Answering back

[SP2]

Thames Coastguard's Maritime Safety Broadcast during the afternoon of Saturday repeated the early morning forecast of SW wind at 20 knots. This prompted an immediate call to them pointing out that the caller had 40 knots over the deck. Medway Ports were calling 35 knots at Garrison Point for much of the day!

What is the point of repeating a forecast that was plainly wrong when it was issued (by 03.00 hrs it was already blowing F5-6)?

Meanwhile the lifeboats had three calls just for the Thames/Medway by 09.00 and distress was the order of the day.

We bounced about in the most sheltered anchorage we could find in Sharfleet Creek until 16.00 Saturday before throwing in the towel in favour of the showers at Chatham Maritime.

Hope the rest of you had a better time. Mike

 

[rickp]

We had a lovely trip over to Weymouth on the Friday evening. Left Chichester around 6pm. We had thought about anchoring up for the night, but after hearing the strong wind warnings as we passed the Needles, decided to press on. Sea was very flat once around St Albans head and the sunset was gorgeous. Saw 'Lady In Red' not far from Anvil Point, on his way over to Cherbourg - hope Nigel had a safe trip in the forecast winds.

We were rafted up alongside the previous owner of Mucky Farter, it seemed. Has a 43' Fairline now. He was complaining of a vibration when under way, so we got the underwater video camera out and found some rope around his starboard prop. Couldn't find a diver willing to de-rope the prop even though weymouth is chock full of them, so I ended up doning the wetsuit and doing it. Its still pretty chilly in there at the moment!

We stayed in Weymouth until Monday, came back via Lulworth where we had a pleasant brunch. Chichester harbour entrance looked like it might be chaos, but all the dinghies seemed to be tacking early, leaving a clear channel for the rest of us to potter up. We found a small sailboat aground halfway up the Emmsworth channel - tried to help but it was too shallow for us to get close enough, despite using our long warps. We asked a small speed boat to give them assistance and it looked like they got them off okay.

So despite the weather, we had a great weekend /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rick

 

[duncan]

Glad you had a good trip Rick - and yet that sunset was wonderfull. The picture a little later was eirie with the sun dipping behind the headland giving crystal clear sillohettes of the ledge but slightly swirling less defined at water level.

Don't know how we missed you (litterally) as we were anchored up exactly 2 miles off the mile markers at Anvil Point which looks like it was pretty much where you took your photo! Could have let you have a nice skate or some mackerel for tea.....

Saturday's weather was so **** I cleaned up the boat from fishing and headed home in disgust.

Catch you later

 

[rickp]

Think the photo was taken a bit further around, closer to Weymouth. Still, I never thought to give you a shout to see if you were out! Would have loved some fresh fish..

How late did you stay out? Our original plan (until we'd seen the weather forecasts!) had been to anchor somewhere because I didn't think we'd make Weymouth in daylight and I'm a bit wary of pot markers around St Albans and knew the moon wasn't up until pretty late. As it was, the kids were refreshingly organised and we did the home->Chichester in record time.

Did you see Lady in Red at all? I guess we passed Nigel around 8:15ish. First time I've seen him since the Weymouth meet last year.

Rick

 

[duncan]

we were anchored out there from just before slack (1900h?) untill well into the flood and getting dark (2130h?) - got back to the berth at 2245h.

didn't see Nigel - and he probably wouldn't have recognised Phaeton anyway! Only boats we saw was Beowulf, dive boat, heading out to St Albans ledge for the slack, then back in again - but he ran 2500m inside us on both occasions - and a largish coaster coming in from the South.

Heading back down tonight until the end of the holiday.

 

[rickp]

Oh - not sure how we missed you then. Enjoy the rest of the week anyway.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[oldgit]

Medway Barge Match.

Mind you it did make the two leading barges fly along around Folly Pt.
Never seen them move so fast in any previous race.