sailing today in Scotland

It has been a brilliant day afloat

colder than heck but bright and lovely

in Rhu marina tonight plugged into lekkie

http://www.quaymarinas.com/our-marinas/rhu-marina/

This is about Dylan Winter's Blog.

41 Responses to “sailing today in Scotland”

  1. 13 January, 2017 at 7:57 pmPeter Truelove says:

    Well the forecast didn’t let you down, let’s hope you get another good one tomorrow. Icy cold though…. in all that wind. Well done for risking the long journey….. it was certainly worthwhile. P.

  2. 13 January, 2017 at 8:05 pmdylan winter says:

    It paid off in spades today – mrvelous sail – £100 worth of diesel to get here and get home again

    I sailed from 9 in the morning until 4.00 this evening – six hours

    if I get another six tomorrow then that will be £8 an hour. Worth every penny

    D

    £16 an hour

  3. 13 January, 2017 at 8:47 pmEuan Mckenzie says:

    Forecast was big winds did they not get you then?

  4. 13 January, 2017 at 8:51 pmdylan winter says:

    big winds for sure – but flat water – so I sailed mostly in the lee of the land. Not many Scottish sailors out today

  5. 14 January, 2017 at 3:08 pmDave Barker says:

    Great stuff. BTY I haven’t seen any comments lately about your mainsail. Are you getting used to it or are you still fed up with it? Maybe a flatter sail is a good thing for the weather you’re experiencing now?

  6. 14 January, 2017 at 7:10 pmdylan winter says:

    I try not to look at it too often – it is okay until I start editing a film with the Harmony main in it – then I realise what I am missing

  7. 14 January, 2017 at 9:57 pmRichar Aston says:

    The video appears to show you sailing down the Clyde towards the Toward Lighthouse with a wind from the NW. However you ended up in Rhu which is the opposite direction and would put the wind on the port side. Am I going mad?

  8. 14 January, 2017 at 10:45 pmdylan winter says:

    yes you are right. It was just a few shots stuck together using the editing facility on youtube. So there is no logic to them at all. It was reallly windy so I sailed most of the day on the north shore where there was flat water. Then as it came towards evening I headed upstream to Rhu with the aim of going up Loch Goil on the Saturday. Lovely, lovely place for sailing that is for sure.

  9. 15 January, 2017 at 3:04 pmRichard Aston says:

    Yes, I am right!
    So where did you go that evening? I won’t tell, promise.

  10. 15 January, 2017 at 6:14 pmdylan winter says:

    I went to sleep on the boat. I did not even leave the marina.

  11. 15 January, 2017 at 7:59 pmRichard Aston says:

    The title was ‘Sailing today in Scotland’. For some reason I thought the video would be just that.
    I was hoping to see what the weather really was like on Friday in the Clyde. When I first saw your film I kicked myself for not heading up to the Clyde for a sail as it looked great for the time of year and not as bad as forecast. Did you take any film that day that may be in a future film?

  12. 15 January, 2017 at 8:03 pmdylan winter says:

    it was filmed on friday – the day the film went up. There was excellent web in Rhu marina so I could upload it

    – saturday was even nicer. I went to the top of Loch Goil – damn you sail is a great place

  13. 15 January, 2017 at 9:35 pmRichard Aston says:

    Thanks. Confusion over.

  14. 15 January, 2017 at 9:38 pmdylan winter says:

    it was lovely sailing – the mountains looked brilliant.

    A lot of driving for not much sailing though

  15. 15 January, 2017 at 10:22 pmRichard Aston says:

    Any film of Loch Goil? I have still to sail there.

  16. 15 January, 2017 at 10:33 pmdylan winter says:

    It is still on the camera – I will go through it in the morning

  17. 17 January, 2017 at 2:57 pmJim Legere says:

    I note the last couple of winter sailing vids you posted feature views over the bow with the dodger clearly folded DOWN. Is this your professional commitment to a well-framed shot or are you really that hardy and hairy? On my early and late season sails on the Canadian east coast, my dodger is always up and even in the summer it has to be bloody hot for it to come down; I must be a wussy compared to you Dylan!

