Erik C
Well-Known Member
Fantastic thread Henry, thank you. Can anybody identify the three canard planes in the post above?
A long weekend on the boat.
- Thread starter henryf
- Start date
Vitesse
Well-Known Member
I believe they are Rutan designs. Long Eze, possibly.
henryf
Well-Known Member
They are Acroez built in France.
The display team were Patrouille Riva.
Good fun to watch.
Henry
The display team were Patrouille Riva.
Good fun to watch.
Henry
deuc02
Well-Known Member
Well wasn't that a good thread. Superb pics of some favourite haunts and all linked with some great narrative. Cheers Henry and crew.
talltim
Well-Known Member
+1
Once again thanks for an informative, inspiring thread and images
Once again thanks for an informative, inspiring thread and images
pks1702
Well-Known Member
Up there with the best this year Henry.
I know the time and effort this sort of thread takes hopefully the fact that it is appreciated by so many you will post another sometine.
Thanks again
I know the time and effort this sort of thread takes hopefully the fact that it is appreciated by so many you will post another sometine.
Thanks again
Quest
Well-Known Member
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
An truly epic thread and story Henry.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure. Stunning imagery throughout.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure. Stunning imagery throughout.
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
You were spied leaving Lymington today at lunchtime. I waved.
scubaman
Well-Known Member
deuc02
Well-Known Member
oGaryo
Well-Known Member
jac
Well-Known Member
Saw you approaching the town quay (we were smugly sat there!!) on sat evening.
Great thread Henry. Really enjoyed it.
Great thread Henry. Really enjoyed it.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
I am glad you enjoyed your visit, especially your comments about the wifi (that is one my personal achievements of the year)! However, it does amaze me that people come into Lymington on a Saturday night in August and expect to find a berth without having booked - you were VERY lucky!
Kicking myself a bit, because I was standing next to your boat this morning and the penny didnt drop ! Maybe next time ....
deuc02
Well-Known Member
Beyondhelp
Well-Known Member
Awesome thread. The even stranger thing is many of these areas I have also visited in the last month but only in my little Fletcher
henryf
Well-Known Member
Day 22 of our long weekend
Not really that much planned today other than weaving our way back to Haslar via a lunchtime pop into Cowes to check the old place is still there. It is a sad reflection on the event that we weren't including any motorboat racing in our plans. Many many years ago it was the August bank holiday Cowes powerboat racing which got me into boats. It became something of a ritual to meet up for the weekend get plastered, bail out a sinking boat with the beer cooler, wear a silly hat, make absolutely sure we really were plastered then somehow get back to the mainland. Seeing some of the less powerful race boats struggling to keep up with the Fast Cat ferry as it raced across the entrance to Cowes brought home just what a bit of kit they were and indeed still are.
We volunteered as a marshal boat for the practice sessions and as medical boat for the race it's self a couple of years ago when the Cowes Torquay race was supplemented by the Cowes Poole race. These days it's a pretty poor relation I'm afraid. Race starts in the middle of nowhere beyond the Needles and nothing happening on land at all. The only way you would know there was any racing going on were the RYA marshal flags on a few boats in Cowes Yacht haven, a lovely classic wooden boat that had just been lifted out of the water and put on a trailer, a few more powerful cruisers and some ex racers or pseudo racers with numbers on entering various harbours around the Solent.
Restricted in ability to manoeuvre. You're not kidding !
As my long weekend drew to a close I couldn't help feeling the same was happening for UK powerboat racing.
Lunch ashore in Cowes then a quick dash across the Solent back to Haslar. Opened up the taps in memory of the racing which used to take place. Saw just over 32 knots on the GPS.
Last note in the Log: 16.59 hrs. Safely secured on moorings in Haslar.
Not really that much planned today other than weaving our way back to Haslar via a lunchtime pop into Cowes to check the old place is still there. It is a sad reflection on the event that we weren't including any motorboat racing in our plans. Many many years ago it was the August bank holiday Cowes powerboat racing which got me into boats. It became something of a ritual to meet up for the weekend get plastered, bail out a sinking boat with the beer cooler, wear a silly hat, make absolutely sure we really were plastered then somehow get back to the mainland. Seeing some of the less powerful race boats struggling to keep up with the Fast Cat ferry as it raced across the entrance to Cowes brought home just what a bit of kit they were and indeed still are.
We volunteered as a marshal boat for the practice sessions and as medical boat for the race it's self a couple of years ago when the Cowes Torquay race was supplemented by the Cowes Poole race. These days it's a pretty poor relation I'm afraid. Race starts in the middle of nowhere beyond the Needles and nothing happening on land at all. The only way you would know there was any racing going on were the RYA marshal flags on a few boats in Cowes Yacht haven, a lovely classic wooden boat that had just been lifted out of the water and put on a trailer, a few more powerful cruisers and some ex racers or pseudo racers with numbers on entering various harbours around the Solent.
