Hafren Round Britain

[Snifter]

Hi all,
I've been posting updates on the above on the Bristol Channel Forum for a while now, and wondered what the reaction might be from Scuttlebutt aficionados. You can see what the Hafren team is trying to do on www.xtremedinghycruising.com. They left Weymouth on 31st May on a Round Britain clockwise circumnavigation, and are now sailing down the East Coast of Scotland. The tracker is under the Mapping heading on the website, and photos and videos can be found if you click on the twitter and Facebook icons on the right of the header bar.
Let me know if you want me to keep updating this forum. I'm happy to revert to the Bristol Channel forum, as both Jeremy and Phil are members of Thornbury Sailing Club, and the Severn is their home water, hence the name of the challenge. Hafren is Welsh for Severn.
We know what a challenge this is. I know they are completely mad, but they are experienced sailors, and I love what they are doing.
Snifter (alias Rob the router).!

 

[rwoofer]

Yes, very happy to receive updates!

Really impressed with their progress so far.

 

[Snifter]

Thanks, rb_stretch. I'll keep going!
I spoke to them a couple of hours ago, and the wind has eased a little, and they are now heading for Fraserburgh, having crossed much of the Moray Firth. If the wind continues to ease, they will continue on down past Aberdeen tonight, and continue through Saturday. The key to this challenge is 2 days and one night, or 3 days and 2 nights at sea, and then recovery time ashore. If the weather is good they can get sleep and make the long legs and miles, and they were sounding very positive when I spoke to them.

 

[Snifter]

For those who haven't appreciated this yet, the Wayfarer Hafren left Weymouth on 31st May, and is attempting to circumnavigate Britain in less than 76 days. The challenge is to achieve safe long legs of up to 72 hours, and of course it is heavily dependent on the weather, which has been amazingly favourable so far.
Most previous roundings have taken short hops of 30 miles or so, and have had shore support. This one is highly self sufficient, with support from 2 shore based routers, and help from the RNLI and local yacht clubs on the way. They sleep, cook, etc on board, and have tents if they need to anchor up to shelter from adverse winds and tides.
As Hafren comes down the East Coast more support would be appreciated. I'll contact clubs as they approach if they are intending to stop. Cups of tea, cakes, and beer from yachts they meet on the way are particularly appreciated!

 

[Snifter]

Great progress from Hafren overnight. The crew are on track for their best 24hr run, and have taken full advantage of the strong following wind overnight to finish the crossing of the Moray Firth, pass Fraserburgh and Peterhead, and they are now approaching Aberdeen. The wind eases gradually over the next 24hrs, so it looks as though they have got the kite back up, as they have been showing over 6kts over the ground again. Making hay while the sun shines! Www.xtremedinghycruising.com

 

[rwoofer]

Fantastic progress indeed. A good chance of completely obliterating the record...

 

[Snifter]

Yes, rb_stretch, but the record is not the primary aim of the trip, although it gives the guys a goal. They will not take unnecessary risks, and so far the conditions have been extremely favourable, which has enabled them to do long legs like the first one from Weymouth to Dale, and the current one down the East Coast of Scotland.
I spoke to the Hafren crew at 0915. They had had a rough ride round Rattray Head. They depowered the boat by dropping the main entirely and lashing the boom in the boat, which ensured they kept control, but it was not pleasant! Under jib alone it was very bumpy, but Wayfarers are tough old boats, and they are still feeling good - if damp! They intend to continue over the next night and into Sunday. We are now planning the next stopover, so we can try and line up some shore support when they land.
The wind is going to ease over the next 24hrs, so they won't manage anything like the 124 miles recorded in the 24hrs since leaving Scrabster.

 

[Snifter]

After the excitement of the first 24hrs out of Scrabster the last 6 have been very slow and frustrating. The wind was forecast to ease to 7 to 12mph at Arbroath at 1900, but in that area it has been a glassy sea and slatting sails for some time now. While talking to Jeremy he dropped his phone when a dolphin surfaced right by him! The most exciting thing to happen for a bit, but the crew is relaxing, catching up on sleep and food, and hoping to make some progress down towards North Berwick or Eyemouth. If they start going backwards they'll find a beach to rest on till the tide changes. Next call will be 0900 on Sunday. The wind is unlikely to do much till Monday.