  18. 17 January, 2017 at 4:23 pmrobert hickman says:

    Seeing as you don’t appear to have a public post relating to your latest video. Why don’t you try using Patrion if others are getting on well from it?

    It would not bother me greatly if you sell the boat and abandon the series. What you’ve done so far is fantastic and I’d rather see it end on a high. Especially if it is becoming a hassle to you. Seeing as you have not been posting much video recently I can only imagine that you must have a lot of other stuff on.

    I have tipped you in the past but I don’t have that much to give.

  19. 17 January, 2017 at 5:07 pmdylan winter says:

    If I can then I also have the side screens off. You would be amazed at how much better a small boat sails without all that extra windage – it is the old racing man in me

  20. 17 January, 2017 at 5:22 pmdylan winter says:

    R,

    I don’t think patreon would work for the age of the people who watch my films. I know that for many of them paypal is a stretch. Some are so suspicious of it that they send me cash in the post occasionally. I am desperately slow at editing and I know that if I make stuff too fast then it comes out wrong. After I have made a film I go sailing and then I can watch it again and re-cut it. I call it maturing. I could make more films – and I will blog more because those are cheap and easy to make – I have lots of energy, but the fuel and marina costs are really piling up.

    So a financial break from keeping the Centaur going will be no bad thing.

    One of the interesting things I find about the web is the flexibility of the thing. First subscriptions and downloads, then DVDs, then paypal or patreon. It will be interesting to see what happens next. I notice that some of the other bloggers are now taking guests sailing. The market for films is fascinating.

    So I will finish off the films I have in the can – making them at my own speed. That will keep a drip feed of material coming onto the web and bring the films up to date.

    Centaurs are easy to buy and easy to sell.

  21. 17 January, 2017 at 9:18 pmhenrik scheel says:

    Carry on D. Like the others I would say you should try to go the Patreon way, it might be a good alternative and secure some income along the way. It is worth a try anyway. Sell the boat? A good thing you have a few backups boats in place – and a duck punt.

  22. 18 January, 2017 at 7:13 pmpeter c says:

    “So a financial break from keeping the Centaur going will be no bad thing.”
    being a small boat sailor now, l love the stuff in Katie L and the old Slug, so it will not be a bad thing.
    keep turning left [and right] up the creeks D.
    pay pal on the way if l can find it.P

  23. 18 January, 2017 at 7:26 pmDave says:

    There is another Cox on ebay

  24. 18 January, 2017 at 8:08 pmGary says:

    I wish I had a solution to your money woes.

    Here in the states you could probably get a government grant if you told them you self identified as a woman and you series was about empowerment.

    Best of luck and I look forward to more videos.

  25. 18 January, 2017 at 10:06 pmdylan winter says:

    not really woes – just an unbalanced budget.

    In the scale of things it is of minor importance – just a change of plan.

    I have had those before.

  26. 19 January, 2017 at 4:08 pmTed Timberlake says:

    Oh no, not another Cox!

  27. 19 January, 2017 at 4:59 pmdylan winter says:

    Jill has vetoed the cox

  28. 19 January, 2017 at 6:28 pmRichard Aston says:

    My experience of vetos in 37 years of marriage is that they can be negotiated if the right tactics are deployed and with a degree of patience.

  29. 19 January, 2017 at 6:45 pmdylan winter says:

    you have no idea how amazingly futile such a strategy would be in my house – she cuts me a fair amount of slack but once she has decreed something then she is more resolute than the iron lady herself. At the moment I am thinking of selling the cenmtaur and putting the money released into the Minstrel and sailing her for a season or so until the finances are back on an even keel. The outer hebrides and the outside of ireland will go on the back burner for a while

  30. 19 January, 2017 at 9:36 pmRichard Aston says:

    That’s a pity.
    It may mean I get there before you. In which case I will check if you want to tag along on my mighty vessel and take some video……….but my dreams are often scuppered by something deemed by others to be a priority so only time will tell whether my plans come good.

