MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
Followed the thread with interest - forgot to look out of the window and see it go by! How was it in practice? All safe and sound I hope.
How did the Scout Armada go?
- Thread starter MoodySabre
- Start date
kingfisher
Well-Known Member
Here is my report. I was unfortunately one of the 7 boats that didn't make it accross. 33 boats participated, 26 made it, despite F6-7(8) W-SW winds.
What I read from the other reports, is that it was a grand adventure, the reception at Ramsgate and London were of historic proportions, the only regrettable fact was the lousy weather.
First of all, it was a race against the clock to get the boat ready. It had been standing in a shed for the last three years and it was in a sorry state. So the weeks before the departure were all about putting on final touches of paint, rewiring the new batteries, and relocating bits and bobs from the boat. The ropes and sails were in my mum’s garage, the boats’ papers were in a storage facility, other stuff was either in the bottom of trunks or in the garage. And the crane had to be booked. I just about managed, with a day to spare, by pulling a few late nighters and with the help from a lot of friends.
All went well, so that weekend, we had a little shake down cruise. The usuall little gremlins were sorted so the boat was ready.
Sunday 22 July
Bart and I boarded yesterday. For a long cruise, it takes about a day to get the boat ready. You need to find a place to stow two weeks worth of luggage and food. Fill up the boat with fuel, water and beer. We had a nice dinner with another boat that is joining the Armada.
A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, I was a member of the sea scouts. This year is the centennial of scouting, with a gathering in London. Some people thought it was a good idea to go there by boat. And I was asked to join. And also found stupid enough to do the passage planning.
Anyway, we’re still Sunday morning and we’re in Terneuzen, in the south of the Netherlands. The goal today is Blankenberge, which is a bit like the Blackpool of the Belgian coast. Loads of fun, but not necessarily the hippest place on the planet. We left port under a blue sky, but that changed quick enough. A few hours later, we’re fully kitted out in life jackes, foul weather gear and enjoying a nice thunderstorm. Always fun to be in, when you realize your mast is the only metal things sticking up for miles around.
A few more showers later and we make it to Blankenberge. A bit too tired to hit the bars. And this is day 1. It would get much worse.
Monday 23 July
Blankenberge to Ostend, a short 11 mile trip went without a hitch and without rain. We arrive as one of the first groups of the armada. The logistics crew is still putting up the tent of the bar and the showers.
Wednesday 25 July
I held the skippers briefing the day before and warned of force 6-7 winds on the nose. I hate it when I’m right. We leave Ostend at 0630h. Yes, there is a half six in the morning as well. We get the royal send off, including press and the fire boat.
About an hour later, the 5mm steel cable that holds the sail to the boom decides to break in two. The problem is quickly solved and we’re back on hour way. Unfortunately one of the crew members is already quite sick by then. And it’s another 16 hours to go. Hmm, that won’t be fun.
Noon, and we’re still only 15 miles from the Belgian coast, with another 39 to go. We need to change to another sail. After the sail change, another crew member succumbs to “mal de mer”. At that point, we hold a little pow-wow and decide to call it a day. By 1400hrs, we’re safe and sound in the port of Nieuwpoort, soaked to the bone. We spend the afternoon drying in the sun like seals, and listening to the progress of the other boats on the VHF radio. Six more boats decide to deviate to Nieuwpoort. Sick crew, a ruptured sail,… nothing serious though. We sign of on the net and hope to catch up later.
26-27 July 2007
We end up getting stuck in Nieuwpoort for three days. Every time somebody feels the urge to depart, we tell them to listen to the wind howling through the rigging of the yachts. And this is in one of the best sheltered ports of the Belgian coast. The chances of getting to London are reduced from slim to non-existent. We decide to pool our resources and get drunk.
28 July
We are by now more tired of Nieuwpoort than scared of the wind, so decide to head for France. At least Dunqerque will give us a better angle for Ramsgate, and at best we are out of Belgium.
After 8 hours of beating in the wind, by which time the engine alternator conked out, we made it to France.
29 July
The wind now turned north west, so all our hopes of reaching England were gone. That’s it. From now on it’s a real sailing holiday: wake up in the morning, see which way the wind is headed and go with the breeze. And wouldn’t you know it, at that point the sun comes out. And the wind dies. Aaaaargh.
For the next couple of days, the wind didn’t go above a breeze. So we went diving for oysters and mussels. Life at sea is hard, but honest.
We got back to Terneuzen on the 4th of August, after having sailed 350 miles. I’m now enjoying a couple of days of readjusting to a bed that doesn’t move, hot showers and a well stocked fridge. And television. And e-mail.
A few images
Armada assembled in Ostende
The Norwegians
0600h departure
The crew before the green faces
The Norwegians cheating
What I read from the other reports, is that it was a grand adventure, the reception at Ramsgate and London were of historic proportions, the only regrettable fact was the lousy weather.
