Artemis_C2121
Well-Known Member
Well Thursday morning departure day for what would be our first North Sea crossing, weather looked like we might get a sail. The good ship Artemis had been prepped the day before with the essential supple of liquid sustenance, OH! And we had loaded some food also.
Slipped lines at Fambridge 11.30bst headed down the Crouch.
Having fitted AIS a week before I had no idea if the thing was working or not as we don’t get many 300 tons + vessels at Fambridge, I was expecting to have to faf around with it for part of the crossing as would normally be expected with new bits of kit.
What a surprise we rounded the bend at creeksea approached the Baltic Warf the AIS picked up the ship berthed there giving all its details (happy days) it worked straight out of the box.
As we passed Burnham pulled close to RCYC pontoon where Full Circle was loaded and awaiting the last member of the crew one Mr D3B a quick chat and off again.
Passage plan by SWMBO was basically Sunk and turn right Motored into the tide heading for Sunk with little or no wind about 10 miles off Sunk Head we spied in the distance FC catching us about an hour later they were a beam of us and another conversation ensued with the first opportunity to remind Mr D3B which team where champions of Europe.
The magic round about held now fears with AIS showing each vessel with CPA the plan was to cross the TSS but as the wind had picked up and right on the nose we decided to follow FC and turn down the side of the TSS and turn for Oostende across the bottom. Sails up engine off (Ah peace and quiet) and not only that 7.5kn SOG happy days we were sailing, not strictly in the right direction but hell who cares.
Could just about make out the mast head light of FC in the distance, un fortunately at some point we would have to stop heading south but we were enjoying the sailing so much we kept at it for 3 hours.
Having had lots of fun sailing in the dark and averaging 7.0kn SOG we turned east and fired up the engine furled the headsail and headed for Oostende. The wind dropped off completely as as dawn approached sea was glassy, passed West hinder easily picking out the many ships around with the AIS so no dramas the approach to Oostende was slow but warm and sunny it was with some apprehension we approached RNSYC two 15 mtr warps joined as per the warning from Guapa and waiting for our first encounter with God.
As it happens the man was a delight to deal with and he has a wicked sense of humour I liked him a lot. Moored between FC and Guapa approx 21 hrs after leaving Fambridge.
Broke out some beers and toasted a successful and uneventful first crossing. A great weekend ensued and was a pleasure to met lots of new people and Oostende was a joy we will visit again for sure.
With lots of time to spare we cruised to Dunkirk which was not blockaded which was a wonderful sail down the coast in warm sunshine listing to the guys on VHF heading back across the North Sea. Heading west 0.5 of a mile outside the shipping channel we had a bulk carrier come up astern watched it on the plotter no worries it was about 0.5nm on the port bow us on starboard tack sailing when it turned 90deg right in front of us OH S**T then to our surprise it stopped and waited until we passed then went full ahead what a surprise to have a ship adhere the Col regs as us being the stand on vessel, still it didn’t do my nerves any good.
From there to Ramsgate crossing the channel the AIS on the plotted looked like something from Star Wars never showing anything less than 15 ships at any time, two days in Ramsgate with the weather delaying our departure. Then back to Fambridge on Thursday morning.
Total distance 240 miles and 240 smiles thanks everyone for an excellent weekend hope to catch up with you all in the near future.
Slipped lines at Fambridge 11.30bst headed down the Crouch.
Having fitted AIS a week before I had no idea if the thing was working or not as we don’t get many 300 tons + vessels at Fambridge, I was expecting to have to faf around with it for part of the crossing as would normally be expected with new bits of kit.
What a surprise we rounded the bend at creeksea approached the Baltic Warf the AIS picked up the ship berthed there giving all its details (happy days) it worked straight out of the box.
As we passed Burnham pulled close to RCYC pontoon where Full Circle was loaded and awaiting the last member of the crew one Mr D3B a quick chat and off again.
Passage plan by SWMBO was basically Sunk and turn right Motored into the tide heading for Sunk with little or no wind about 10 miles off Sunk Head we spied in the distance FC catching us about an hour later they were a beam of us and another conversation ensued with the first opportunity to remind Mr D3B which team where champions of Europe.
The magic round about held now fears with AIS showing each vessel with CPA the plan was to cross the TSS but as the wind had picked up and right on the nose we decided to follow FC and turn down the side of the TSS and turn for Oostende across the bottom. Sails up engine off (Ah peace and quiet) and not only that 7.5kn SOG happy days we were sailing, not strictly in the right direction but hell who cares.
Could just about make out the mast head light of FC in the distance, un fortunately at some point we would have to stop heading south but we were enjoying the sailing so much we kept at it for 3 hours.
Having had lots of fun sailing in the dark and averaging 7.0kn SOG we turned east and fired up the engine furled the headsail and headed for Oostende. The wind dropped off completely as as dawn approached sea was glassy, passed West hinder easily picking out the many ships around with the AIS so no dramas the approach to Oostende was slow but warm and sunny it was with some apprehension we approached RNSYC two 15 mtr warps joined as per the warning from Guapa and waiting for our first encounter with God.
As it happens the man was a delight to deal with and he has a wicked sense of humour I liked him a lot. Moored between FC and Guapa approx 21 hrs after leaving Fambridge.
Broke out some beers and toasted a successful and uneventful first crossing. A great weekend ensued and was a pleasure to met lots of new people and Oostende was a joy we will visit again for sure.
With lots of time to spare we cruised to Dunkirk which was not blockaded which was a wonderful sail down the coast in warm sunshine listing to the guys on VHF heading back across the North Sea. Heading west 0.5 of a mile outside the shipping channel we had a bulk carrier come up astern watched it on the plotter no worries it was about 0.5nm on the port bow us on starboard tack sailing when it turned 90deg right in front of us OH S**T then to our surprise it stopped and waited until we passed then went full ahead what a surprise to have a ship adhere the Col regs as us being the stand on vessel, still it didn’t do my nerves any good.
From there to Ramsgate crossing the channel the AIS on the plotted looked like something from Star Wars never showing anything less than 15 ships at any time, two days in Ramsgate with the weather delaying our departure. Then back to Fambridge on Thursday morning.
Total distance 240 miles and 240 smiles thanks everyone for an excellent weekend hope to catch up with you all in the near future.