  31. 19 January, 2017 at 10:06 pmdylan winter says:

    all things come to those who wait

    I will do that part of the UK – but I shall have to be patient

    D

  32. 20 January, 2017 at 9:07 pmRiley Morgan says:

    “Drip feed the videos”
    “Thinking of selling the Centaur”
    WHAT ?
    I’m getting depressed

  33. 20 January, 2017 at 9:25 pmdylan winter says:

    I reckon I have material for about nine one hour films ready to be edited

    at three weeks editing time per film that will hoover up six months sat at a desk

    I have more or less run out of budget so I need to release the money from the Centaur. It was always part of the plan – Centaurs are easy to buy and easy to sell. I can always buy another in a couple of years time and have a go at the outer hebdrides then

    or maybe great aunt agatha will die and I can buy that fisher 25

    meantime I have the delightful Katie L to sail

    she will be in good nick once I have replaced the nicked outboard, got the trailer into shape, rewired her, sorted out the centre plate bolt and learned not to stand up again

    D

  34. 23 January, 2017 at 1:15 amLes R says:

    Dylan – HNY2017

    Couldn’t help but notice a distinct change in tone in S8 part 14. It sounds like the whole KTL is getting to you and I would like to think a lot if it is because you’re driving the longest round trip now you’re up in Bonny Scotland. To have a great weekend sailing with stunning scenery to be faced with the drive home but be disheartening somewhat. Do you feel you are under pressure now to continue KTL for the sake of us tube followers. Just an idea, and this is purely from my own perspective, I do and always have considered You Tube a free video library. Whether I’m mending the washing machine, changing disc breaks on the car or working on the engine on my own boat, there never fails to be some informative step by step video clip to guide me through the task. I can even play an Elvis CD in the background whilst I work. All Free. Although I have contributed to KTL I wonder has YT run its course for you. Your filming compared to many ‘go pro’ sailing I have seen is without a doubt perfection. The commentary is great and the music and tranquillity your films offer I would say make you the envy of thousands of ( I want to go sailing but I’m still fixing up the boat on dry land) sailors. Here’s an idea – Have you ever considered an app , or even a pay per view web cam. How many people do you expect would drop in on the web cam to see how you’re doing. Does the ‘live’ feed worry you being such a perfectionist. I dread to think how much time you put into editing, To be honest I first found KTL and watched the Humber to Bridlington trip a few times over – because I wanted to do this myself this summer. I looked beyond the bird watching at Flamboro Head and the guy with the violin on the harbour and picked out the entry and exit strategy to the harbours, the berthing etc. You are if I may say a Video Almanac and I for one think you could make an extra shilling or two with an a-z library of ports and harbours around the UK. From your passage planning , to bouy hopping to entering a marina and the facilities they offer. I’m sure people would pay to download these from your app store. I for one would most definitely have the east coast from Wells to Whitby. Also if your website is getting the hits, why not let people advertise boats on there for a small fee. If your fed up , ready for about and head home with Keep Turning Right – Dylan Winter your video Almanac lol – Keep your chin up D

  35. 23 January, 2017 at 8:34 amdylan winter says:

    Les, do you mean the very last film – the short one shot on the Clyde – or the one hour film?

  36. 23 January, 2017 at 1:08 pmRichard Aston says:

    At my age there is no time left to be patient and I know you are not far behind me!

  37. 23 January, 2017 at 1:49 pmLes R says:

    Hi Dylan , The short one – when said about selling the boat and quitting. Would be so sad if you did.

  38. 23 January, 2017 at 2:48 pmdylan winter says:

    aha – I was worried you mean the one about Shetland. I still have lots of energy and enthusiam for sailing. The driving is fine. I can do that – it just costs an arm and a leg. Running a boat 400 miles from home is really expensive so I need to find a way of bringing the budget back into balance

    The shetland film was a great success and got more hits and was watched for more minutes in the first two weeks than any sailing film I have ever made. But it only got 120 paypal taps – netting around $600.