First of all, it was a race against the clock to get the boat ready. It had been standing in a shed for the last three years and it was in a sorry state. So the weeks before the departure were all about putting on final touches of paint, rewiring the new batteries, and relocating bits and bobs from the boat. The ropes and sails were in my mum’s garage, the boats’ papers were in a storage facility, other stuff was either in the bottom of trunks or in the garage. And the crane had to be booked. I just about managed, with a day to spare, by pulling a few late nighters and with the help from a lot of friends.
All went well, so that weekend, we had a little shake down cruise. The usuall little gremlins were sorted so the boat was ready.
Sunday 22 July
Bart and I boarded yesterday. For a long cruise, it takes about a day to get the boat ready. You need to find a place to stow two weeks worth of luggage and food. Fill up the boat with fuel, water and beer. We had a nice dinner with another boat that is joining the Armada.
A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, I was a member of the sea scouts. This year is the centennial of scouting, with a gathering in London. Some people thought it was a good idea to go there by boat. And I was asked to join. And also found stupid enough to do the passage planning.
Anyway, we’re still Sunday morning and we’re in Terneuzen, in the south of the Netherlands. The goal today is Blankenberge, which is a bit like the Blackpool of the Belgian coast. Loads of fun, but not necessarily the hippest place on the planet. We left port under a blue sky, but that changed quick enough. A few hours later, we’re fully kitted out in life jackes, foul weather gear and enjoying a nice thunderstorm. Always fun to be in, when you realize your mast is the only metal things sticking up for miles around.
A few more showers later and we make it to Blankenberge. A bit too tired to hit the bars. And this is day 1. It would get much worse.
Monday 23 July
Blankenberge to Ostend, a short 11 mile trip went without a hitch and without rain. We arrive as one of the first groups of the armada. The logistics crew is still putting up the tent of the bar and the showers.
Wednesday 25 July
I held the skippers briefing the day before and warned of force 6-7 winds on the nose. I hate it when I’m right. We leave Ostend at 0630h. Yes, there is a half six in the morning as well. We get the royal send off, including press and the fire boat.
About an hour later, the 5mm steel cable that holds the sail to the boom decides to break in two. The problem is quickly solved and we’re back on hour way. Unfortunately one of the crew members is already quite sick by then. And it’s another 16 hours to go. Hmm, that won’t be fun.
Noon, and we’re still only 15 miles from the Belgian coast, with another 39 to go. We need to change to another sail. After the sail change, another crew member succumbs to “mal de mer”. At that point, we hold a little pow-wow and decide to call it a day. By 1400hrs, we’re safe and sound in the port of Nieuwpoort, soaked to the bone. We spend the afternoon drying in the sun like seals, and listening to the progress of the other boats on the VHF radio. Six more boats decide to deviate to Nieuwpoort. Sick crew, a ruptured sail,… nothing serious though. We sign of on the net and hope to catch up later.
26-27 July 2007
We end up getting stuck in Nieuwpoort for three days. Every time somebody feels the urge to depart, we tell them to listen to the wind howling through the rigging of the yachts. And this is in one of the best sheltered ports of the Belgian coast. The chances of getting to London are reduced from slim to non-existent. We decide to pool our resources and get drunk.
28 July
We are by now more tired of Nieuwpoort than scared of the wind, so decide to head for France. At least Dunqerque will give us a better angle for Ramsgate, and at best we are out of Belgium.
After 8 hours of beating in the wind, by which time the engine alternator conked out, we made it to France.
29 July
The wind now turned north west, so all our hopes of reaching England were gone. That’s it. From now on it’s a real sailing holiday: wake up in the morning, see which way the wind is headed and go with the breeze. And wouldn’t you know it, at that point the sun comes out. And the wind dies. Aaaaargh.
For the next couple of days, the wind didn’t go above a breeze. So we went diving for oysters and mussels. Life at sea is hard, but honest.
We got back to Terneuzen on the 4th of August, after having sailed 350 miles. I’m now enjoying a couple of days of readjusting to a bed that doesn’t move, hot showers and a well stocked fridge. And television. And e-mail.
A few images
Armada assembled in Ostende
The Norwegians
0600h departure
The crew before the green faces
The Norwegians cheating
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
We gave one of your boats (TAHU - a Van der Stadt Rebel 41) a tow into Ostend on the 22nd of July.
Did they make it?
Did they make it?
kingfisher
Well-Known Member
Yep, TAHU made it to London, albeit one day late. They were held up at Queenborough due to fuel-related problems. We quickly found out that they simply ran out of gas. The amount of slagging they got /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Peter only bought the boat a few weeks before the Armada, so he didn't actually know the range of his boat yet.
Peter only bought the boat a few weeks before the Armada, so he didn't actually know the range of his boat yet.
