eastcoastbernie
Well-Known Member
Hi all. Just reporting our safe return to Suffolk Yacht Harbour in the unlikely event that anyone is at all bothered.
Our outwardbound trip was a very disappointing 19 hours due mostly to us getting stuck in 'the Bermuda Triangle'. Have still not worked out why we found ourselves completely disorientated with the compass reading at least 30 degrees different from the chartplotter and our log reading only 2 knots inspite of the engine running at sufficient revs to give us 5 to 6 knots. Anyhow, we finally broke lose from whatever net Neptune had shot and we arrived at Ostend on Friday afternoon. Welcoming party included the Full Circles, the Morganas, Sirenia, D3B, Sailorman and the Sixpences.
Robert arrived quickly thereafter and seemed very happy with PG Tips, I wonder how many packets of tea he ended up with? Went off to find Revolution and was treated to a guided tour.
The Moodysabres and the Jomos arrived and moored up on either side of us. Then off with my crew for a beer and a bite to eat.
Excellent meal with Centaurpipedream and Flipper on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, wallked around Ostend voor Anker in brilliant sunshine before more beers and informal meet up with Mr and Mrs Full Circle at lunchtime.
Entertained Sirenia on board briefly before meeting up for a team barbeque in a very posh Irish pub. Didn't stay long because I wanted to get up early on Sunday morning so we could complete our passage in daylight hours. Crew had other ideas and stayed up all night boozing.
Left around 0500 or 0530 or something on Sunday. Exit was rather untidy, so glad I chose to leave early as Robert wasn't around to see it. Slight cause for concern when the echo sounder did nothing when turned on, but turning it off and then on again seemed to fix the problem.
Carried full sail as the wind was light at that time of the morning. Sea was quite lumpy with significant swell. Then wind dropped for a bit and we had to motor. Started to rain. We got very wet. Wind got up, starting as a close fetch and gradually coming round to a beam reach. Wind continued to increase but my wind instruments were reading rubbish so not sure what it was. However, Alan (CentaurPD) was impressed to see the log reading six, seven and eight knots. Not bad for a 26 foot cruiser.
Hardly saw any other boats and none of the big ships gave us cause for concern. Revolution passed us at the entrance to the Orwell. By this time we had taken down the sails. We were just about to turn onto a Westerly course into the Orwell at the Northern End of Cork Sands when we'd spotted a dark sky ahead. Knowing we were already overcanvassed for the conditions, I decided to motor the last bit rather than face a wild gybing course parallel to the main shipping channel. In hindsight, we could have easily continued to carry the jib, but we were all tired by now and couldn't be bothered (hanked on sails).
Darkness fell as we continued our progress up river and SYH was in complete darkness and at low water by the time we arrived. However, managed to get in and tied up safely without hitting anything. Had managed to shave around 3 hours off our outwardbound time.
My thanks to The Dream Team, Alan and Patrick, who were 'Beyond Expectation'. What a great weekend. Good luck and best wishes to Alan in the Jester Challenge.
I have a few pics but can't remember how to post them.
Our outwardbound trip was a very disappointing 19 hours due mostly to us getting stuck in 'the Bermuda Triangle'. Have still not worked out why we found ourselves completely disorientated with the compass reading at least 30 degrees different from the chartplotter and our log reading only 2 knots inspite of the engine running at sufficient revs to give us 5 to 6 knots. Anyhow, we finally broke lose from whatever net Neptune had shot and we arrived at Ostend on Friday afternoon. Welcoming party included the Full Circles, the Morganas, Sirenia, D3B, Sailorman and the Sixpences.
Robert arrived quickly thereafter and seemed very happy with PG Tips, I wonder how many packets of tea he ended up with? Went off to find Revolution and was treated to a guided tour.
The Moodysabres and the Jomos arrived and moored up on either side of us. Then off with my crew for a beer and a bite to eat.
Excellent meal with Centaurpipedream and Flipper on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, wallked around Ostend voor Anker in brilliant sunshine before more beers and informal meet up with Mr and Mrs Full Circle at lunchtime.
Entertained Sirenia on board briefly before meeting up for a team barbeque in a very posh Irish pub. Didn't stay long because I wanted to get up early on Sunday morning so we could complete our passage in daylight hours. Crew had other ideas and stayed up all night boozing.
Left around 0500 or 0530 or something on Sunday. Exit was rather untidy, so glad I chose to leave early as Robert wasn't around to see it. Slight cause for concern when the echo sounder did nothing when turned on, but turning it off and then on again seemed to fix the problem.
Carried full sail as the wind was light at that time of the morning. Sea was quite lumpy with significant swell. Then wind dropped for a bit and we had to motor. Started to rain. We got very wet. Wind got up, starting as a close fetch and gradually coming round to a beam reach. Wind continued to increase but my wind instruments were reading rubbish so not sure what it was. However, Alan (CentaurPD) was impressed to see the log reading six, seven and eight knots. Not bad for a 26 foot cruiser.
Hardly saw any other boats and none of the big ships gave us cause for concern. Revolution passed us at the entrance to the Orwell. By this time we had taken down the sails. We were just about to turn onto a Westerly course into the Orwell at the Northern End of Cork Sands when we'd spotted a dark sky ahead. Knowing we were already overcanvassed for the conditions, I decided to motor the last bit rather than face a wild gybing course parallel to the main shipping channel. In hindsight, we could have easily continued to carry the jib, but we were all tired by now and couldn't be bothered (hanked on sails).
Darkness fell as we continued our progress up river and SYH was in complete darkness and at low water by the time we arrived. However, managed to get in and tied up safely without hitting anything. Had managed to shave around 3 hours off our outwardbound time.
My thanks to The Dream Team, Alan and Patrick, who were 'Beyond Expectation'. What a great weekend. Good luck and best wishes to Alan in the Jester Challenge.
I have a few pics but can't remember how to post them.
