jimi
Well-Known Member
Monday Am start looking at weather from Wed to the following w/e, dismayed to see the current good weather breaking down with a potentially unseasonably deep low to the west of Ireland …. B#gger!! Still things might get better..
Wednesday Pm scheduled departure. B#gger , pope’s plane delayed so we’ll miss tidal gate .. no worries we’ll set off anyway. Very slow progress against tide down Solent so decide to go into Newton Creek at 2am and anchor to wait for tide, interesting entry at low tide in total darkness with compass bearing from entrance buoy.
Up early Thursday Am , big breckie and off, wind fresh westerly and Christchurch bay quite lumpy, ran out of tide just after St Aldelms, crew apart from Para were both sick (neither had suffered mal de mer before) and me feeling queasy… So went into Weymouth to check latest weather charts and get good nights sleep. Weather still looking unsettled and from the wrong direction .. the low off Ireland is developing, worried about it travelling further east than forecast. Met Bedouin looking very domesticated .. apparently No 2 is on the way ..so congrats and best wishes to him and his wife.
We leave early Friday am using inside passage. Some huge bits of very white water .. make mental note to stay very far away in rough weather!!! Wind bang on nose so its motorsailing, cross Lyme Bay, initially lumpy but soon settles down and set course to clear Start Point. Sitting feeling green on port quarter look down and there’s two dolphins streaking past. Whilst motorsailing engine suddenly loses revs and there’s a burning smell, off with engine and check .. all seems ok so carry on. Start sailing just after Start point when the ebb starts, its quite lumpy again but its OK, have to tack at Prawle to avoid an inconveniently placed headland. Then get a long tack into Plymouth Sound … want to get weather to see latest situation before committing to Western Approaches. When manoevring in QAB get funny noises from prop .. bet the drop in revs was something fouling prop, try a few times to clear by engaging forward and reverse (ambassador rope cutter) but still a problem. Try to arrange a diver to inspect but told could’nt do in QAB, in morning (Sat) try again and its all OK so set off for Falmouth for latest weather and refuel. We refuel 60ltr for 15hrs of motoring!!! We had motored hard ointo a head sea but even so … mental note not to motor over 2000rpm in future .In Falmouth weather still shows low still developing, and F6 occas 7 in Fastnet … not prepared to set out with that forecast ..
Sunday go for sail up Carrick Roads and across to Helford, beer was had in Shipwrights Arms, and I nearly fell overboard when talking to Ian Grant when I slipped on the washboards in the cockpit … impressive bruise on left tit where guard wire garrotted my nipple!
Monday Am back to Falmouth and leave boat.
Many thanks to all for super company and a very enjoyable few days … really did’nt fancy getting hammered in St George’s Channel. The boat’s in Falmouth and I can cross in a weekend if the weather fcast is OK .. and if its not … a family fortnight in the beautiful South West ain’t the end of the world!
Wednesday Pm scheduled departure. B#gger , pope’s plane delayed so we’ll miss tidal gate .. no worries we’ll set off anyway. Very slow progress against tide down Solent so decide to go into Newton Creek at 2am and anchor to wait for tide, interesting entry at low tide in total darkness with compass bearing from entrance buoy.
Up early Thursday Am , big breckie and off, wind fresh westerly and Christchurch bay quite lumpy, ran out of tide just after St Aldelms, crew apart from Para were both sick (neither had suffered mal de mer before) and me feeling queasy… So went into Weymouth to check latest weather charts and get good nights sleep. Weather still looking unsettled and from the wrong direction .. the low off Ireland is developing, worried about it travelling further east than forecast. Met Bedouin looking very domesticated .. apparently No 2 is on the way ..so congrats and best wishes to him and his wife.
We leave early Friday am using inside passage. Some huge bits of very white water .. make mental note to stay very far away in rough weather!!! Wind bang on nose so its motorsailing, cross Lyme Bay, initially lumpy but soon settles down and set course to clear Start Point. Sitting feeling green on port quarter look down and there’s two dolphins streaking past. Whilst motorsailing engine suddenly loses revs and there’s a burning smell, off with engine and check .. all seems ok so carry on. Start sailing just after Start point when the ebb starts, its quite lumpy again but its OK, have to tack at Prawle to avoid an inconveniently placed headland. Then get a long tack into Plymouth Sound … want to get weather to see latest situation before committing to Western Approaches. When manoevring in QAB get funny noises from prop .. bet the drop in revs was something fouling prop, try a few times to clear by engaging forward and reverse (ambassador rope cutter) but still a problem. Try to arrange a diver to inspect but told could’nt do in QAB, in morning (Sat) try again and its all OK so set off for Falmouth for latest weather and refuel. We refuel 60ltr for 15hrs of motoring!!! We had motored hard ointo a head sea but even so … mental note not to motor over 2000rpm in future .In Falmouth weather still shows low still developing, and F6 occas 7 in Fastnet … not prepared to set out with that forecast ..
Sunday go for sail up Carrick Roads and across to Helford, beer was had in Shipwrights Arms, and I nearly fell overboard when talking to Ian Grant when I slipped on the washboards in the cockpit … impressive bruise on left tit where guard wire garrotted my nipple!
Monday Am back to Falmouth and leave boat.
Many thanks to all for super company and a very enjoyable few days … really did’nt fancy getting hammered in St George’s Channel. The boat’s in Falmouth and I can cross in a weekend if the weather fcast is OK .. and if its not … a family fortnight in the beautiful South West ain’t the end of the world!
