Recently some friends and I sailed our Beaufort Dinghy Bluebird in St Tudwalds Roads in North Wales near Abersoch.

We sailed with a reef in the main and a small jib in a fresh northerly breeze, close to the mainland shore checking for future landing places. We found nothing of interest along the rocky shore between Penfhyn and Trwyn yr Wylfa. It was very pleasant, swishing along on the south going waves with the sun glinting on the water.

It was time to return to Abersoch for tea. We came about and started the long beat back up the half mile wide sound between St Tudwalds Island West and the mainland. After tacking for about half an hour we realised that we were not making much progress to windward. The moderate seas were an awkward distance apart. As the bows lifted through one wave, they came down with a splat into the next one that all but stopped us. Only by coming further off the wind were we able to make headway through the water.

The combination of an ebb tide, short seas and reefed sails were slowing us down to such an extent that we would be sitting down to a very late tea. We decided to shake out the reef so heaved to, with Debrah setting about the dozen or so reefing points. I untied the tack and clew lashings after taking up the slack on the topping lift.

Soon things started to go wrong. The ebb was taking us towards the cliffs of West Island. Having untied the lashings I could see that one of the reef points was still tied and that the whole pressure of the wind was on it. I should have opened my knife and cut it but instead lunged at it with my teeth. I was lucky not to finish up with an urchin type gap in my smile, but it worked and in a trice we had full sail. Jeff jerked his head towards the cliffs which were now looming large. At the angle we were making with the wind we had no choice but to head straight for the cliffs. As soon as we were making enough speed Jeff went about onto the starboard tack. Three pairs of eyes stared at the transom as it swung past a foaming rock.

Under full sail Bluebird accelerated away from the island. She had her sleeves rolled up now and was punishing the seas, with spray flying up and away to leeward as she surged along with the crew sitting out. A couple or three tack later and we were on the beach at Abersoch.

I tell this little tale in order to make the following suggestions that may be worth consideration by those, who like yours truly, do most of their sailing round a reservoir in a racing dinghy.

1. If your boat is fitted with reefing points, make sure they are undone first before touching the lashings. 2. Adjustments to your boat at sea, that require a little time and some dexterity, should be carried out at a comfortable distance from hazards. 3. If you have not already done so, it might be a good idea to practise reefing down in mild weather in a safe spot. Then observe any changes in your boats performance.