Restricted in ability to manoeuvre. You're not kidding !
As my long weekend drew to a close I couldn't help feeling the same was happening for UK powerboat racing.
Lunch ashore in Cowes then a quick dash across the Solent back to Haslar. Opened up the taps in memory of the racing which used to take place. Saw just over 32 knots on the GPS.
Last note in the Log: 16.59 hrs. Safely secured on moorings in Haslar.
Last edited:
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
You would never make a good spy..... "I waved"
henryf
Well-Known Member
Epilogue
Well it's been a truly wonderful 3 weeks and I could so easily carry it on but for the moment at least I have a daughter who needs to go to school and a couple of businesses which need nurturing although to be honest the chaps have done a cracking job whilst the boss has been away. In truth school is the limiting factor.
The great thing is that I don't see it as a journey ended but one just started. There is loads more to explore in all the places we visited. Nooks and crannies to discover, minor harbours and beauty spots, different eateries and attractions. We really only scratched the surface. We pushed our Westerly limits and saw 5 degrees longitude on the chart plotter for the first time. The logical next step is to carry on to the Scilly Isles and then round to North Cornwall and beyond. The trouble then of course is once heading in that direction you might as well keep going. Ireland is just across the water, Wales, the North West, Scotland…..
I don't see boating as just ticking off a list of places, I prefer to stay a while and soak them up. Time is always the enemy until you retire or semi retire and we did meet a few people along the way who live on their boats. I wouldn't find the transition difficult.
So what problems did we face and what went wrong?
It was interesting that moodyNick commented he was amazed people even consider coming to Lymington on a Saturday without a booking and that was my fear for the trip. We don't really plan ahead, the weather and our mood constantly re-arrange things. Thankfully everywhere other than it seems Lymington was most accommodating to the point where we were almost chastised for not visiting Falmouth during their regatta. We had assumed, like the Solent we would be laughed out of town when requesting somewhere to tie up or drop the hook. The reality was anything but.
We don't need full marina facilities. All we need is the ability to take on water every few days and there is always somewhere to do that tucked away. Even in Lymington on Saturday there were options if we were creative. Berthon was just an easy option if they had space. We visited Torquay and Fowey during their regatta weeks, Fowey in particular when the Red Arrows flew was rammed, but no one got turned away. Dartmouth was pretty much in regatta fever and we could have stayed had we wanted to. We are fortunate in being totally self sufficient. When away from umbilical connections everyone seized their opportunities to charge phones, laptops and iPads when the generator was running. Providing those things have power the world continues to function.
Our biggest fear was mechanical failure, I am happy to say the Princess 50 performed absolutely flawlessly. Engines didn't need a drop of oil and the only time the tool kit was opened was once to tighten a screw on a cupboard door. Total time 3 minutes including fetching the tool box. It is testament to Princess that in something as complex as our boat with so many systems it can run so well. We have a lot of equipment on board from navigational aids, ice maker, air conditioning and heating, cooking, dinghy, crane, anchors, motors, pumps, valves, lights and so on. Some things you could sacrifice but your propulsion is essential. The twin Cat C12 engines never changed a note unexpectedly. We do have an element of built in redundancy in things like dual fuel separators and indeed twin engines but thankfully never needed to use them.
Lobster pots were a constant worry and we saw a few which were diabolical in terms of location and the way they were marked. On virtually every leg we needed to make at least one course adjustment. I think this rules out night time passage making sadly on all but the brightest evenings. Some pots were just under the surface - close in at Portland Bill beware, others so small as to be invisible. When properly marked with a flagged buoy there were no issues at all. I know all the arguments, it's a handful of often amateurs who cause the problems with professional teams marking properly but unless something is done to solve this issue I can see campaigns to boycott their catch. As it is the lifeboat crews are picking up the tab and life is at risk.
Having made the trip what would I change about the boat? Not much is the answer, were water less available I would consider a water maker and I suppose affordable high speed satellite internet would be nice. I can see this as being the next must have in the next few years and prices will tumble. We boaters are not the only ones who use it so a certain scale of economy exists.
A few stats from the trip:
Total distance travelled 454 nautical miles, 522 statute miles, 840 kms
Total engine time 35.6 hours
Total generator time 48 hours
Fastest speed 32.1 knots
Most unusual thing purchased - a rubber breast complete with nipple
Best thing purchased - fudge
Most relieved to purchase - a pair of shorts
Furthest point from departure 155 nautical miles
Start 50 47' 390 N 001 07' 122 W
Furthest point 50 09' 240 N 005 03' 913 W
The real star of the show, Emily Jo - Princess 50 mk III flybridge
Thanks for all the kind comments. I will try to answer any questions you might have.
