big_si
Well-Known Member
Well Shelley and I did it, we took Scorpios Lair over to the Channel Islands - albeit with a fab host by way of Adrian B.
I'll try to be brief with what happened as often putting events on to paper tends not to have the same effect as being there and as i have said to Adrian, i wouldnt want to be accused of rabbiting on - he said plenty do already so dont worry!
Gosport to the CIs - Left Gosport a little later than planned (about an hour) and finally caught up with Adrian just off Yarmouth, so off we went. Next stop Guernsey!
Making our passage west through the Needles was awful. Both boats taking a fair beating, our little 22ft and Adrians only ever so slightly bigger 52ft. I guess it was f3 and 4. Cruising was at 16kts, at this rate we would make Guernsey at about 10pm!
The chop took its toll on Nauti Seacrets and some newly installed electronics had its wiring work loose, their compass was 180 out and this was playing havoc with the GPS. Apparently they were in the deep-south of the US of A! Our engine overheat alarm was sounding when cruising at 20kts, dropping the speed down to 14, and keeping her on the plane did the trick. We lost sight of them in Bournemouth Bay so stopped and waited.
Given the weather conditions and the lack of working electronics and an overheating engine we agreed to make passage to Weymouth instead. We were only off Studland Bay so we agreed it was ok for Adrian to zip off being in the faster boat and get as close to the harbour wall as possile. We caught up eventually and rafted up alongside. I wish i had a pic of our boat rafted alongside his, i dont even think our bimini reached his sunpad!!
Weymouth to Guernsey - Adrian had the loose wires fixed and i gave our leg a good scrubbing, we filled up and we decided to try again and head south! Fantastic!
Catching the tail end of the Portland race was another unsettling 30-60 minutes. If this carried on we would be heading down the Dorset coast or, heaven forbid, back to Weymouth!
But it did settle and even though we were only making 20kts max we pressed on. No electronic or over-heating problems so far, fingers crossed.
The crossing could have been better but staying 100ft off the stern of a nice big Targa certainly helped us. The crossing was if anything uneventful. Apart from the colour of the sea and the fact that we couldnt see land, oh and the lack of other boats, it could have been an average day on the Solent.
Tied up on the waiting pontoon and before we knew it i had 4 other yachts rafted up against me. Against ME!! There is a ruddy 52 on the other side, raft there!!!
Yachts. Now i am not taring all with the same brush but i have never seen such poor boat handling. Awful incompetence.
Leaving Weymouth, Adrian had one bash and smash as they left from a raft, there is no shame in asking for a bit of help idiot. When the final yacht untied from our raft they layed on the power only to have left the bow line still attached to my bow!!! WATCHIT!!!! "oh sorry, he's 83" came the reply. I couldnt give a crap whether he was the Pope and 183, untie your bloody boat you muppet!
Guernsey to Jersey - I cant really go in to much detail about the passage, oh, we got a nylon tie caught around our prop. It was causing a fair bit of vibration whilst underway. After the leg was raised and i managed to untangle the offending item (which we kept and threw away in a proper bin) we were underway again.
Anchored off St Aubin bay for some lunch. The 2 hunter/gatherers tried desperately to hunt and gather. All i caught was a suntan and Adrian caught this 8 inch fish with a spiked dorsal fin, what looked like wings with an RAF circle on each and bulging eyes. Horrible looking thing that lived to see another day as there was no way we were going to grill that!!
Off we went again and to St Helier. No real dramas, sorry!
Once i can figure out how to post pics, of if Adrian can you will see just how accomodating St Helier marina is...
We were holed up in St Helier for about 3 nights. Did squeeze in a look at a Targa 34, after what Shelley and i had learnt so far about this kind of cruising, the 34 looks perfect. We loved it.
Nauti Seacrets and crew decided to stay in St Helier and fly back, we didnt have that luxury so planned our passage from Jersey to Cherbourg with the intention to hop across the Channel the next morning.
Jersey to Cherbourg - Off we set. 22-24 kts, brilliant. then along came the Condor, [--word removed--] that thing can shift! And [--word removed--] does it produce a big wake! Drama over and so we continued.
We headed pretty much the way we came, going round the west side of Jersey. It was the way we were comfortable doing. Our passage plan gave us enough time to get past the Alderney Race at slack water.
The swell had picked (4-5ft) up but the periods were long enough to make it a really comfortable ride. Turned to stbd a bit and made a straight line to the Race. This was some of the best cruising we had done. Peaking 30.3 kts at 3700rpm, we were not even flat out!
In to the Race and it was fine, the only giveaway we were in the race was the chartplotter!
and then it turned a bit messy...
Almost out of it and the Race chopped up, not much, just enough for us to have to slow down a bit and say good by to the wonderful bit of cruising we had just done. Then it started to rain. Its ok i said to Shelley, we'll be out of the Race in about 10 minutes.
