An eventful journey from Southampton to Chatham

Bristolfashion said:
I think it's great when people share their experiences - a great way to learn.

We need to be able to discuss and critique* various plans without becoming vicious & personal.

Of course, by critique I mean praise, comment and/or suggest alternatives - not just tell people they're wrong!
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Yes but that sort of thread would exclude me because I never ever make mistakes so it would be a bit unfair on perfect sailors like wot I is.
 
Concerto said:
No one is allowed to enter Dover harbour under sail, so this would never be an option.
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That is correct by the port regulations but I have found Dover to be very flexible and helpful as long as they are not busy with commercial traffic especially if using the West entrance. My take is merely that it would be worth a try in order to resolve the problem. At silly O'clock in the morning I reckon they would wave you in if the conditions were right.
 
Concerto said:
There is no fuel guage fitted, to check the tank I have to dip it as described before. Before I left Chatham I filled the tank and that would usually last me a number of months. The light winds leaving Chatham meant I motored most of the way to Southampton. Whilst at the boat show everyday, I returned feeling very tired after being on my feet most of every day and the 20 minute walk each way to the berth in Ocean Village. My FitBit showed between 15,000 and 22,000 steps every day.

Personally I do not consider a trip between Chatham and the Solent a major trip. I have done it so many times over the decades, it is more like a bus ride. On Sunday I finally got back onboard, after helping pack the stand away, just before 7. Cooking a meal, checking the navigation, tidying the boat ready for sea, filling the water tank, etc. were the most important. Then off to bed to be up at 4.30. There are no fuel facilities at Ocean Village, but there is a fuel berth in the Itchen, but it is closed at weekends and does not open until 8am. It was not possible to fill the tank during show or as I left. I had planned to fill up in Dover and expected to get there with what was in the tank.

Just thinking about it over the past decade, I cannot think of anywhere I have used in the Solent to fill up with diesel. Certainly used Brighton and Eastbourne, but never Ramsgate.
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Concerto said:
With a number of posters now complaining about not keeping a watch, I have left them to put their points of view as it is a forum for all opinions. However I now make the observation they are in the minority. My original post has now had 31 likes, which must show what I did has been respected by a large number of other sailors. When I go sailing I like to push limits to sail longer, faster, and visiting new places. Of those complaining, only 1 do know personally, and the others just hide behind their forum name and do not fill out any details on their about me page. What have you got to hide? Why not tell us about your sailing experiences and your mistakes. Or are you just armchair sailors? I await you replies so we can all then assess how you sail and can be critised in the way you have attacked me.
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Apologies. Responded to the wrong poster.
 
Biggles Wader said:
That is correct by the port regulations but I have found Dover to be very flexible and helpful as long as they are not busy with commercial traffic especially if using the West entrance. My take is merely that it would be worth a try in order to resolve the problem. At silly O'clock in the morning I reckon they would wave you in if the conditions were right.
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Sorry you are still wrong as they is no anchorage in Dover Harbour and has not been since they started building the new marina.
 
I'm there regularly and there are boats anchored in the outer harbour quite often, mostly just for a few hours. But I'm not trying to tell anyone what they should do, just suggesting something I might have looked into in the circumstances. Others will have a different take and good for them. That's what a forum is for.
 
capnsensible said:
I've read every comment. I agree with some, disagree with others. Fair one.

All I can say now is that's there's them what do and them what talks.....

Let's hope all your decisions at sea have a happy ending like the op.
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You seem to be insinuating that anyone who says anything against the grain of the OP in this thread are folk who just talk and never sail/have much experience. Do you know them? Or are you just making assumptions? From reading your respective posts on here, I would say that you are far more experienced than concerto, which makes his own claim that he is far more experienced than most on here dubious, at best.
Forums rely on people sharing info, discussing ideas and telling stories, so I dont understand why folk would think that any particular posts above critique and everyone should shut up and be grateful they bothered.
Its a forum, not a fan club.
 
Concerto said:
With a number of posters now complaining about not keeping a watch, I have left them to put their points of view as it is a forum for all opinions. However I now make the observation they are in the minority. My original post has now had 31 likes, which must show what I did has been respected by a large number of other sailors. When I go sailing I like to push limits to sail longer, faster, and visiting new places. Of those complaining, only 1 do know personally, and the others just hide behind their forum name and do not fill out any details on their about me page. What have you got to hide? Why not tell us about your sailing experiences and your mistakes. Or are you just armchair sailors? I await you replies so we can all then assess how you sail and can be critised in the way you have attacked me.
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That just sounds like a childish braggart now. And rather silly logic.
I use my own name you will notice. I haven’t posted because it had already been said, so its possible others had the same opinion?
For the absence of doubt, I did a double take when I read your account. Its not making mistakes, we all do that.( I’ve run out of diesel myself crossing from ramsgate to burnham on crouch, in the middle of a shipping lane, in fog! ) I personally think you were daft going to sleep like that, where you were. I have sailed it, its quiet, but its not empty, I think you were pushing your luck, not your limits.

But thats your call, no need to get petty when others question it however.

You’ll find my details are easily accessible, I rate myself as a constant beginner, and a lot of my sailing experiences and my screw ups have been on record here for years :)
 
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steve yates said:
You seem to be insinuating that anyone who says anything against the grain of the OP in this thread are folk who just talk and never sail/have much experience. Do you know them? Or are you just making assumptions? From reading your respective posts on here, I would say that you are far more experienced than concerto, which makes his own claim that he is far more experienced than most on here dubious, at best.
Forums rely on people sharing info, discussing ideas and telling stories, so I dont understand why folk would think that any particular posts above critique and everyone should shut up and be grateful they bothered.
Its a forum, not a fan club.
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I think you hit the nail on the head. Too many posters 'seem', 'insinuating' and very much misrepresenting what people have said. Assumptions. Typical forum.....and as I said, so be it.
 
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
 
capnsensible said:
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
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Oh, give me a break! We are talking about cruising sailors on the south coast of England, not solo sailors tackling the Golden Globe…
 
The great thing about Roger’s posts of his trips on Concerto is it always promotes discussion. It’s not what I would have done but I no single handed yachtsman but I respect his sharing the journey and that has led to useful exchange. We always carry a spare 20 white litres and sometimes 2 cans at 40 litres . That said I know of delivery crews bring boats like ours back through the kiel canal who have run out on route due to lack of wind and being towed into hamble point. What I don’t know is why when leaving OV concerto didn’t hop round to Haslar on Sunday evening for a night at the creek with chance to to self fuel at Gosport marina before setting off in morning (and probably 2 hours further along route ) ?
 
ashtead said:
...
What I don’t know is why when leaving OV concerto didn’t hop round to Haslar on Sunday evening for a night at the creek with chance to to self fuel at Gosport marina before setting off in morning (and probably 2 hours further along route ) ?
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Or fuel at Port Hamble, or Cowes x 2, or passing Brighton, or Eastbourne. Plenty of refuelling options but the fact is that he didn't think of it. Don't believe this thread has brought out the best in people. Not an edifying read.
 
Roger is a brave man. There is no way I’d share my recent week away sailing, it was lively to say the least. In my defence I did not manage to run out of fuel but there was no way I could have filmed any of it. Some of which may well have been worthy of wild criticism. Would have certainly provided some much needed humour. 😀
Steveeasy
 
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