Henry
Well it's been a truly wonderful 3 weeks and I could so easily carry it on but for the moment at least I have a daughter who needs to go to school and a couple of businesses which need nurturing although to be honest the chaps have done a cracking job whilst the boss has been away. In truth school is the limiting factor.
The great thing is that I don't see it as a journey ended but one just started. There is loads more to explore in all the places we visited. Nooks and crannies to discover, minor harbours and beauty spots, different eateries and attractions. We really only scratched the surface. We pushed our Westerly limits and saw 5 degrees longitude on the chart plotter for the first time. The logical next step is to carry on to the Scilly Isles and then round to North Cornwall and beyond. The trouble then of course is once heading in that direction you might as well keep going. Ireland is just across the water, Wales, the North West, Scotland…..
I don't see boating as just ticking off a list of places, I prefer to stay a while and soak them up. Time is always the enemy until you retire or semi retire and we did meet a few people along the way who live on their boats. I wouldn't find the transition difficult.
So what problems did we face and what went wrong?
It was interesting that moodyNick commented he was amazed people even consider coming to Lymington on a Saturday without a booking and that was my fear for the trip. We don't really plan ahead, the weather and our mood constantly re-arrange things. Thankfully everywhere other than it seems Lymington was most accommodating to the point where we were almost chastised for not visiting Falmouth during their regatta. We had assumed, like the Solent we would be laughed out of town when requesting somewhere to tie up or drop the hook. The reality was anything but.
We don't need full marina facilities. All we need is the ability to take on water every few days and there is always somewhere to do that tucked away. Even in Lymington on Saturday there were options if we were creative. Berthon was just an easy option if they had space. We visited Torquay and Fowey during their regatta weeks, Fowey in particular when the Red Arrows flew was rammed, but no one got turned away. Dartmouth was pretty much in regatta fever and we could have stayed had we wanted to. We are fortunate in being totally self sufficient. When away from umbilical connections everyone seized their opportunities to charge phones, laptops and iPads when the generator was running. Providing those things have power the world continues to function.
Our biggest fear was mechanical failure, I am happy to say the Princess 50 performed absolutely flawlessly. Engines didn't need a drop of oil and the only time the tool kit was opened was once to tighten a screw on a cupboard door. Total time 3 minutes including fetching the tool box. It is testament to Princess that in something as complex as our boat with so many systems it can run so well. We have a lot of equipment on board from navigational aids, ice maker, air conditioning and heating, cooking, dinghy, crane, anchors, motors, pumps, valves, lights and so on. Some things you could sacrifice but your propulsion is essential. The twin Cat C12 engines never changed a note unexpectedly. We do have an element of built in redundancy in things like dual fuel separators and indeed twin engines but thankfully never needed to use them.
Lobster pots were a constant worry and we saw a few which were diabolical in terms of location and the way they were marked. On virtually every leg we needed to make at least one course adjustment. I think this rules out night time passage making sadly on all but the brightest evenings. Some pots were just under the surface - close in at Portland Bill beware, others so small as to be invisible. When properly marked with a flagged buoy there were no issues at all. I know all the arguments, it's a handful of often amateurs who cause the problems with professional teams marking properly but unless something is done to solve this issue I can see campaigns to boycott their catch. As it is the lifeboat crews are picking up the tab and life is at risk.
Having made the trip what would I change about the boat? Not much is the answer, were water less available I would consider a water maker and I suppose affordable high speed satellite internet would be nice. I can see this as being the next must have in the next few years and prices will tumble. We boaters are not the only ones who use it so a certain scale of economy exists.
A few stats from the trip:
Total distance travelled 454 nautical miles, 522 statute miles, 840 kms
Total engine time 35.6 hours
Total generator time 48 hours
Fastest speed 32.1 knots
Most unusual thing purchased - a rubber breast complete with nipple
Best thing purchased - fudge
Most relieved to purchase - a pair of shorts
Furthest point from departure 155 nautical miles
Start 50 47' 390 N 001 07' 122 W
Furthest point 50 09' 240 N 005 03' 913 W
The real star of the show, Emily Jo - Princess 50 mk III flybridge
Thanks for all the kind comments. I will try to answer any questions you might have.
Henry
Last edited:
LionsDen
Well-Known Member
Henry - Truly well written and a fantastic and enjoyable read.
John - We look forward to reading MatchII's Med Trip Repotoir in due course - No pressure btw - Terry
John - We look forward to reading MatchII's Med Trip Repotoir in due course - No pressure btw - Terry
Other threads that may be of interest