    I bought the Centaur to do the outer hebrides and around the outside of ireland but KTL has always been a hand to mouth operation. Centaurs are brilliant boats and are easy to sell and easy to buy and when I get the money flow re-established then I will quite possibly buy a third. But at the moment the tougher bits of the journey will have to go on hold for a while.

    Right now the Minstrel needs some money spent on it. Katie L needs an new outboard to replace the one that was nicked, the keel bolt needs replacing which will require some time in a yard cradle, she needs some electrics and the trailer is about to eat £1000 so the money released from selling the Centaur will allow me to keep on sailing.

    – It means that I will not get to the outer hebrides this year – or next – or the year after that. That will have to wait until the KTL budget is back in balance and I can buy a third Centaur (or something else) to do the rough wet stuff.

    I put the film up just on youtube rather than on here to remind the youtubist non tappers that I am burning real money to make the films and that they do not magically drop out of the ether.

    The film is buried down the website here

    http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/sailing-around-britain/ktl8-14-for-outraged-youtubists/

    strangely enough I have had some pretty stiff emails and comments from people who have been watching the films for years and who are outraged at my cheek at expecting them to chip in. The classic comment is “why the feck should I pay for your sailing when I have my own boat to pay for”

    On the bright side, this morning I got a real handwritten letter from an old bloke in Ireland containing a 20 euro note.

    So, as things stand the Centaur will be going up for sale at Easter and I will fix up the Minstrel and sail closer to home for a while. I have enough material in the can for maybe nine more one hour films which I will post through the coming year and then see where I stand.

  39. 23 January, 2017 at 5:42 pmLes R says:

    Hi Dylan, I’m not surprised at the stiff comments , you’ve been too soft from the beginning – dropping little hints about the cost of making KTL has fallen largely on deaf ears – because that’s the gentleman you are. The films are TV quality. I was an extra once in the Hollywood film Memphis Belle. I recall being told more footage ends up on the cutting room floor than in the film. I’m sure it was 12 hours filming for 2 minutes edited footage !! You’ve spoiled us all and its a shame you had to be so direct to get the penny to drop for some. I for one will continue to drip feed when I can. By the way , my wife bought me an amazon fire stick for Xmas, apart from the main stuff there’s lots of little amateur channels on there about fishing etc – Could this be an avenue for your own channel – getting back to the app idea ?? Good luck with it all Dylan , you are my inspiration for adventure.

  40. 23 January, 2017 at 6:14 pmdylan winter says:

    mine is probably closer to ten to one – I usually know what shots I am after – often it is a case of standing there trying to get 10 seconds of shots that are still enough to not make people seasick when watching a big telly.

    then it needs moving around, moving bits of sound from one place to another, mixing in the music etc. I enjoy doing it. I have always been driven to write stuff so the sripting is also nice. I love the feedback from you blokes too. I probably need to upgrade the camera to 4K – which is now available in a camera for about £600. Sp there are lots of good reasons to change things around and, as Julian Swarbrick says, “sweat the assets”. I cannot pretend that the idea of towing the Minstrel to the Irish sea fills me with happiness.

    Youtube is interesting in that it is so powerful that it pays almost nothing per minute for the material that is fed through its gaping maw and onto our screens.

    It is amazing – I now spend more time looking at youtube and iplayer than I do with live TV

    and when on youtube we all wear our “its all free” hats

    Occasionally I have to reach through that interface and remind the non tappers that real money on diesel and marina fees is being spent to make the films. Then still only a tiny number chip in. I reckon that last film has brought some old names out of the woodwork – blokes who were paying subsribers or who had bought DVds in the past. There are also quite a few new names as well. It says something though that you tappers are such an elite group that I recognise names. Among your number are a winston, a lancelot and an umberto.

  41. 24 January, 2017 at 10:19 amStephen Mundane says:

    https://youtu.be/bWxx-mq0b2k

    This gentleman’s heart-felt and amusing analysis pretty much sums-up where YouTube is heading.

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