Concerto
Well-known member
Another long sail yesterday, hence the late posting.
Having calculated the optimum time to leave Brxham would be 10.30,assuming a 5 knot speed over the ground, then I would arrive at Portland Bill at slack low water. It is easier to punch slow tides than fast, so for most of the way across Lyme Bay I was punching the tide. Compared to the tides on several headlands, this was less than punching the tide there.
However I was ready earlier than I needed so I slipped out of the berth at 9.40. All the fenders and warps were away before I left the outer harbour. Then head to wind I hoisted full main and once on course, unfurled the genoa. It was a just very slightly cracked sheets off close hauled and the speed was about 6½ knots over the ground. However the forecast expected the wind to ease but remain the same direction until very late in the evening.
Near Berry Head I saw a gaff rigged boat about 3 miles on the beam to windward, having left Salcombe or Dartmouth, also heading for Portland Bill. She was definitely larger than me, and also had a mizzen. I was only fractionally faster despite being slightly closer to the wind than she was. The sailing conditions were beautiful with a wind near the full rig and with dapple sunshine most of the time, what better way to go sailing. Slowly the gaff rigger dropped behind as I climbed further to windward. The sea was relatively calm compared to a few days earleir, but there was still some movement to the water. Whilst sailing I saw some nice cloud formations to photograph.
As I approached Portland Bill, I was now close on the wind and the end of the dropping tide was swirling round the Bill and pushing me north. This started about 15 miles out, so the spring tide had some strength at half tide. The gaff rigged boat was about half a mile north of my course and about a mile astern. They decided to motor south to clear the Bill, but I carried on until I felt the wind start to drop in the lee of the shore. At this time I was about 2 miles too far north, but from about 4 miles out I started getting the back eddy altering my course over the ground by about 15 degrees and increasing my boat speed by a knot and increasing to 2 knots. The wind had increased to the point I may have to drop a reef in the main, but decided to hold on as I would soon be round the point. Unfortunately I had to put in a pair of tacks and I overstood the return tack as the tide was turning. Although still quite close to the point, about less than ¼ mile, the sea became very confused and lumpy - even made my decks wet. Worried about the Shambles Bank, I headed slightly north to keep clear of even rougher water. Finally I went close hauled again to head towards St Albin's Head and Anvil Head. The change of the tide pushed me slightly north, which I hoped would would reverse as I got closer to St Albin's Head. As I left Portland Bill the wind also eased back to the level it had been across Lyme Bay. It was about 19.00 when I tried phoning Poole Yacht Club to see if they had a berth, the bar staff could not help and the marina staff had left a couple of hours earlier. Nothing for it but arrive and find an empty berth.
Looking aft, I eventually saw the gaff rigged boat round the point and head for Weymouth. A look at the distance to my waypoint was now showing 6 miles and it was 15 miles when I rounded. They were 9 miles behind me. They should have followed my course and they would have saved themselves at least an hour. Whilst sailing I noticed the rare phenomenon of a cloud showing rainbow colours. This is due to either small water droplets or ice catching the light like a section of a rainbow. This was shortly before the sun dropped below the horizon. The tidal lift as I approached the head, was not quite enough, so anothe pair of tacks was made. I was only short by about ¼ mile. The water on St Albin's Head was running at 5 knots and very rough, even getting green water on the coachroof. No sooner than that ended, I rounded Anvil Head and had a similar but not as rough experience, although I did drop off the back of one wave with a resounding thud. Being fairly dark it was difficult to see any waves, you just rode them.
Sheets were now eased and then I headed past Swanage and Studland for Poole. It was nice to have a little light from the almost full moon. I could clearly make out Old Harry with this light. Just before the start of the main channel into Poole, I dropped the main by centering it whilst on the run rather than turn into wind. I could only do this as the wind was very light by now. With the engine engaged, I furled the genoa and started preparing for mooring either side.
Yet another harbour to enter in the dark, still very confusing with so many lights, both solid and flashing. I did make a mistake in following the bouys, or so I thought, heading for a pair of bright red and green lights. Unfortunately they were the entrance for Salterns. Ooops. Headed back to the main channel. The Brittany Ferry vessel had her navigation lights on, so I presumed she was leaving so stayed on the south side of the channel. She was moored up and not even loading.
As I approached Poole Yacht Club, I checked the layout of the marina using Google maps on satellite view. This helped me choose where to try finding a berth. Heading down ¾ the way along 2 long pontoons I spotted a pair of empty berths and chose to moor to port. The fingers were only half the length of Concerto, but not a problem as the other side of the finger was another Fulmar. It was now 23.05. Once I was happily secure, I went to connect the power, only to find I needed a card to load some electricity. Hence I could not work online, so I went to bed.
Bye, bye Berry Head
Multi layers of cloud
Leaving Torbay astern
More interesting cloud formations
Sailing along at some speed
Interesting cross patterns, are they jet trails?
Portland approaching
Just tacked and Portland Bill is in the distance
Portland Bill astern
The rare phenomenon of a cloud showing rainbow colours
The sun is almost below Portland Bill
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
All the links with place names are in my about me page available from my avatar.