 

[Temujin]

Doesn't look like North Berwick, think they are in a rush to cross the border. Should be back by next weekend at this rate - think they are being unfair to Janet and Sarah who were expecting a nice long break........

 

[Snifter]

Ha, Temujin! Still a long way to go, but Berwick on Tweed is about 2/3rds distance, so making good progress.
After the drama of the previous night, last night was slow, and a good opportunity for sleep and contemplation. They have now also started to develop the marine equivalent of the American sport of cow toppling - gannet toppling! They sneak up on sleeping gannets and can get within 2 boat lengths before the birds wake up and depart in a flurry of squawks and flapping wings.
They have a reasonable wind and tide, so plan to get to Eyemouth, and beyond, perhaps as far as Amble before coming ashore. There are a couple of other possible stopovers if the wind dies again.

 

[Snifter]

In the end the Hafren crew stopped on Holy Island. The wind died again and the tide had turned so Seahouses and Amble became a bit too far to sail before dark, and they needed a beer!
The wind is again variable tomorrow, so progress will be slow, or they may decide to have a day off.
Still, 222nm from Scrabster in one leg is the second longest they've managed, and around 60 hours at sea.

 

[rwoofer]

Another impressive leg. I didn't imagine that they would get to Lindisfarne in one go...

 

[Allan]

Fantastic sailing! They nearly made it to my ancestral home. 60 hours nonstop on an open boat is seriously impressive. I've just done 27hours on a 33foot boat and I'm knackered. Where to next?
Allan

 

[Temujin]

Fantastic sailing! They nearly made it to my ancestral home. 60 hours nonstop on an open boat is seriously impressive. I've just done 27hours on a 33foot boat and I'm knackered. Where to next?
Allan

Based on previous I imagine they will be planning on being home by the weekend.......fantastic stuff, I'm hooked on following Hafren!

 

[Snifter]

Thanks, Temujin!
Hafren's crew had a good night in their tents last night, although J now finds it physically impossible to sleep for more than 4hrs. There was also the moaning of 100+ seals on the spit near them! P slept very well though. They have breakfasted, and plan to leave soon to amble down to Amble in the light westerly. That will give them a chance to re provision properly before another long leg in the stronger winds forecast for tomorrow. They met some sailors from Coquet SC in Amble last night, so that is likely to be their destination.

 

[Snifter]

Another long old slog today, much of the last 2 hours after the tide turned paddling as the wind died. Still aiming to get to Amble tonight, and the paddling muscles are getting finely tuned. Jeremy is keeping a tally of every 100 strokes, and is now up to 2500! Pray for some wind or a back eddy to get them to some beer in Amble before the pubs close.

 

[Allan]

Are they planning any more stops before the Tyne? I could get food etc delivered anywhere north of the Tyne.
Allan

 

[Snifter]

Thanks very much, Allan.
They finally arrived at Amble at about 2100, and they intend to get some beer, a good night's rest, re provision, and then aim south again, ideally to Lowestoft, but I think the wind will not be strong enough to do another 200 mile leg.
When I know more I'll let you know. It's a very kind offer.

 

[Snifter]

They arrived in Amble around 2100 to a great welcome from the RNLI, and some well earned beer, food and a good night's rest. No one from Coquet YC turned up which was a disappointment, but it was late on a Monday night.
They are reprovisoned, and ready to go at about 1000. It has started raining, and the forecast is for light northerly winds, so the ideal target of Lowestoft is going to be severely curtailed, but they plan to stay at sea again and grind out the miles.
So, Allan, it looks unlikely they will take up your kind offer, but if they get more days like yesterday, 20 miles in 10 hours, you never know!

 

[Snifter]

Just rang them, as I couldn't see any progress. Still doing boat fixing which is taking for ever, so probably not away now till 1300.