rickp
Well-Known Member
We didn't have the best of weather for our summer trip - so it turned into a tour of the south coast fireworks. We started on Friday night with the Cowes week fireworks. Managed to get away promptly from Chichester and anchored in the Beaulieu river - to avoid the post-firework chaos.
All the lights along the bottom are the anchored boats. Within minutes of the last firework - they were a mass of green and red as boats headed in all directions.
Then onto Swanage where we saw Hurricane, Geoffs and these two:
Col had come alongside earlier having slogged back from the Channel Islands (I think), then we all moved inshore a bit more for the firworks:
We overnighted at Swanage along with Col and Geoffs and on Sunday we headed west past St Albans Head and Portland Bill towards Brixham. Sea was pretty flat - and with our daughter on the helm I was able to keep one eye on the helm and one on the TV watching Button's first GP win.
Although Brixham were claiming a lack of space, as we fueled a boat left the events pontoon - so we went on there for the night. We had a pleasant evening in Brixham but left the following morning to go around to Dartmouth. One night on the inside of Town Jetty which was very convenient - but then we moved up to Dittisham. Picked up a buoy and then got buzzed by a Chinook which was really hugging the valley. Bloody noisy [--word removed--] - but the first we've seen do that up the Dart.
We also saw a couple of Botnia Targa's going up the river - and one of them had a forum flag! I saw it, pointed to ours (flying at the bow) and got a wave. Turns out it was Whisper - but I'm forbidden from posting the photo because he had a dirty bottom or something /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif The perils of drying out it seems.
It turned into an absolutely glorious evening. We went ashore for a pint (but no chance of food) - so got the Cobb out on the paserelle and BBQed. Its wonderfully peaceful up there once the trip boats have stopped.
Next day, we headed to Plymouth. Bit lumpy once we'd turned the corner, but not too bad. Lifeboat was a bit busy though - we saw it out and about a few times. Could have done with a tow rope this long later on in the trip...
Then we headed to Fowey. Saw Battered Bull on the way around - and I see it was mentioned in a thread here. Could see a flag at the bow, but it didn't look like a forum flag /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Fowey was delightful - we picked up a fore-and-aft mooring in Pont Pill as it was suggested that if we went on a pontoon, we'd need to move the next day. The HM folks were very good at guiding me to the right mooring. SWMBO and I went for an explore up the river and we were suprised by the size of the boat they drag up the river. I can see why they need the tugs:
Don't think much to what the locals were eating though:
It was a lovely morning on Saturday:
From Fowey we headed to Falmouth. By this point we'd abandoned plans to get to Scilly because of the weather - we'll have to go west again another year /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We had a windy trip to Falmouth, but mostly off the land so not too bad - until we turned into the estuary itself. All the marinas were full it seemed - but a boat was being dragged off the outside of the visitors pontoon at Port Pendennis by their workboat - it was so windy. We had all our fenders out as it was blowing us on very hard (30knots plus) - so no rafting.
Visited the Maritime Museum which was pretty good - and learnt a great way to tie a bowline. I've always been able to tie one, but this was quite neat - even the kids can now do it in their sleep. It turned out quite handy later in the week....
From here, we began to head east. We decided to stop at Plymouth again for the British Fireworks Championships and got stuck for both nights because of the weather. On our way to Plymouth we heard djefabs and targalout who were headed West to Falmouth on the VHF. Derek was complaining that he'd lost yet another forum flag somewhere on the trip. I reckon he needs a book of knots along with the next flag /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
The fireworks at Plymouth were very impressive which made up for being stuck there...
At one point we saw a lovely boat come into the Sutton lock and into the docks. Lots of bow and stern thruster despite two engines and the wind blowing them onto their berth. Oh, and it looked like their anchor had twisted and dug into the gelcoat:
We then headed to Weymouth - but it was a bit lumpy as we got to Lyme Bay - so we stopped in the Dart for a night (and some more Cider). Couldn't believe that we found the visitors pontoon just below the upper ferry completely empty! Turns out they'd brought a new pontoon down for the regatta the following week. They were also moving some of the larger buoys around (possibly they had removed some to allow a large ship in according to djefabs):
Then across Lyme Bay, to Weymouth where we bumped into Wiggo (who got the full tour of the Elling whether he wanted it or not /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Our kids love Weymouth - so the deal was if we didn't stop there on the way West, we would do so on the way back. Ended up with a load of raggies outside who were all quite chatty and friendly:
Left Weymouth the following morning, only to be back again 2 hours later with a boat in tow - a 40ft Princess V40 with both engines dead (as described on Wiggo's thread):
If anyone was there and got a photo of us as we towed them up through the harbour - a copy would be great /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Got a nice thankyou note from them today (and a generous consideration) - seems they're still having engine problems which need deeper investigation. I hope they confidence hasn't been knocked too badly...
Pretty uneventful trip back to Northney after the earlier excitment. We got back in time to get some food (and the odd drink) at the MDL hosted RNLI fund raising BBQ. Sloped off back to the boat early as we were all knackered - but as we got back we got our final fireworks of the trip:
We did briefly wonder if MDL were splashing out with the proceeds of their recent "re-measuring" exercise. Turns out it was a wedding reception at the hotel.