The rain got worse, as we turned stbd around northern France to follow the coast a bit it REALLY started to rain! We had a strong southerly and an f4+. At this time i looked for our nearest safe haven, 10-20 minutes away. 10 or 20 minutes later the sea calmed but the rain didnt so we carried on to Cherbourg. Shelleys bottom half was soaked, with the sea, the rain and the strong soutrherly, any water was being dumped straight on her. I believe self said nursery rhymes kept her calm.
Hurrah! Cherbourg!
It's a big port Cherbourg, i would say to anyone visiting there for the first time read the almanac and know exactly where you're going.
Pissed wet through we tied up on a finger and checked in at the marina office.
Cherbourg to Gosport (with a detour...) - The forecast was f3-4 in the morning, f2-3 in the afternoon, southerly.
Right lets get going, we can catch the tide and be back in Gosport for 2.30pm.
The first 5 miles were a little uncomfortable but i knew there is a stronger tidal rip across the northern French coast. Sure enough it settled as did we, to a 22kt cruise. We could hear Solent CG only about 10 miles off the French coast, this was reassuring.
The sea state for the next 30 or 40 miles were as we were expecting, but the wind wasnt. A very strong westerly, 40kts maybe?
Then it started to worsen... and then it continued to worsen.
The wind stayed a constant v. strong westerly but the sea really changed. The direction of the sea was on our side and we were going with it, i wouldnt like to think what it would have been like if we were going against the tide, but that is exactly why you plan on these kind of trips.
20 miles off the UK shore was when we really noticed how the sea state had changed, i think it must have been a 10ft swell. But we were fine, just riding over them, no stress just heaps of concentration. We had slowed to 18kts by this stage
10 miles off-shore and this was when the sea was at its worse.
Our speed was peaking at 18kts and no sooner were we at 18kts, we were down to 6kts. The swell had reached i am sure 12-15ft. No BS. Shelley will attest to that to.
'surfing' down the waves was much scarier that going up them. Going up, although only doing 6kts i could see the next wave catching us up and knew we would be back on the plane before you know it. Surfing down them was an almost instant burst of speed and after the first one i realised to only way to keep the boat going where i wanted was to stay on the power. Even then it was exceptionally difficuly to keep in a straight line
The engine had made a noise, one i can only describe as if had been starved of fuel, but no sooner it made the noise it was back to normal again. Hmmm... 5 minutes later it happened again.
So we stopped the boat, lifted the engine cover there was fuel slopping about, the wasnt anything hanging off our leg. Started the engine and carried on again.
The Isle of Wight had been visible for some time and even though it was miles away and the sea hadn't abated it was still a welcome sight.
Here is where it all went tits up.
5 miles off the IoW, the swell had settled to 'only' 10ft max. It was still an exhausing ride and if i had a pot of concentration it would have surely burst!
There was a sudden loss of power, no different to before only this time it didnt pick up again. Immediately i turned the engine off.
Nothing on the leg, clean fuel in the filter, couldnt tell if the tank had anything or not.
Waited a couple of minutes and tried the engine again. It only turned over. Waited another couple of minutes, the same. Pants.
Now it was time to remember what David L (Solitare) had taught me on the VHF course... Ch67 Solent CG x3, this is Us x 3. Nothing. out came the mobile and dialed 999.
Despite our predicament, i think the CG were surprised our attitude to the whole thing, we even shared a joke, but ultimately requested assistance as we were well and truely stuffed.
Scorpios Lair was rolling around like no ones business yet it was still more comfortable than being underway.
Eventually i realised our VHF was working (must remember to push the PTT button all the in!) Called CG and made them aware we were now on VHF. The Sandown lifeboat was dispatched and we kept an eager eye out for it through the bino's, we couldnt see any action, nor could we communicate with them. All messages had to be relayed through the CG.
Then from the south they arrived. Though i cannot say what consumate professionals they were and they only reason i cannot say that was because i think 2 of the 3 man crew were actually in training, if any of them read this just keep it up and the easiest way to do a bowline is to remember about the rabbit and the hole... I think we must have been perfect to practise on.
Sandown Bay was too choppy for the LB to come directly out to us so they took the long and smoother way round. Tied us on to a tow and proceeded inshore. Thank heavens.
Tied up on a mooring buoy and on one stepped. We really had run out of fuel.
Shelley and i couldnt believe it. We were completely shocked. I know this kind of thing really pi sses the CG and RNLI off as it is basic, but they knew how bad it was out there. They were more pleased to see us with our lifejackets on and flares at the ready.
75 lts of diesel later we were under way and heading back to Gosport. Thanks RNLI.
When going up the small ship channel other yachts were heading out, no lifejackets. Utter muppets.
Shelley and i learnt heaps on this trip and made a couple of good friends, but the one thing we will definately take back with us is...
