jimh
New member
to all at MBC (forumites?) for all the tips, advice and stories which ultimately prompted me to undertake my delivery trip unaided - and of course swmbo. An experience I shall never forget for one, but most importantly for all that I HAD to learn and conquer - which on reflection may have taken me month's from my home berth on the Orwell.
Took delivery on Friday afternoon at Port Hamble, full of anticipation and eagerness, also eager for the commissioning guy to finish the hand over and finally walk away leaving me on MY boat, a process which took well into Friday evening (largely due to a snapped key in the sliding cabin door - doh!)
Finally finished unloading the car (car still in Southampton!!) and getting everthing stowed, bed made etc at around midnight and going to sleep with a SW 2-3, slight sea forcast for Saturday - EXCELLENT!!
True to the forcast, Saturday morning came with not a breath to care about - exept some mist, hmm - ok. Set off for Brighton at around 11 am - passing Calshot, through the Forts and then through the Looe channel all going fine - spotted some either large dolphins or small whales ?? and then the mist turned to fog - quick crash course with the radar and cut the speed and made the yellow buoy off Brighton marina at around 4pm. First jangle of nerves - entering a strange marina, in the fog, never berthing this boat before - happily all went to plan - berthed up on pontoon 10, paid my fee and still made the 5.30 kick off in the pub!!
So where exactly did that wind come from Sunday?? Departed Brighton at 10 am, with a N / NE 4/5 which was still slight off the south coast but hadn't shifted the fog - in fact off hastings positively dense. By now completley familiar with the radar but still down to around 15 knots praying that it would clear. Sure enough the fog cleared - cleared enough for me to see the 5 feet swell coming down the dover strait off dunginess - also keeping me at 15 knots.
Finally made Ramsgate at around 4pm to a glorious afternoon - flat seas and a beautiful blue sky and decided to push on all the way to Harwich (mouth of the Orwell) only thing was I was just approaching 1/4 tank so decided I should refuel before before proceding.
This was where the major balls up came - firstly entered the harbour without prior permission??, and secondly went to the breakwater wall looking for the fuel barge (according to my pilot notes this is where it should have been !!) All of this made that much more enjoyable by the diesel 'geezer' informing me of the error of my ways.
Anyway (nearing the end now), crossed the Thames estuary in now fading light lovely and smooth, 24 knots right until I coud see the cranes of Harwich harbour when all of sudden bam - slop! - that's my best description, horrible seas, 6 knots!! and still 12 miles to the comfort of Harwich harbour and my next worse nightmare - a night passage up to my berth at woolvestone - another 6 miles !! Fortunatley a well lit channel and a well lit marina..
best of all, no real panic from either me or swmbo and definitley no panic from the boat - she handled like a dream.
thanks again all....
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Took delivery on Friday afternoon at Port Hamble, full of anticipation and eagerness, also eager for the commissioning guy to finish the hand over and finally walk away leaving me on MY boat, a process which took well into Friday evening (largely due to a snapped key in the sliding cabin door - doh!)
Finally finished unloading the car (car still in Southampton!!) and getting everthing stowed, bed made etc at around midnight and going to sleep with a SW 2-3, slight sea forcast for Saturday - EXCELLENT!!
True to the forcast, Saturday morning came with not a breath to care about - exept some mist, hmm - ok. Set off for Brighton at around 11 am - passing Calshot, through the Forts and then through the Looe channel all going fine - spotted some either large dolphins or small whales ?? and then the mist turned to fog - quick crash course with the radar and cut the speed and made the yellow buoy off Brighton marina at around 4pm. First jangle of nerves - entering a strange marina, in the fog, never berthing this boat before - happily all went to plan - berthed up on pontoon 10, paid my fee and still made the 5.30 kick off in the pub!!
So where exactly did that wind come from Sunday?? Departed Brighton at 10 am, with a N / NE 4/5 which was still slight off the south coast but hadn't shifted the fog - in fact off hastings positively dense. By now completley familiar with the radar but still down to around 15 knots praying that it would clear. Sure enough the fog cleared - cleared enough for me to see the 5 feet swell coming down the dover strait off dunginess - also keeping me at 15 knots.
Finally made Ramsgate at around 4pm to a glorious afternoon - flat seas and a beautiful blue sky and decided to push on all the way to Harwich (mouth of the Orwell) only thing was I was just approaching 1/4 tank so decided I should refuel before before proceding.
This was where the major balls up came - firstly entered the harbour without prior permission??, and secondly went to the breakwater wall looking for the fuel barge (according to my pilot notes this is where it should have been !!) All of this made that much more enjoyable by the diesel 'geezer' informing me of the error of my ways.
Anyway (nearing the end now), crossed the Thames estuary in now fading light lovely and smooth, 24 knots right until I coud see the cranes of Harwich harbour when all of sudden bam - slop! - that's my best description, horrible seas, 6 knots!! and still 12 miles to the comfort of Harwich harbour and my next worse nightmare - a night passage up to my berth at woolvestone - another 6 miles !! Fortunatley a well lit channel and a well lit marina..
best of all, no real panic from either me or swmbo and definitley no panic from the boat - she handled like a dream.
thanks again all....
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