Ramsgate to Blackwater, new boat, help please.

[xyachtdave]

I have done a few delivery trips with my mates newly bought (second hand boats) and would strongly advise day sailing at least twice out of the harbour and back to find out what works and what doesn't.

Something important will either break or not work as it should. This statement also applies to very expensive new boats....

The weather looks a lot heavier than mentioned too, I'd expect to see 25 knots on Saturday.

I'm reasonably cavalier about sailing but I wouldn't fancy that trip on my own, in an unknown boat, with that forecast without having sailed it for a few days first.

 

[NUTMEG]

Well he is not alone now. He is taking his girlfriend. And his dog! I have told hime to spend Saturday in the Swale at anchor if in any doubt. Apart,from tying him up there is not much I can do

 

[Athene V30]

Inshore Forecast for Sat below. Not sure I would want to take an unknown 22 foot boat to head west into a potential SW 5 or 6, if something is going to break it probably will. Appreciate not a large swell in Thames estuary but I expect there would be a short chop stopping momentum.

05:00 UTC Sat 5th Jul – 04:59 UTC Sun 6th Jul

Wind - Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, veering westerly 3 or 4 later..

Sea State - Slight or moderate..

Weather - Rain then thundery showers, fair later..

Visibility - Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Hope his GirlFriend has a strong stomach and is besotted with him otherwise may be ex Girlfriend by end of weekend.

 

[tillergirl]

Think I agree - especially I get the feeling that the forecasters are a little uncertain about really what might happen on Saturday......

 

[johnalison]

Great boat, the Cirrus. It was out first cruiser and I loved it but the children started to grow a bit too much.

 

[NUTMEG]

Well he is just off of Long Nose Spit, tide now against him doing 3kts and heading for Harty Ferry.

 

[NUTMEG]

Well this is embarrassing. Where shall I start?

Forgot to take the kill cord for the outboard. Any way he forgot the gallon of petrol I gave him for it anyway.

So no OB

Got past North Foreland and couldn't get the boat to point. Well reefed but couldn't make headway against wind and tide.

Deisel started then stopped, wouldn't restart. Ooh, wonder why? (Sarcasm smiley)

Got pushed back beyond the Foreland. Tide now very stron.

Rung me to say he was heading across the wind to get into the lee in order to anchor and try to sort engine. At that point I suggested he advised CG on my H/H VHF.

He did so (took my advise!) and the Ramsgate LB towed him back in. Now safely tied up in the harbour. Very embarrassed I would imagine. Waiting for a phone call to get all the details.

Puzzled though, he has sailed for years, even crewed around the island race. He knows how to sail a boat so why couldn't he beat up? Would a lot of fouling affect a little boat that much? Sails are good, I have seen the photos.

Still, hopefully he has learned a lesson. Being a skipper is different to being crew I guess.

Anyway, thought I would update you.

 

[Bru]

Well given that the Cirrus is not significantly different to Brigantia, not making headway when well reefed with a foul wind and a foul tide was about par for the course

A foam luff in the new genoa helped somewhat but the reality was no matter what when the wind got up and the tide turned the only way to make progress was to start the engine

 

[NUTMEG]

Well given that the Cirrus is not significantly different to Brigantia, not making headway when well reefed with a foul wind and a foul tide was about par for the course

A foam luff in the new genoa helped somewhat but the reality was no matter what when the wind got up and the tide turned the only way to make progress was to start the engine

Hmm, you may have a point but I had assumed (wrongly perhaps) that a boat designed as a 'cruiser racer' even an old one, would have pointed well. I think Jamie thought the same and assumed that she would have liked strongish winds too.

 

[Pye_End]

He should be able to get a favourable tide all the way from Ramsgate to Herne Bay if he chooses the setting off time carefully. Picking a time to get the whole of a Thames Estuary flood is a bit more awkward, and inevitably means a strong foul tide off the Foreland for an hour or two.. It is one of the attractions of choosing Herne Bay as an anchorage for a trip like this. It is flat water there today (lovely temperature for swimming as well!), but tomorrow may not be so good.

