Best non-stop trip back where you started.

[jimi]

I'm sure some non-stop rtw sailor will trump us all ;-) However after an abortive trip today when F5 dead on the nose and wind over tide was creating very uncomfortable motion before we turned and had a cracking sail back, I was minded of a trip last year when we almost sailed to Ramsgate ran out of tide 55 miles and 7 miles short with the wind dead on the nose (there's a theme here) so we turned round and had a great sail back. Who needs a destination anyway!

What was your most memorable non-stop trip to nowhere?

 

[LittleSister]

I had bought a Hurley 22 near Falmouth, and spent a week getting her fettled, launched and road tested, before heading off single-handed to deliver her to the Exe. I spent the the first night of the trip anchored off Gorran Haven, and the second alongside at Fowey.

On the third day I headed towards Plymouth, while the wind now headed briskly towards the Atlantic. It was hard going, and slow going. After very many hours I was in Whitesand Bay, almost there, but conditions were getting worse and worse. The dinghy I was towing filled with water, so I hove to and tried to pull it in to the stern, lean over and bale some of it out. I tired and stressed myself doing so, with its now very considerable weight crashing heavily into the transom of the Hurley. After a couple of near misses I realised I was in great danger of getting a hand or arm smashed, let alone serious damage to the Hurley, and I reluctantly cut my dinghy loose and abandoned it. ( I called the Coastguard to let them know.)

I was now completely exhausted and the tide had turned against me. I turned tail, and flew back in what seemed no time over the same route that had taken nearly all day in the other direction. I stopped outside Fowey to get my sails down (I was nervous of doing this in a confined space in an unfamiliar boat), but it was still quite boisterous, and I fell hard into the cockpit, splitting the laminated tiller.

I spent two or three days in Fowey, resting my aching muscles and bruises, and getting parts to fit an alternative tiller to the rudder stock.

I'd wasted days, put myself at risk, and lost a treasured dinghy, but I'd also learnt a lot.

 

[DJE]

I can't compete with those but I remember a sunny day with two primary school age kids on board. One was doing a geography project about Hengistbury Head. So we left Lymington on the last of the ebb and had a pleasant beat across Poole Bay. Then up and down under the Head - as close as we dare to the beach - getting the photos for the child's homework. Then cruising chute up and a cracking sail back to Lymington getting the new flood in through Hurst Narrows.

 

[LadyInBed]

My initial plan was to cross Poole – St PP then head West along French coast and South down the Raz. After several deliberations, I decided to do the other half of the square and head West to Salcombe then South to L’Aber Wrac’h.

I didn't make it, details here

 

[Uricanejack]

I bought an old C&C 24 for peanuts in 07. A project would be a nice description.

I entered the round island race (SSI) in 2007. My crew were my 11yr old son, 9 yr old daughter & a teddy bear. It was quite brisk at times and even though the wind died near the end We were back at SSI sailing club in under 12hrs. We were almost last.
Had a great time.
One of our best trips ever.

 

[webcraft]

.
Weds 13th September 2006 - Bayona - Bayona (31nm)

Set off just after 11 o'clock into a South-Easterly which rapidly picked up to over 20 knots - so much for the forecast. Put two reefs in the main and we were able to motor-sail reasonably comfortably only 20 degrees off our course of due S. The seas were growing all the time though, short steep little walls regularly sending sheets of solid water across the decks. It started to rain and the Musto jacket was dug out and pressed into service. Then it rained harder, and the Musto bottoms were donned. The windspeed continued to increase slowly, and we agreed that if it reached a steady 30 knots across the deck we would turn round and run back to Bayona. By quarter to three we were a couple of miles or so North of the Portuguese border, but the boat was now beginning to resemble a submarine for a substantial portion of the time and the wind was a steady 30+ knots over the deck, which with a boat speed of just four knots meant the top end of a F6. We turned the boat round and began to run back to Bayona at 6 knots under double-reefed main and no foresail.

Our sail plan worked well for an hour or so, and we had a pleasant enough high speed run - I stayed on the helm in torrential rain with the washboards in while Kathy made sandwiches down below. By now I was drenched and wearing my Henri Lloyd Ocean jacket, which I had definitely not expected to have to dig out again - but then the rain eased and Kathy took the helm while I dried off below. Back to within a couple of miles of the headland off Bayona the rain had stopped - but the seas were getting really big and steep and the wind was now a constant F7 with stronger gusts. We really needed to take the main down and run under a scrap of headsail, which would have given us a lot more control - but the thought of turning the boat head to wind in those seas then wrestling with the main on the bucking coachroof did not appeal, so we decided to hang on for the last couple of miles.

Kathy on the helm on the way back to Bayona

The wind now shifted slightly, meaning we had to gybe to clear the N. Cardinal off Cabo Silleiro - not an enticing prospect, so we went right round the other way and tacked. The seas were so steep that even though we started the manoevre doing seven knots the boat stalled in irons . . . but slowly paid off on the other tack eventually. When I gybed back I started the engine to help get her head round - by this time the headland was having the usual effect headlands do on waves, which were even steeper and more confused. Of course, we gybed back too soon, so had to repeat the manoevre twice more, each time with increasing difficulty. On the final approach to the point I was sufficiently concerned about the possiblility of a serious broach that I got Kathy to assist me into my harness from the companionway while I clung on to the tiller and clipped on. Finally we rounded the mark and could come up into wind a bit and reach across into calmer water.

When we rounded the breakwater the whole marina was rocking in 35 knot gusts. We tied up in the same spot and went for a wander along the pontoon to exchange experiences. Several other boats had also left and turned back, generally a bit sooner than us. All rated the conditions as thoroughly unpleasant on the way down, with an exhilarating run back. I made a vow that next time in similar circumstances I would definitely get the main down before we turned for the dead run back.

Invited for drinks on board a 50 ton Dutch gaffer, then for roast chicken and more drinking on board Kath. Paul and Gerry from the Irish boat Noble Warrior came on board and told interesting tales as a bottle of VAT69 was quaffed (amongst other refreshments). Very late to bed.

- W

 

[johnalison]

By definition, trips to nowhere are usually disasters. I can remember various abortive ventures, such as the first time we tried to beat down the wallet in a 22'er against a stiff noreaster and the tide. One that sticks out in my mind was on the day of the Queen's Silver Jubilee. It was blowing something like a gale and we had agreed to take friends out in our 26' Mystere from W Mersea. They were RC and so had lots of children, five, I think, plus our two.. We did actually sail for an hour or two and we all enjoyed it greatly, while I took cine film, now on DVD, before returning to their holiday house for the grown-ups to drink Champagne in honour of Her Maj.

 

[martyn78]

I had bought a Hurley 22 near Falmouth, and spent a week getting her fettled.

A week, a WEEK, good grief I bought a boat thirty years ago and I'm still fettling her (ok, I'm now on boat No. 3}.

 

[Zagato]

Many years ago with the boat hitched on, we departed home and drove along the A29 with the wind on the beam! I persevered with the boat wanting to swing about! The kids felt sea sick with the motion but coped and we launched the boat off the trailer to tie up on the pontoon. After immediately discovering a leak she was retrieved back onto the trailer after a lunch break for the return trip home. Ah well, it was a sunny day, the views were great over the South Downs and lunch on the boat watching the water ingress was exciting for the kids. No lobster pots to avoid this time, just pot holes...