Having calculated the optimum time to leave Brxham would be 10.30,assuming a 5 knot speed over the ground, then I would arrive at Portland Bill at slack low water. It is easier to punch slow tides than fast, so for most of the way across Lyme Bay I was punching the tide. Compared to the tides on several headlands, this was less than punching the tide there.
However I was ready earlier than I needed so I slipped out of the berth at 9.40. All the fenders and warps were away before I left the outer harbour. Then head to wind I hoisted full main and once on course, unfurled the genoa. It was a just very slightly cracked sheets off close hauled and the speed was about 6½ knots over the ground. However the forecast expected the wind to ease but remain the same direction until very late in the evening.
Near Berry Head I saw a gaff rigged boat about 3 miles on the beam to windward, having left Salcombe or Dartmouth, also heading for Portland Bill. She was definitely larger than me, and also had a mizzen. I was only fractionally faster despite being slightly closer to the wind than she was. The sailing conditions were beautiful with a wind near the full rig and with dapple sunshine most of the time, what better way to go sailing. Slowly the gaff rigger dropped behind as I climbed further to windward. The sea was relatively calm compared to a few days earleir, but there was still some movement to the water. Whilst sailing I saw some nice cloud formations to photograph.
As I approached Portland Bill, I was now close on the wind and the end of the dropping tide was swirling round the Bill and pushing me north. This started about 15 miles out, so the spring tide had some strength at half tide. The gaff rigged boat was about half a mile north of my course and about a mile astern. They decided to motor south to clear the Bill, but I carried on until I felt the wind start to drop in the lee of the shore. At this time I was about 2 miles too far north, but from about 4 miles out I started getting the back eddy altering my course over the ground by about 15 degrees and increasing my boat speed by a knot and increasing to 2 knots. The wind had increased to the point I may have to drop a reef in the main, but decided to hold on as I would soon be round the point. Unfortunately I had to put in a pair of tacks and I overstood the return tack as the tide was turning. Although still quite close to the point, about less than ¼ mile, the sea became very confused and lumpy - even made my decks wet. Worried about the Shambles Bank, I headed slightly north to keep clear of even rougher water. Finally I went close hauled again to head towards St Albin's Head and Anvil Head. The change of the tide pushed me slightly north, which I hoped would would reverse as I got closer to St Albin's Head. As I left Portland Bill the wind also eased back to the level it had been across Lyme Bay. It was about 19.00 when I tried phoning Poole Yacht Club to see if they had a berth, the bar staff could not help and the marina staff had left a couple of hours earlier. Nothing for it but arrive and find an empty berth.
Looking aft, I eventually saw the gaff rigged boat round the point and head for Weymouth. A look at the distance to my waypoint was now showing 6 miles and it was 15 miles when I rounded. They were 9 miles behind me. They should have followed my course and they would have saved themselves at least an hour. Whilst sailing I noticed the rare phenomenon of a cloud showing rainbow colours. This is due to either small water droplets or ice catching the light like a section of a rainbow. This was shortly before the sun dropped below the horizon. The tidal lift as I approached the head, was not quite enough, so anothe pair of tacks was made. I was only short by about ¼ mile. The water on St Albin's Head was running at 5 knots and very rough, even getting green water on the coachroof. No sooner than that ended, I rounded Anvil Head and had a similar but not as rough experience, although I did drop off the back of one wave with a resounding thud. Being fairly dark it was difficult to see any waves, you just rode them.
Sheets were now eased and then I headed past Swanage and Studland for Poole. It was nice to have a little light from the almost full moon. I could clearly make out Old Harry with this light. Just before the start of the main channel into Poole, I dropped the main by centering it whilst on the run rather than turn into wind. I could only do this as the wind was very light by now. With the engine engaged, I furled the genoa and started preparing for mooring either side.
Yet another harbour to enter in the dark, still very confusing with so many lights, both solid and flashing. I did make a mistake in following the bouys, or so I thought, heading for a pair of bright red and green lights. Unfortunately they were the entrance for Salterns. Ooops. Headed back to the main channel. The Brittany Ferry vessel had her navigation lights on, so I presumed she was leaving so stayed on the south side of the channel. She was moored up and not even loading.
As I approached Poole Yacht Club, I checked the layout of the marina using Google maps on satellite view. This helped me choose where to try finding a berth. Heading down ¾ the way along 2 long pontoons I spotted a pair of empty berths and chose to moor to port. The fingers were only half the length of Concerto, but not a problem as the other side of the finger was another Fulmar. It was now 23.05. Once I was happily secure, I went to connect the power, only to find I needed a card to load some electricity. Hence I could not work online, so I went to bed.
Bye, bye Berry Head
Multi layers of cloud
Leaving Torbay astern
More interesting cloud formations
Sailing along at some speed
Interesting cross patterns, are they jet trails?
Portland approaching
Just tacked and Portland Bill is in the distance
Portland Bill astern
The rare phenomenon of a cloud showing rainbow colours
The sun is almost below Portland Bill
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
All the links with place names are in my about me page available from my avatar.
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