 

[NUTMEG]

Just had a phone call from offspring. Boat now in the outer harbour. Looks like I am doing engine fettling Monday

Reckon clean tank and replace filter. Take hoe down and set offspring barnacle scraping from the tender. Might as well get her as clean as possible before setting off again. Oh, and take the kill cord and petrol for the OB!

 

[NUTMEG]

He should be able to get a favourable tide all the way from Ramsgate to Herne Bay if he chooses the setting off time carefully. Picking a time to get the whole of a Thames Estuary flood is a bit more awkward, and inevitably means a strong foul tide off the Foreland for an hour or two.. It is one of the attractions of choosing Herne Bay as an anchorage for a trip like this. It is flat water there today (lovely temperature for swimming as well!), but tomorrow may not be so good.

Thanks mate. Need to consult CTTE book to work the tides.

 

[tillergirl]

Agree with Pye end. What day is he likely (weather permitting) to give it another go?

 

[NUTMEG]

I think he is speaking to Ramsgate HM today to arrange a weeks berthing. So I guess, after I, hopefully, fettle the engine on Monday, he can go any day Tuesday onwards, weather permitting.

 

[Pye_End]

Take hoe down and set offspring barnacle scraping from the tender.

If he goes to the wall under the clock tower, with the bow at the ladder, he can dry out on a nice sandy bottom (worth double checking for foreign objects at LW beforehand). Get there soon after HW as it makes putting the ropes through the rings easier, and wins the race with the fishing boats. Do you suspect the bottom is foul? Would explain not making a decent heading.

 

[xyachtdave]

Interesting update - glad he's ok!

That's pretty standard stuff with delivering 2nd hand boats, they've sat around unloved for a while, it has probably not done any trips the length and ferocity of the delivery journey since it arrived at Ramsgate and you set off round the Foreland in some breeze to crack out a 50 mile trip home and find out what doesn't work.

I was naive and wondered why when delivering our boat my experienced mate insisted on day sailing beforehand to flush out the problems, now I've become the experienced mate and do the same!

Hope it goes well next week.

 

[tillergirl]

What is the passage plan going to be, overnight in the Swale or once you have done your bit is he going for the 'straight over the Estuary' passage?

 

[NUTMEG]

Just got back from Ramsgate. Nice harbour and friendly staff. Fuel system blocked with gunk. Removed filters and fuel tank and bought them home for a good clean. Back Monday to refit and hopefully start engine. Offspring is arranging to have the boat lifted for a pressure wash before next attempt! Huge barnacles, tube worms and mussels visible from the pontoon as well as long streamers of kelp. None of which will help with beating to windward. We did find a nice crisp spinnaker in a locker though, so not all bad news

Tiller girl, no idea yet when the next attempt will be but I will seek your advice before setting out.

 

[NUTMEG]

If he goes to the wall under the clock tower, with the bow at the ladder, he can dry out on a nice sandy bottom (worth double checking for foreign objects at LW beforehand). Get there soon after HW as it makes putting the ropes through the rings easier, and wins the race with the fishing boats. Do you suspect the bottom is foul? Would explain not making a decent heading.

Thanks Pyeend
Not sure where you mean but I think, if it's not too expensive, his idea of a lift and scrub might be easier all round. It's costing £40 each trip in petrol alone, plus fish and chips! I am pleasantly surprised at Ramsgate. Read lots of poor reports about the place but we quite liked it. Bit choppy in the outer harbour though!

 

[ex-Gladys]

I bought Gladys from Dover Marina, subject to sea trial. She has a 47hp Lancing Ford, and on the sea trial managed to achieve a sedate 1.2 kts flat out. Fortunately on the 2nd sea trial after the lift out we got 8...