Cartopping PicoMicroYacht

So far on this blog PicoMicroYacht magically gets to the water. Sometimes there are mentions of trailers, but the road life of PicoMicroYacht has not so far not got a mention.

Trailing is a game changer  when it comes to having a good voyage. For example, if the tide is all wrong in one part of the coast, then go to another. I live stategically situated to be able to visit about 300 miles of coastland reached by a relatively fast road for a day's sail, something the UK can offer.

Consequentially, the trailer is well travelled. After my last (longer) trip to Devon, I was 200 metres from my home when I heard a tinkling noise and stopped to investigate. It turned out that the flange that connects my launching trailer to the road trailer had broken. The launching trailer and PicoMicroYacht were now held on by a rope at the front and had slipped backwards.  So now I have to get this flange welded back on.

I have been thinking for a while about car topping. This would be particularly helpful going overseas to avoid trailer costs and also to solve the problem of where to leave the trailer when going rowing.

Car topping a Pico seemed quite challenging  for one person. But I have found this ingenious technique shown in the video below.

The Pico is upended at the back of the car with a rope from the bow to the front of the car. As it upends the rope is pulled in on rachet to keep the Pico from from falling back. Then a strap is clipped on the roof rack and slotted through the daggerboard casing and attached to the  hull from the inside. This strap is attached by a ratchet which can be used to fix the weight of the boat as it is levered up onto the roof over the back.

Perhaps something to try this winter in preparation for an overseas adventure. Presumably, getting it down is the reverse?

Paddleboarding PicoMicroYacht: The times they are a changin'

To quote Bob Dylan:

‘As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'

In the olden days people went down the sea for personal boating, using yachts, motor boats and sailing dinghies which they owned. They operated out of moorings, marinas, clubs and their own garage or their garden.

Apparently, this is changing. For modern living in the UK  there is not enough time, space and money for traditional boat owning and it lacks the versatility needed.

The emphasis is on smaller floaty things like windsurfers, kayaks and now paddleboarding. 

According to the last edition of Yachting Monthly, the estuary users of the UK are starting to opt for a less permanent and more flexible type of experience.

Paddleboards at Salcombe, South Devon from the SalcombePaddleBoarding.com

Part of this is the 'take you anywhere when you like paddleboard' which has become very fashionable. It can even be deflated and put in the boot of the car, on under the bed at home.

Paddleboarding at Salcombe for two - I must work on my posture or I will get back ache

I decided to have a go in PicoMicroYacht. I removed all the gear, left the small rudder as the skeg and off we went.

Two people can paddle board a Pico very successfully and there is less danger of falling in for the more nervous novice paddleboarder.

The times they are a changin