Help needed! Yacht move from Southampton to Ipswich

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madhatta

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Hi All,
I have been let down by a yachtmaster to help move my yacht from Hamble Point to Ipswich, the boat will be going in the water on 15th Dec with a view to moving her the next day Saturday 16th Dec. I will be leaving Ipswich on Friday 15th in the morning and will need help (experienced) to either motor or sail her back. The yacht is a 39ft Tandem sloop custom with a winged keel. If there is anyone out there willing to help (for a fee) please contact me asap. message me for mobile number.
Marc
 
Looking at the wind forecast (which could change this far out) I would probably get as far as, and leave the boat at Dover over Christmas? Have done this trip many times and forecast looks a bit iffy after turning the corner north. But forecasts are not reliable this far out.
 
Thanks, was looking to stop at Ramsgate for the night (sat), I have also been keeping an eye on winds and weather as crossing from Ramsgate to Harwich can be treacherous at the best of times. Technology is great but will need to see what next weeks cold front brings Brrrr......
 
madhatta said:
Thanks, was looking to stop at Ramsgate for the night (sat), I have also been keeping an eye on winds and weather as crossing from Ramsgate to Harwich can be treacherous at the best of times. Technology is great but will need to see what next weeks cold front brings Brrrr......
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Your boat must be a lot faster than mine as I don't think I would have much hope of getting from the Hamble to Ramsgit in one day
 
I made this trip last January. Started Saturday around 10am. Took the tide to Dungerness. Anchored west side of Dungerness around 11pm. Up early Sunday once the tide was favourable again. Arrived Ramsgate 11am Sunday. Left boat at Ramsgate. Took train home. Following Friday train back to Ramsgate. Saturday Ramsgate to Shotley. Sunday Shotley to Ipswich. Had I done it all in one weekend I would have been fighting tide.
 
Two years ago we had our 34'er brought from Chichester to Ipswich in December. Left Chichester marina at 2300, arrived Ramsgate 18 hrs later with a force 8 gusting 9 up the backside, but fair wind all the way but very, very cold. Next day ran up to Ipswich in 10 hours. Four experienced crew on board with a very experienced yachtmaster in charge. Not sure I would attempt this in two days with only two crew in December.
 
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From personal experience of making exactly the same trip in March two years ago, I'd be extremely reluctant to even contemplate it

We were weather bound in Port Hamble Marina for the first 24 hours, bounced our way round to Haslar in very marginal conditions and were stuck there for another 24 hours and then ran non-stop to Ipswich under motor (no wind at all after days of ruddy gale force or near gale force conditions!) at well over 6 knots through the water which took 27 hours. (33 footer with a 42hp engine, doesn't hang about if you give it some welly!)

It was bitterly cold and we only coped due to my foresight in putting a cheap gas cartridge heater on board (which could only be used at all due to the relatively calm seas and then only with constant vigilance - we used it for brief periods to warm up during crew changeovers and otherwise relied on doubled up sleeping bags and blankets). Had there been any significant sea running we'd have without a doubt been baling out into Dover or Ramsgate

I wouldn't, frankly, even contemplate a non-stop or nearly non-stop trip in December especially with the current weather but you may be made of sterner stuff. If so, I wish you good fortune and a decent, if not pleasant, trip! If it were me, I'd be bouncing in and out of the usual passage ports (Brighton, Eastbourne, Dover and Ramsgate) to rest overnight. Or skip Brighton and Ramsgate maybe if conditions aren't too bad
 
Bru said:
We were weather bound in Port Hamble Marina for the first 24 hours, bounced our way round to Haslar in very marginal conditions and were stuck there for another 24 hours and then ran non-stop to Ipswich under motor (no wind at all after days of ruddy gale force or near gale force conditions!) at well over 6 knots through the water which took 27 hours. (33 footer with a 42hp engine, doesn't hang about if you give it some welly!)

It was bitterly cold and we only coped due to my foresight in putting a cheap gas cartridge heater on board (which could only be used at all due to the relatively calm seas and then only with constant vigilance - we used it for brief periods to warm up during crew changeovers and otherwise relied on doubled up sleeping bags and blankets). Had there been any significant sea running we'd have without a doubt been baling out into Dover or Ramsgate
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And wasn't this all in June or July??

At least at this time of year Solent berthing costs are approaching reasonable.
 
Without wishing to state the blindingly obvious ... its going to be cold and daylight will be short. That will be the main issues.

On trips I've done in that direction I've stopped at Dartmouth, Studland, Brighton, Ramsgate then the Orwell. All the legs were long legs and East of the Solent there are few intermediate ports of refuge. Staying warm will be a priority. I found the area around Beachy Head to be the lumpiest on one trip when we had F6/7s most of the way. That was in summer and it was cold, wet and tiring! Good luck!
 
Thanks, its going to be a slog but it has to be done. I'll be wearing thermals on thermals with the cental heating on full.....flasks full of soup and coffee, with the engine on top speed and coal in the bunker. FULL STEAM AHEAD.......oh its a sailboat! Ha!
 
madhatta said:
Thanks, its going to be a slog but it has to be done. I'll be wearing thermals on thermals with the cental heating on full.....flasks full of soup and coffee, with the engine on top speed and coal in the bunker. FULL STEAM AHEAD.......oh its a sailboat! Ha!
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Fix it in your head that it's a delivery trip. Unless you can sail faster than you can motor, stick the engine on and get the hammer down. Plenty of time for fun in better conditions!
 
Bru said:
Fix it in your head that it's a delivery trip. Unless you can sail faster than you can motor, stick the engine on and get the hammer down. Plenty of time for fun in better conditions!
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Agreed, I'm a lorry driver, so used to getting my toe down.........
 
Bru said:
Fix it in your head that it's a delivery trip. Unless you can sail faster than you can motor, stick the engine on and get the hammer down. Plenty of time for fun in better conditions!
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^ This.

I liked the idea of packing work in and living the dream delivering yachts and maybe doing a bit of instructing.

The reality is of course really hard trips the boat owners don't want to do, at the worst time of the year, in the worst weather....with a trip on public transport to get home to look forward to....

As for instructing.....stuck on a boat for a week with an 'eclectic' mix of individuals, done it twice that was enough!

As the other knowledgeable members here have said, don't muck about at this time of year, get the boat home as quick as possible and enjoy it another day. December isn't a good month for being a sailing purist.
 
Imagine what you will tell the public enquiry and remember that this thread might be quoted in evidence. Usually makes me think twice, put the heating on and find a good book.
 
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