The following day the consultant came to see me and told me I would be put under general anaesthetic, when they would put on a new cast and reset my leg. I was well looked after at the Conquest hospital, the food in particular was excellent.
Altogether I spent 3 days at the Conquest before returning to back to Rochester and my parents house.
Meanwhile Blue Venture was tied up in Sovereign marina accumulating charges. I was given the number of the local lifeboat coxswain who also did yacht deliveries. My mate Niel took me down to Sovereign marina to make arrangements to get the boat around to the Medway. The temporary tiller was replaced with the original, but now cut down one.
The weekend the yacht was sailed round an old hurricane core (bertha) was crossing the country and the weather was pretty wild. It was quite a relief when she was safely in Gillingham marina.
I was keen to get the boat out of Gillingham marina, where it was again accumulating charges, and onto my buoy in Gillingham reach. The wind was pretty stiff when myself and Niel took the boat out. It was was a fraught journey firstly I managed to lose the tender in the lock and then after we managed to get the boat attached to its mooring buoy a rope got wrapped around the propeller. But that was not the end of the drama, as the weather out in the reach was poor with a strong breeze and heavy squally showers. It was a bit dodgy rowing back to the club slip so we stayed put and waited for the weather to improve and the tide to change. 24 hours later the weather was still shite so we rang the marina and aranged for a workboat to come out and pick us up.
I had one month in a full leg cast, then another month in a below the knee cast.
Altogether I spent 3 days at the Conquest before returning to back to Rochester and my parents house.
Meanwhile Blue Venture was tied up in Sovereign marina accumulating charges. I was given the number of the local lifeboat coxswain who also did yacht deliveries. My mate Niel took me down to Sovereign marina to make arrangements to get the boat around to the Medway. The temporary tiller was replaced with the original, but now cut down one.
The weekend the yacht was sailed round an old hurricane core (bertha) was crossing the country and the weather was pretty wild. It was quite a relief when she was safely in Gillingham marina.
I was keen to get the boat out of Gillingham marina, where it was again accumulating charges, and onto my buoy in Gillingham reach. The wind was pretty stiff when myself and Niel took the boat out. It was was a fraught journey firstly I managed to lose the tender in the lock and then after we managed to get the boat attached to its mooring buoy a rope got wrapped around the propeller. But that was not the end of the drama, as the weather out in the reach was poor with a strong breeze and heavy squally showers. It was a bit dodgy rowing back to the club slip so we stayed put and waited for the weather to improve and the tide to change. 24 hours later the weather was still shite so we rang the marina and aranged for a workboat to come out and pick us up.
I had one month in a full leg cast, then another month in a below the knee cast.
Back to the hospital expecting to be have the cast to be removed only told I had another month with cast on. However I could start putting some weight on it. I hadn’t been out to check on Blue Venture for 2 months now and I was keen to get out there. So after giving the outboard engine a bit of a service. I got down to the club slip early one morning and headed out into the dark. Climbing on board she looked fine. The bilges were dry and the mooring ropes a bit chaffed but sound.
The engine started so I ran it all morning to get some charge into the batteries. Late morning I decided to see If I could get the rope free from the prop. I put the engine in gear and let out the clutch...thunk solid. I restarted the engine and tried it the other way. A bit of slack then...thunk solid again. I gave the rope a heave on the windlass then tried again. I was getting better at easing in the clutch without stalling the engine. I got a bit more slack, tried once more and it came free. The sun came out and if I hadn't had a broken leg I would have done a little dance.
The engine started so I ran it all morning to get some charge into the batteries. Late morning I decided to see If I could get the rope free from the prop. I put the engine in gear and let out the clutch...thunk solid. I restarted the engine and tried it the other way. A bit of slack then...thunk solid again. I gave the rope a heave on the windlass then tried again. I was getting better at easing in the clutch without stalling the engine. I got a bit more slack, tried once more and it came free. The sun came out and if I hadn't had a broken leg I would have done a little dance.
I spent the rest of the afternoon sorting things out and tidying up. An hour before high water I headed back to the slip, all in all a good day. The boat was fine and I had managed to free the propeller.
Next trip out I have a GPS to fit, and I have to work out, and practice letting go and tying up to a buoy single handed. I have a few ideas in my head and I am hopeful it will be OK.
Next trip out I have a GPS to fit, and I have to work out, and practice letting go and tying up to a buoy single handed. I have a few ideas in my head and I am hopeful it will be OK.