Jonesieblog

I was out this afternoon with the rest of the team that are going to be running the school sailing club this year.  It was great to be back in a boat, and to discover that I do remember how to tack and jibe.  It was apparent, however,  that I had been away from the sport for a few months - I forgot to take a hat, forgot my gloves and worst of all forgot to go for a pee before putting my wetsuit on!

Stumble it!

Don’t try to go sailing in a force 6.  If you must, simply ensure that the ropes attached to the sails (sailors refer to these ropes as “sheets”) are not held in place (”cleated”) when you pick up the trolley upon which the boat is resting and turn it so that the wind is blowing across the side of the boat.

Obvious really - in hindsight

Stumble it!

I love where I live

Yesterday I spent the morning teaching, then sailed with school pupils in the afternoon, and went out again at the Sailing Club “Fun Friday” event in the evening. There was a thick sea fog over North Berwick in the morning, but it cleared to sunshine about lunchtime. Being out in the Firth of Forth in a sailing boat is just wonderful.

This morning, I strolled up to school to do a bit of last-minute preparation for the new timetable on Monday, then wandered down to the high street and along the beach to the harbour, where dozens of boats were lined up for the Sailing Club regatta.

After lunch on the beach watching the sailing, I headed home over the golf course.

The sun is shining and life feels very mellow.

Stumble it!

Last Friday I took a sailing dinghy out for the first time.  It was a pretty hairy experience, involving 4 capsizes.

Today I was out in a Laser, and I sailed single-handed around Craigleith (a wee island in the Firth of Forth).  I loved it - and we saw puffins and a couple of seal pups on our journey.  I should say that I was guided all the way around and back by Jane Robertson - thanks Jane!

As Jane said, we live in an amazing part of the world.

Stumble it!