We'd love a Targa 34!
I'll try to be brief with what happened as often putting events on to paper tends not to have the same effect as being there and as i have said to Adrian, i wouldnt want to be accused of rabbiting on - he said plenty do already so dont worry!
Gosport to the CIs - Left Gosport a little later than planned (about an hour) and finally caught up with Adrian just off Yarmouth, so off we went. Next stop Guernsey!
Making our passage west through the Needles was awful. Both boats taking a fair beating, our little 22ft and Adrians only ever so slightly bigger 52ft. I guess it was f3 and 4. Cruising was at 16kts, at this rate we would make Guernsey at about 10pm!
The chop took its toll on Nauti Seacrets and some newly installed electronics had its wiring work loose, their compass was 180 out and this was playing havoc with the GPS. Apparently they were in the deep-south of the US of A! Our engine overheat alarm was sounding when cruising at 20kts, dropping the speed down to 14, and keeping her on the plane did the trick. We lost sight of them in Bournemouth Bay so stopped and waited.
Given the weather conditions and the lack of working electronics and an overheating engine we agreed to make passage to Weymouth instead. We were only off Studland Bay so we agreed it was ok for Adrian to zip off being in the faster boat and get as close to the harbour wall as possile. We caught up eventually and rafted up alongside. I wish i had a pic of our boat rafted alongside his, i dont even think our bimini reached his sunpad!!
Weymouth to Guernsey - Adrian had the loose wires fixed and i gave our leg a good scrubbing, we filled up and we decided to try again and head south! Fantastic!
Catching the tail end of the Portland race was another unsettling 30-60 minutes. If this carried on we would be heading down the Dorset coast or, heaven forbid, back to Weymouth!
But it did settle and even though we were only making 20kts max we pressed on. No electronic or over-heating problems so far, fingers crossed.
The crossing could have been better but staying 100ft off the stern of a nice big Targa certainly helped us. The crossing was if anything uneventful. Apart from the colour of the sea and the fact that we couldnt see land, oh and the lack of other boats, it could have been an average day on the Solent.
Tied up on the waiting pontoon and before we knew it i had 4 other yachts rafted up against me. Against ME!! There is a ruddy 52 on the other side, raft there!!!
Yachts. Now i am not taring all with the same brush but i have never seen such poor boat handling. Awful incompetence.
Leaving Weymouth, Adrian had one bash and smash as they left from a raft, there is no shame in asking for a bit of help idiot. When the final yacht untied from our raft they layed on the power only to have left the bow line still attached to my bow!!! WATCHIT!!!! "oh sorry, he's 83" came the reply. I couldnt give a crap whether he was the Pope and 183, untie your bloody boat you muppet!
Guernsey to Jersey - I cant really go in to much detail about the passage, oh, we got a nylon tie caught around our prop. It was causing a fair bit of vibration whilst underway. After the leg was raised and i managed to untangle the offending item (which we kept and threw away in a proper bin) we were underway again.
Anchored off St Aubin bay for some lunch. The 2 hunter/gatherers tried desperately to hunt and gather. All i caught was a suntan and Adrian caught this 8 inch fish with a spiked dorsal fin, what looked like wings with an RAF circle on each and bulging eyes. Horrible looking thing that lived to see another day as there was no way we were going to grill that!!
Off we went again and to St Helier. No real dramas, sorry!
Once i can figure out how to post pics, of if Adrian can you will see just how accomodating St Helier marina is...
We were holed up in St Helier for about 3 nights. Did squeeze in a look at a Targa 34, after what Shelley and i had learnt so far about this kind of cruising, the 34 looks perfect. We loved it.
Nauti Seacrets and crew decided to stay in St Helier and fly back, we didnt have that luxury so planned our passage from Jersey to Cherbourg with the intention to hop across the Channel the next morning.
Jersey to Cherbourg - Off we set. 22-24 kts, brilliant. then along came the Condor, [--word removed--] that thing can shift! And [--word removed--] does it produce a big wake! Drama over and so we continued.
We headed pretty much the way we came, going round the west side of Jersey. It was the way we were comfortable doing. Our passage plan gave us enough time to get past the Alderney Race at slack water.
The swell had picked (4-5ft) up but the periods were long enough to make it a really comfortable ride. Turned to stbd a bit and made a straight line to the Race. This was some of the best cruising we had done. Peaking 30.3 kts at 3700rpm, we were not even flat out!
In to the Race and it was fine, the only giveaway we were in the race was the chartplotter!
and then it turned a bit messy...
Almost out of it and the Race chopped up, not much, just enough for us to have to slow down a bit and say good by to the wonderful bit of cruising we had just done. Then it started to rain. Its ok i said to Shelley, we'll be out of the Race in about 10 minutes.
