RNLI Stranraer Rescue. Largs to Stranraer

We finally leave Largs and have our first night at anchor in Wig in Loch Ryan. The wind picks up early and we end up being rescued by Stranraer RNLI.
Another big thanks to them for helping us to get in safely.

[@glenysharley4150]

That must have been scary. The RNLI are amazing. Thank you to them for getting you back safely. Hadn’t realised you were videoing your journey. Love it. Stay safe both of you xx

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Thanks Glenys, yep, keeping a record of our journey, evidence hehe

[@M-et6jm]

I would pay real money to watch someone take a 12 tonne ,long keel lump under sail with no engine or electrics and put it safely into a marina that is exposed to north westerly's and 8 miles of fetch. A Marina that you haven't been in before ,with 8 weeks real experience and no one on the pontoons waiting ,with don't forget the best part of 40 knot , not forecasted , north westerly gusts up its backside without hurting anyone else , or breaking someone else's fibreglass pride and joy when it gets hit with 12 tonnes of steel travelling at speed with no reverse. Just do it on your own 12t long keel lump and your insurance and your conscience . Not mine 3 experienced yacht delivery people needed the RNLI to help them in that day , With over 100 years experience between them and a working , running engine and half a dozen of us on the pontoon pulling them in . I watched the ladies of Salty Lass try sailing a fin keel into a virtual marina in flat seas with what looked like less than 10 knots. I wont spoil it by telling you who wins , Them or the marina . Its a good video . Gill i am really glad the RNLI came out and we didn't think we knew everything , certainly more than a yachtmaster instructor and try it ourselves. We would have hurt someone had we attempted to sail that in with that weather into that marina on that day.

[@ladygardener100]

I suspect he did not set the anchor properly. If weather is bad, set an anchor watch. I've sat out a F10 , Isle Oronsay. Sat tight on the lee of the point, even used the engine all night, just in case we were set adrift. Had the second anchor ready in case we had to lose the first one, a big fender was tied to the bitter end. The second anchor was all ready to go, only 5m chain and 30m warp. The Mantus held us with 8m of 16mm chain and 30m 16 ❤mm anchorplait. When it gets to survival conditions keep crew smiling with cocoa, bacon butties every two jours, and a shot of whisky at 2.00 am

[@ladygardener100]

Put the boat name on a fender or have a mooring bouy on the anchor, yiou will get it back, that way.

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Good advice :) thank you

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Have you ever been towed in to harbour Ladygardener100? If so, what we're the circumstances?

[@ladygardener100]

Largs is a lovely marina, I used to have a mooring just outside when I lived on board.

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

I'm so glad you came and pointed out things we can improve on. It's all learning and we have to start somewhere. Yes, Largs is amazing.

[@SVBlownAway]

Welcome to life afloat. - if it can go wrong - it will.

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

We have certainly learned that one hehe, thank you for the warm welcome 😀

[@SailingYachtSaltyLass]

If it happens again, consider tying a fender to the anchor chain before losing the chain. That way you can go back and recover the anchor as the fender will mark it for you. As for electrics, expect any "owner installed" electrics to be cr@p. On our boat, we actually found two wires held together with a paper clip and covered with PVC tape.

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Good advice, we'll definitely do that if it ever happens again. Seriously? A paper clip?

[@SailingYachtSaltyLass]

@@GillNicholasDelusions - that was the worst, but there were plenty of others including a spade connector attached to the wire by a few strands of copper. Where did we find this abomination? At the back of the alternator! Basically, if you see PVC tape on wiring or wiring not properly secured then it is a good bet it was an owner installation made to the "good enough, it'll do" standard. Chop it out and fix it. Your spade connector looked like a proper job so I am sure you will have no bother sorting out the dreck

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

@SailingYachtSaltyLass let battle commence, my crimper is ready hehe.

[@ladygardener100]

I decided a mantus was a good anchor, but have a big CQR low in the boat as a back up. Don't ever throw your anchor away! I can't believe you have not thought these things through. Read Tom Cunliffe books. Take a course with senior Instructor. 😂Learn to sail. I I sailed for forty years up there, it's not the Solent, I was failed when I did my first Yachtmaster for telling the instructor that his idea was unsafe! He was not as experienced as myself, lol

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

It sounds like you know more than a lot of people. 40 years experience is great.

[@ryder6070]

People are free to do things the way they want.....She is MasterArtist/Sailor...not testing for any certifications/credentials if I'm not mistaken. We go out and gain experience. Real life experience tumps all. Life is great no matter how we swing it. don't be so salty, Sailor. Fair winds

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

​@ryder6070 I much prefer this way of looking at things, thanks Ryder.

[@roberthorsford4266]

Hi Gill, bad news on the anchor drag. What anchor do you have? Rob

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Hi Rob, it was a cqr that was lost, probably a copy rather than an original. We feel much more confident with a new 15kg Delta

[@ladygardener100]

The camcleats need to be angled

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Got it

[@ladygardener100]

When you ar3 not in harbour put the fenders below, sailing in thr west of Scotland,and needs a well found boat. You have too many failures.

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Will do

[@M-et6jm]

i don't agree . The fenders are fine and there are no such thing as failures , merely new ways for things not go according to plan.

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

@@M-et6jm always learning, always trying to find a better way 😀

[@ladygardener100]

You need to go back to basics, leatn how to handle the boat under sail, . I dont like cam cleats, as they need to be under tension to work. Change the spin lock cleats for new ones. 16:41

[@GillNicholasDelusions]

Yep, that's the plan, I'm glad we're heading in the right direction.