Azores or Bust

https://louisa-invicta.blogspot.com here ends part 1...........

Very please to say that Mischief has found a new owner, someone younger and a club member. This great news as he has plans to refurbish her and she'll stay in the club.

A combination of crewing for other club members, work and family commitments have kept me away from Mischief. To be honest, since she stopped being part of my plans going forward I have lost interest. Phase 2 of Azores or Bust is about to start, watch this space.

Having given it some thought and sought various opinions I am going to pass Mischief on to someone who can make better use of her than I can. I need more space and comfort. While I feel confident that Mischief would be a safe enough boat to make it to the Azores with minor modifications (see Job List ), she isn't the boat for me. My plan is to see if Mischief is of interest to a prospective Jester Challengers and discuss options for sale / transfer. The bare hull and rig owe me nothing but the gear I have added will be needed for my plans going forward.

I have posted a cruise report for my recent JBC 2019 adventure. Three themes are prominent; firstly a sense of de ja vu when compared with three years ago, the weather and conditions were very similar. Secondly that Mischief probably isn't the boat for my longer term plans and thirdly, need to work on my motivation. I'll update this report as I complete the trip.

Not my finest hour so I'd prefer not to dwell on the event. Here are the details from my perspective. Mischief crossed North of the western TSS on Wednesday PM as the wind was veering from N F5 to NE F6, I attempted to seek shelter in IoS through NW Channel but couldn't make progress against wind which was now E F7. The forecast was still saying NE F5/6 at this point. Tried again for St Mary's Channel but couldn't get near it. Forecast was now for an extended period of E F8. Around midnight I changed plans and decided to heave to and consider options. I discussed the option of drifting across the TSS with Falmouth CG but they were not happy and wouldn't issue a Securitie message or allow me to. There was a lot of shipping indicted on AIS but I couldn't see any of it. At this point heaving to was the ideal option and Mischief behaved impeccability. I got some rest but kept drifting into the TSS so had to tack north. Only starboard tack was viable due...

Last weekend was the boat club rally to Ramsgate. Only five boats this year. First night most anchored in Stangate Creek and then set off early to catch the tide to Ramsgate. Mischief sailed well despite the new heavy load of a liferaft in the cockpit and cover along with the engine in the well and the bulk of 5 weeks worth of stores. The self-steering worked until the wind dropped then it was time to have a play with the spinnaker. The kite is a bit small and the pole too short but it is fun to practice. Ramsgate was the usual mixture of seaside and yacht club. On the Monday I set off early and headed out to the Princes Channel to try the self-steering again. With the wind on the nose and against the tide we made some progress and the self-steering stood up well to the conditions. Towards the end of the trip the tide turned and I limped back to Stangate creek to moor up against Arctic Smoke who was at anchor in the creek. It was quite late but after 4 hours sleep I was off aga...