AIS contacts in Western Approaches

[Derek ide]

In my infinite boredom this morning I see a large number of yachts approaching the English Channel on my AIS vessel finder app.
What event is returning to the UK? Or is my app playing up. I recognise the names of some of the boats and they seem to be sailing fast at this time.

 

[Iliade]

Not showing up for me:

 

[Talulah]

Not showing up for me:
View attachment 88852

The OP image is further West. Having said that I can’t see them on boat watch but I don’t have a full subscription.

 

[dom]

Not showing for me either. But I looked at it this morning and the OP is not mistaken, there were indeed about 30 boats. I clicked on a few of them, recognized a few names, but there were no images of any of the vessels. Thought it was perhaps some French race I'd missed.

Odd

 

[[70521]]

The Ocean Cruising Club and others have been organising lots of boats returning from the Caribbean as things are a tad difficult over there. I have a friend who has crossed from Cuba to the Azores and is now heading back the to the UK.

 

[geem]

The Ocean Cruising Club and others have been organising lots of boats returning from the Caribbean as things are a tad difficult over there. I have a friend who has crossed from Cuba to the Azores and is now heading back the to the UK.

The OCC isn't organising boats returning but it has put a list together of over 100 boats interesting in returning to Europe. The vast majority of these boats, me included, haven't set off yet from the Caribbean. The best month for departure is May so many will be starting the trip in the next week or two. There is no OCC rally but there will be an SSB radio net extended to any boat, not just OCC boats. The boats on the list are not just OCC boats. Almost all of these boats have expressed a desire to stop for fuel, provisions and rest in the Azores before carrying on to the UK or other destinations in Europe. How well received we will be in the Azores is yet to be determined. We understand that we can anchor but not go ashore. We can get fuel and provisions but how long we will be able to stay is not clear. Most of the boats on the list are 40-50ft long but there are some exceptions. We know of three boats that are smaller. A Vancouver 28, a Moody 33 and a Westerly 33. All these guys are singlehanders

 

[[70521]]

The OCC isn't organising boats returning but it has put a list together of over 100 boats interesting in returning to Europe. The vast majority of these boats, me included, haven't set off yet from the Caribbean. The best month for departure is May so many will be starting the trip in the next week or two. There is no OCC rally but there will be an SSB radio net extended to any boat, not just OCC boats. The boats on the list are not just OCC boats. Almost all of these boats have expressed a desire to stop for fuel, provisions and rest in the Azores before carrying on to the UK or other destinations in Europe. How well received we will be in the Azores is yet to be determined. We understand that we can anchor but not go ashore. We can get fuel and provisions but how long we will be able to stay is not clear. Most of the boats on the list are 40-50ft long but there are some exceptions. We know of three boats that are smaller. A Vancouver 28, a Moody 33 and a Westerly 33. All these guys are singlehanders

Thanks for the clarification, in my head a list is organising.

My friends were able to go ashore shop and refuel then back on the boat, but with a much larger fleet heading back that might change. They are now on passage to the UK.

Have a safe trip back.

 

[kacecar]

FWIW, here is my recent experience in the locked-down Azores.

I was on a boat that crossed from the Carribean to the UK during March and April. We set off pre-lockdown (6th March) and arrived in the Azores about 18 days later. Clearly, we were virus free but I think we suffered by being one of the first boats to arrive post lock-down so, under rushed legislation, no-one was sure how to treat an exception. Clearly, things might have improved by now.

In Horta we were initially waved away from the fuel dock by a policeman but, after a night at anchor in the harbour, negotiated successfully for fuel (a pressing need at the time). Other yachts had arrived just before us and were in the marina but subject to a 14 day quarantine. Groceries etc were being delivered to a barrier on the quay but under quarantine conditions (those delivering stuff wearing hazmat suits, those receiving goods unable to approach the barrier until those delivering it had backed off, payment only possible by card).

We also needed to stop in Punta Delgada for the collection of spares and pre-arranged provisions. Here the local marina staff were very helpful, but they were seriously constrained by the regulations. We weren't allowed into the harbour and had to anchor about a mile east, in an area exposed to swell and to any wind with a bit of south in it. We had to dinghy in to pick up the stuff (several trips, in a somewhat uncomfortable swell). On landing the local staff (no hazmat suits this time) were under instruction not to come near us and wouldn't even take the dinghy lines.

All's well that ends well. We got back to the UK safely, said our goodbyes while still on the boat and started implementing "social distancing" at the head of the jetty.