oostende plans

[Koeketiene]

Re: The eagle has landed

AF all done now - stopped raining just in time.

Labour of love: myself, N°1 wife & N°1 child.
Moral support from Morgana & CliveG.

Lazy day tomorrow - might even post dolphin & AF pics

 

[sailorman]

Re: The eagle has landed

Pleased we bunked-off early on Saturday
its pissing down sideways here @ home
had a fine close reach back on saturday ave 7kts (8.4 max) twas a tad cold though.
had a great day friday in the sun & atmos.

 

[FullCircle]

Re: The eagle has landed

We got over in 15 hours which was good, but motored most of the way, the wind got up at about 7pm off West Hinder, so we motor reached the last 10 or 12 miles, but then had to wait 35 minutes to get in as the world and his (commercial) dog wanted out from Ostend port.
We also saw the dolphins, who frolicked around the bow for about 5-6 minutes.
We also saw at least 7 balloons on string as usual.
Robert in fine form, Ostend now crept up to 23 Euro for 35ft per night.

FC and intrepid crew had a very wet crawl up the coast yesterday to leave the get out options open if the more pessimistic weather showed up, and made the dash across to Ramsgate when we got to Dunkerque, and straight lined it virtually all the way to E Goodwin. Weather was only choppy later on, rolly coming into Ramsgate down the entrance channel. Saw max of 22knots, but the average was between 3 knots and 12 knots dead on the nose, which was rubbish. Ramsgate now 23 quid a night, and still rubbish spacings of fingers on pontoons, tepid showers, broken hair driers, useless directions to berths that had no space. All as reported and discussed with them last year. At least they are consistent.
Today was a different matter. Stair rods and 28kts North Westerly meant an early decision to leave FC parked in Ramsgate until Friday night/Saturday morning rather than crossing the banks at lowish water with rough to very rough forecast.
Got home by train, and picked up the car from Burnham.

Anyone fancy a Ramsgate to Burnham delivery on Saturday next?

Thanks to Dave & Louise Trevera25 for being good company and better crew, and to all who saw us at Ostend, in particular lovely to meet Olive Oyl & Popeye.

 

[B175Chris]

Re: The eagle has landed

Glad it all went well, look forward to the pics if you have any, or did you spend all the time trying to keep Dave off the wheel? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: The eagle has landed

Morgana reporting in.....

Still in Dunkerque.... made a dash on Monday morning between fronts, and motored most of the way.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Plan is either a dash over to Ramsdgate tommorrow morning, or wait until Thursday where it looks like the wind might moderate a bit... and the sea state will have calmed a little

Breezy last night.... 25kts in the marina in the town.... but made more pleasant by the fine company of Sirenia's crew....

Enjoying the usual French hospitality of plenty of Gallic shrugs and copious quantities of fine wine and food!

Have fun all!

 

[Sixpence]

Re: The eagle has landed

T25 also checking in after arriving home at 23-59 last night following a three hour drive (maybe the A12 isn't a shorter route after all) Many thanks to Jim and Lynn for being excellent host and hostess . Fridays 05-45 departure onto almost duck pond smooth waters came as a bit of a surprise as we were able to loose our virginity in almost serene weather , crossing the North Sea from the Crouch to Ostende while watching dolphins balloons and jelly fish by the hundreds below the surface wasn't quite what I expected but every minute was most enjoyable . Now a veteran TSS crosser I don't find them anywhere near as daunting as I thought as it seems that my own rules of self survival match those of the rules of the road and common sense prevails . The final few hours on the approach to Ostende being hankie assisted resulted in a few more lessons being learned and although I was on my knees on the foredeck while we bucked around in circles awaiting clearance to enter Ostend my confidence grows all the time.
Finally getting to meet Clive and the crew of Serenia , Will of Guapa , Popeye and Olive , were all additional bonuses , good to finally say hello to all face to face
The return trip to Ramsgate had it's own set of surprises as we hadn't expected to see a set of tornados forming and the Sandette is now something I have seen so I know what people are talking about when they talk about these hazards , talking about them and actually doing it are totally different .
The end result of this long weekend is a full set of knackered T25's and we are both very much looking forward to another trip . Miss Ellie's work will have to crack on now so at least I can get some time in under my own sail and learn a bit more each time . Photo's to follow and even have one of self and the learned FullCircle at the helm , though I can't remember why Jim had a beaming smile on his face .
Very much enjoyed the trip and thanks again to Jim and Lynn from a grateful cadger of rides

 

[Artemis_C2121]

Re: The eagle has landed

Hi FC

We also bottled it monday at chatham and will prob be heading bact to Atremis for a Sat return to fambridge but may pick up a mooring at burnham if it gets late. The sheppy live weather station recorded gusts at 68mph good decision to that a cab home for us. oh and of course we were not influenced by our hang overs.

 

[FullCircle]

Re: The eagle has landed

We will be staying in Burnham onboard Saturday night, probably on Corinthian pontoon.
Join us for a beer if you feel the need....

 

[Artemis_C2121]

Re: The eagle has landed

Thanks for the invite take it the pontoon RCYC is open to all and there is enough of the wet stuff to keep our 1.8mtrs of cast iron from scraping the bottom when it decides it will head out to sea. We do have a function to get to at west wick yc at fambridge however if the passage is slower than predicted and we loose the light more than willing to share a beer and talk some pooh for an hour or so. seems i am in the minority in that Mrs Artemis is keen as mustard on sailing and will cast off for a sail at the drop of a fender. glad to see everyone reporting in and safe and well after your weekend adventure look forward to the posting of your fotos.

 

[FullCircle]

Re: The eagle has landed

Will leave some fenders out, raft against us. It does get slender in there at LWS, but 1 raft out will give you enough.

See you soon

Jim

 

[wingdiver]

Re: The eagle has landed

By a strange quirk of fate, our first 'proper' trip out with new sails (and recently 'washed' engine - see above) is likely to be to Burnham but staying at Burnham YH Friday and Saturday nights before returning to the Orwell Sunday.
Cheers
D

 

[FullCircle]

Re: The eagle has landed

Well, you know where we are!!!

 

[wingdiver]

Re: The eagle has landed

Hi
Got to BYH Friday. Only took five and a quarter hours from Fox's!
No sign of FC at RCYC pontoon Saturday pm when we wandered by. We were probably too early.
Left first thing Sunday in the mist!
Another time maybe.
D

 

[moondancer]

Re: The eagle has landed

We saw FC on the Crouch on Saturday on her mooring with Jim and someone else performing some sort of satanic ritual over something electrical on his boat.

With the light wind against the current Jim seemed surprised to be overtaking us when he was tied to his mooring.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: The eagle has landed

he's just suprised when he overtakes anybody.... let alone when on his mooring... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Sixpence]

Re: The eagle has landed

Time to duck /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif