The Red Baron Day
The day dawned with the swell a little bit reduced, but the wind had come round slightly so that we could consider flying the Red Baron (Parasail). This is a large red and white sail with a slot in it which looks like a bit like a parachute and can act as a pressure vent. Whilst we were making reasonable progress the wind was dropping a bit and with the wind direction, we thought this would be worth trying. The Red Baron was kept under the forepeak berth and as Angus was asleep having done the last shift. We felt it only right to wait until he woke so we decided to make breakfast.
Keith (Watson) clearly enjoys bacon and egg sandwiches and before long the smell of cooking bacon wafted around and we all tucked in. There is nothing better than such a sandwich on a boat having all done a night shift. This may have woken Angus so after being fed we dismantled Angus’s cabin and out came the Red Baron which is longer than the boat itself and must be about 25-26 meters long. For those who have read earlier versions you may recall the Red Baron had to be repaired as the rings to which you attach the sheets(ropes) had rusted and one had failed on our previous flying of the Red Baron. Peter Saint remained in the cockpit and the rest of us Keith Watson, Keith Winstanley (Commodore), Angus Fear, Mark and I went on deck to remember how to fly this beast at about 9.30 am. We assumed this would be a simple job not that remembering where all the sheet go is simple. The sail is in its own bag and is raised with the bag over the sail a bit like a sock with a black funnel shaped cup at the end. The idea is that you raise the sail and then pull up the funnel and the sail comes out and the flies leaving the sock and funnel at the top of the sail. When you want to bring it down you pull on the funnel which is attached by rope and it pulls the sock back over the sail. The thing is that this sail is quite heavy so even when raised with the sock on, it is flying about and swinging and it took all of our strength to hold it.
This is when the battle with the Red Baron began. For some reason when we raised it there was a twist- back it came down and back it went up and each time despite our attempts the Red Baron twisted and turned as if in a dogfight. Keith Winstanley performed aerobatics as he fell over the durade vent and each time we felt we had taken out the twist another mysteriously appeared. By this time there was some fish wife language going on and the Red Baron was winning. I was getting tired of winching it up and down and the crew were hanging on. After several attempts I decided enough was enough and we retreated to the cockpit-our trenches. We formed a battle plan and came up with a few options and decided to try the first and easiest.
This plan was to lay the Red Baron down and flake on the deck and feel down the sail to find the twist. Despite this we puzzled away at the opening end and fiddled about and tried to lift a few times, but the Red Baron was fighting and still twisting. After some time and a lot of effort the Red Baron took to the sky and flew – we had beaten it- bar the trimming. Finally, we retired to the cockpit at 12.15pm and it had taken us nearly 3 hours. However, it was a magnificent effort and the reward was to see the Red Baron powering us along.
The rest of the day was gentle sailing and we glided along for miles. Keith (Commodore) cooked a delicious cod and chorizo supper which was much enjoyed. We felt it prudent not to fly the Red Baron at night, so we planned its retirement for the night so that we were not to be defeated when the Red Baron descended and landed on deck. We planned who was going to do what and then executed the plan. The Red baron came down easily and she was tied to the deck for the night- clearly defeated for now.
The day ended in a very pleasant way and our shift routine continued. We still had about 200 n miles to go but it had been a good day.
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