Peel Parade of Sail

We woke to sunshine on Saturday morning, and opened the hatch into the cockpit to find a bag with sausages, bacon, milk and bread, courtesy of the Peel Traditional Boat festival organisers. Since they had already given us butter, eggs, and condiments when we registered we were all set for a splendid cooked breakfast.

I moved Worm against the harbour wall so we would not have to take her with us. She had spent the night moored alongside Molly Cobbler, who had rafted up out side us yesterday.

The flap gate dropped at about nine, and by 09:30 we were ready to head out when the swing bridge opened. Julian had been in the middle of raising the sail to shake out the reef when we heard it was time to go, so we headed out with the main part raised, just the gaff scandalised. I got the ropes and fenders away, then we were heading out with the rest of the fleet to sail up and down the coast on quite long tacks.

Mog, with Peel Castle behind

Vilma, and various other boats in company

Most parades of sail are held in close quarters, with boats milling about near the shore, but this one seemed much more relaxed, and we happily followed the other boats out to the north west before turning to head back towards Peel. I took a lot of pictures. The steady force 3-4 breeze made sailing a joy, and the swell just made it more fun. We stayed out for nearly two hours, then headed back in for the 11:30 gate swing.

We rafted back on Phyllis, with Molly Cobbler outside us, and got the bunting back up. A lazy afternoon sorting photos was followed by dinner at the Masonic hall. It was a lovely day to own and sail an old boat.