Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on November 05, 2004 at 08:39:02 from 217.137.106.35 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Re: steering while sailing solo posted by David Bamford on November 04, 2004 at 21:42:49:
Apart from the difficulty at any time of holding a steady course downwind, John was steering in conditions that experienced seamen - the Pilot, the Harwich harbourmaster, the Customs Officers - thought were bad. Certainly gale force 8, probably a little more.
Daddy was sailing the Goblin home on a close reach - "wind veering north and east". Oddly the Flushing harbourmaster's forecast didn't mention wind strength, but 'smooth sea' implies moderate winds at the most.
Believe me, there is a world of difference between the conditions John had to cope with and those under which Daddy was helming.