So we didn't get as far West as we would have liked - and we missed out a load of superb places we had planned to visit - but we had a great trip and there's always next time /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Rick
All the lights along the bottom are the anchored boats. Within minutes of the last firework - they were a mass of green and red as boats headed in all directions.
Then onto Swanage where we saw Hurricane, Geoffs and these two:
Col had come alongside earlier having slogged back from the Channel Islands (I think), then we all moved inshore a bit more for the firworks:
We overnighted at Swanage along with Col and Geoffs and on Sunday we headed west past St Albans Head and Portland Bill towards Brixham. Sea was pretty flat - and with our daughter on the helm I was able to keep one eye on the helm and one on the TV watching Button's first GP win.
Although Brixham were claiming a lack of space, as we fueled a boat left the events pontoon - so we went on there for the night. We had a pleasant evening in Brixham but left the following morning to go around to Dartmouth. One night on the inside of Town Jetty which was very convenient - but then we moved up to Dittisham. Picked up a buoy and then got buzzed by a Chinook which was really hugging the valley. Bloody noisy [--word removed--] - but the first we've seen do that up the Dart.
We also saw a couple of Botnia Targa's going up the river - and one of them had a forum flag! I saw it, pointed to ours (flying at the bow) and got a wave. Turns out it was Whisper - but I'm forbidden from posting the photo because he had a dirty bottom or something /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif The perils of drying out it seems.
It turned into an absolutely glorious evening. We went ashore for a pint (but no chance of food) - so got the Cobb out on the paserelle and BBQed. Its wonderfully peaceful up there once the trip boats have stopped.
Next day, we headed to Plymouth. Bit lumpy once we'd turned the corner, but not too bad. Lifeboat was a bit busy though - we saw it out and about a few times. Could have done with a tow rope this long later on in the trip...
Then we headed to Fowey. Saw Battered Bull on the way around - and I see it was mentioned in a thread here. Could see a flag at the bow, but it didn't look like a forum flag /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Fowey was delightful - we picked up a fore-and-aft mooring in Pont Pill as it was suggested that if we went on a pontoon, we'd need to move the next day. The HM folks were very good at guiding me to the right mooring. SWMBO and I went for an explore up the river and we were suprised by the size of the boat they drag up the river. I can see why they need the tugs:
Don't think much to what the locals were eating though:
It was a lovely morning on Saturday:
From Fowey we headed to Falmouth. By this point we'd abandoned plans to get to Scilly because of the weather - we'll have to go west again another year /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We had a windy trip to Falmouth, but mostly off the land so not too bad - until we turned into the estuary itself. All the marinas were full it seemed - but a boat was being dragged off the outside of the visitors pontoon at Port Pendennis by their workboat - it was so windy. We had all our fenders out as it was blowing us on very hard (30knots plus) - so no rafting.
Visited the Maritime Museum which was pretty good - and learnt a great way to tie a bowline. I've always been able to tie one, but this was quite neat - even the kids can now do it in their sleep. It turned out quite handy later in the week....
From here, we began to head east. We decided to stop at Plymouth again for the British Fireworks Championships and got stuck for both nights because of the weather. On our way to Plymouth we heard djefabs and targalout who were headed West to Falmouth on the VHF. Derek was complaining that he'd lost yet another forum flag somewhere on the trip. I reckon he needs a book of knots along with the next flag /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
The fireworks at Plymouth were very impressive which made up for being stuck there...
At one point we saw a lovely boat come into the Sutton lock and into the docks. Lots of bow and stern thruster despite two engines and the wind blowing them onto their berth. Oh, and it looked like their anchor had twisted and dug into the gelcoat:
We then headed to Weymouth - but it was a bit lumpy as we got to Lyme Bay - so we stopped in the Dart for a night (and some more Cider). Couldn't believe that we found the visitors pontoon just below the upper ferry completely empty! Turns out they'd brought a new pontoon down for the regatta the following week. They were also moving some of the larger buoys around (possibly they had removed some to allow a large ship in according to djefabs):
Then across Lyme Bay, to Weymouth where we bumped into Wiggo (who got the full tour of the Elling whether he wanted it or not /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Our kids love Weymouth - so the deal was if we didn't stop there on the way West, we would do so on the way back. Ended up with a load of raggies outside who were all quite chatty and friendly:
Left Weymouth the following morning, only to be back again 2 hours later with a boat in tow - a 40ft Princess V40 with both engines dead (as described on Wiggo's thread):
If anyone was there and got a photo of us as we towed them up through the harbour - a copy would be great /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Got a nice thankyou note from them today (and a generous consideration) - seems they're still having engine problems which need deeper investigation. I hope they confidence hasn't been knocked too badly...
Pretty uneventful trip back to Northney after the earlier excitment. We got back in time to get some food (and the odd drink) at the MDL hosted RNLI fund raising BBQ. Sloped off back to the boat early as we were all knackered - but as we got back we got our final fireworks of the trip:
We did briefly wonder if MDL were splashing out with the proceeds of their recent "re-measuring" exercise. Turns out it was a wedding reception at the hotel.
So we didn't get as far West as we would have liked - and we missed out a load of superb places we had planned to visit - but we had a great trip and there's always next time /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Rick