The rain got worse, as we turned stbd around northern France to follow the coast a bit it REALLY started to rain! We had a strong southerly and an f4+. At this time i looked for our nearest safe haven, 10-20 minutes away. 10 or 20 minutes later the sea calmed but the rain didnt so we carried on to Cherbourg. Shelleys bottom half was soaked, with the sea, the rain and the strong soutrherly, any water was being dumped straight on her. I believe self said nursery rhymes kept her calm.
Hurrah! Cherbourg!
It's a big port Cherbourg, i would say to anyone visiting there for the first time read the almanac and know exactly where you're going.
Pissed wet through we tied up on a finger and checked in at the marina office.
Cherbourg to Gosport (with a detour...) - The forecast was f3-4 in the morning, f2-3 in the afternoon, southerly.
Right lets get going, we can catch the tide and be back in Gosport for 2.30pm.
The first 5 miles were a little uncomfortable but i knew there is a stronger tidal rip across the northern French coast. Sure enough it settled as did we, to a 22kt cruise. We could hear Solent CG only about 10 miles off the French coast, this was reassuring.
The sea state for the next 30 or 40 miles were as we were expecting, but the wind wasnt. A very strong westerly, 40kts maybe?
Then it started to worsen... and then it continued to worsen.
The wind stayed a constant v. strong westerly but the sea really changed. The direction of the sea was on our side and we were going with it, i wouldnt like to think what it would have been like if we were going against the tide, but that is exactly why you plan on these kind of trips.
20 miles off the UK shore was when we really noticed how the sea state had changed, i think it must have been a 10ft swell. But we were fine, just riding over them, no stress just heaps of concentration. We had slowed to 18kts by this stage
10 miles off-shore and this was when the sea was at its worse.
Our speed was peaking at 18kts and no sooner were we at 18kts, we were down to 6kts. The swell had reached i am sure 12-15ft. No BS. Shelley will attest to that to.
'surfing' down the waves was much scarier that going up them. Going up, although only doing 6kts i could see the next wave catching us up and knew we would be back on the plane before you know it. Surfing down them was an almost instant burst of speed and after the first one i realised to only way to keep the boat going where i wanted was to stay on the power. Even then it was exceptionally difficuly to keep in a straight line
The engine had made a noise, one i can only describe as if had been starved of fuel, but no sooner it made the noise it was back to normal again. Hmmm... 5 minutes later it happened again.
So we stopped the boat, lifted the engine cover there was fuel slopping about, the wasnt anything hanging off our leg. Started the engine and carried on again.
The Isle of Wight had been visible for some time and even though it was miles away and the sea hadn't abated it was still a welcome sight.
Here is where it all went tits up.
5 miles off the IoW, the swell had settled to 'only' 10ft max. It was still an exhausing ride and if i had a pot of concentration it would have surely burst!
There was a sudden loss of power, no different to before only this time it didnt pick up again. Immediately i turned the engine off.
Nothing on the leg, clean fuel in the filter, couldnt tell if the tank had anything or not.
Waited a couple of minutes and tried the engine again. It only turned over. Waited another couple of minutes, the same. Pants.
Now it was time to remember what David L (Solitare) had taught me on the VHF course... Ch67 Solent CG x3, this is Us x 3. Nothing. out came the mobile and dialed 999.
Despite our predicament, i think the CG were surprised our attitude to the whole thing, we even shared a joke, but ultimately requested assistance as we were well and truely stuffed.
Scorpios Lair was rolling around like no ones business yet it was still more comfortable than being underway.
Eventually i realised our VHF was working (must remember to push the PTT button all the in!) Called CG and made them aware we were now on VHF. The Sandown lifeboat was dispatched and we kept an eager eye out for it through the bino's, we couldnt see any action, nor could we communicate with them. All messages had to be relayed through the CG.
Then from the south they arrived. Though i cannot say what consumate professionals they were and they only reason i cannot say that was because i think 2 of the 3 man crew were actually in training, if any of them read this just keep it up and the easiest way to do a bowline is to remember about the rabbit and the hole... I think we must have been perfect to practise on.
Sandown Bay was too choppy for the LB to come directly out to us so they took the long and smoother way round. Tied us on to a tow and proceeded inshore. Thank heavens.
Tied up on a mooring buoy and on one stepped. We really had run out of fuel.
Shelley and i couldnt believe it. We were completely shocked. I know this kind of thing really pi sses the CG and RNLI off as it is basic, but they knew how bad it was out there. They were more pleased to see us with our lifejackets on and flares at the ready.
75 lts of diesel later we were under way and heading back to Gosport. Thanks RNLI.
When going up the small ship channel other yachts were heading out, no lifejackets. Utter muppets.
Shelley and i learnt heaps on this trip and made a couple of good friends, but the one thing we will definately take back with us is...
We'd love a Targa 34!
