Concerto
Well-known member
A day late in posting due to a late leaving of Peel because of tides.
Normal service continued with winds of force 5 to 6. After slipping the berth a 14.55 I slipped throught the marina entrance first before 2 boats entered. Once the fenders and warps were tidied I turned into wind and raised the mainsail to the 2nd reef, I had not shaken it out from 2 days earlier. As I turned on to port tack, I unfurled the genoa to a single reef. This tack was taking me in a SW direction as it was almost a direct beat to the south of the IOM. I held this tack for about 2 hours and decided it was about right to tack. For some time the wind was definitely force 6, but the further south I went, it eased to a force 5.
In fact I overstood by about 2-300 metres as I approached the Calf Sound, so had to ease the sheets slightly. The gap here is quite narrow, only about 150m and only about 7m deep in places when I passed through. On the way down and through the Calf Sound I had been punching the tide. For safety, I used the engine to power through the strong current as I would have been very tight on the wind, but this did save a lot of distance by not going round the Calf of Man. Then heading eastwards, the sea was very confused and rough, making some of my photos not to quite my regular standard. I tried to keep my distance off Spanish Head and Black Head due to the wave conditions.
Finally when I was off Langness Lighthouse, I was able to ease the sheets on to a very bouncy broad reach into the tide, but would require gybing downwind to reach Douglas. It was slow going over the ground so I unfurled fully the genoa. This helped slightly but the rig felt unbalanced, so I shook one reef out of the mainsail, leaving a single reef in. Gradually the tide eased and the wind increased back to a 6, plus it veereed from SSW to almost W. The sun was setting and it would not be long before it would be dark. The boat speed was great by now getting 6½ to 7 knots over the ground at slack water.
Close to Douglas, I rolled the genoa away and started the engine. Then I turned toward the shore just north of the harbour so I could drop the mainsail. Once it was down, I put out the fenders and lines for mooring on port side. Then finally I put the engine in gear and turned to close the approach channel, calling the harbour on VHF to check there were no commercial movements. With so many lights on shore it was difficult to pick out the pier on the east side, but it soon became clearer as I used the blue leading lights. Finding the holding pontoon was a bit more fun as it is tucked almost in the dark corner of the pier. Finally I nudged alongside and moored up. It was now 22.30.
Access to the marina is by a flap gate, but according to the published times this would not be opening until just after 2.30 in the morning. The holding pontoon did have a fair amount of movement with the fenders and lines squeaking and groaning. After a quick tidy up, I settled down to read a book, only to be disturbed by my daughter starting to text. Feeling a bit tired I stretched out with a throw over me to catch a few zzzz's, making sure I had an alarm set for 2. I slept for about 90 minutes before being rudely awoken by the alarm. I prepared the boat to leave and contacted the harbour control so I could access the marina. The tide had not risen as forecast and they said they would lift the bridge at 3, so I slowly made my way there. One of the team would meet me on the pontoon to assist me berthing. The berths are angled and I do nt think they could have given me a tighter berth to fit into. There were empty double berths which would have been simpler at that time of night. Finally all moored up at 3.15, hence why no report last night.
On course for Calf Sound
It was rough at times
Calf Sound ahead. I had to slip beween the port island and the beacon and then harden up to miss some shallow rocks
Inviting rocks to lee
From memory I think this was Black Head
I told you it was narrow
From a different angle. very inviting
Chicken Rock Lighthouse off the tip of Calf of Man
Leaving Calf Sound in the distance
Calf of Man slipping astern
Sunset is getting close
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
Normal service continued with winds of force 5 to 6. After slipping the berth a 14.55 I slipped throught the marina entrance first before 2 boats entered. Once the fenders and warps were tidied I turned into wind and raised the mainsail to the 2nd reef, I had not shaken it out from 2 days earlier. As I turned on to port tack, I unfurled the genoa to a single reef. This tack was taking me in a SW direction as it was almost a direct beat to the south of the IOM. I held this tack for about 2 hours and decided it was about right to tack. For some time the wind was definitely force 6, but the further south I went, it eased to a force 5.
In fact I overstood by about 2-300 metres as I approached the Calf Sound, so had to ease the sheets slightly. The gap here is quite narrow, only about 150m and only about 7m deep in places when I passed through. On the way down and through the Calf Sound I had been punching the tide. For safety, I used the engine to power through the strong current as I would have been very tight on the wind, but this did save a lot of distance by not going round the Calf of Man. Then heading eastwards, the sea was very confused and rough, making some of my photos not to quite my regular standard. I tried to keep my distance off Spanish Head and Black Head due to the wave conditions.
Finally when I was off Langness Lighthouse, I was able to ease the sheets on to a very bouncy broad reach into the tide, but would require gybing downwind to reach Douglas. It was slow going over the ground so I unfurled fully the genoa. This helped slightly but the rig felt unbalanced, so I shook one reef out of the mainsail, leaving a single reef in. Gradually the tide eased and the wind increased back to a 6, plus it veereed from SSW to almost W. The sun was setting and it would not be long before it would be dark. The boat speed was great by now getting 6½ to 7 knots over the ground at slack water.
Close to Douglas, I rolled the genoa away and started the engine. Then I turned toward the shore just north of the harbour so I could drop the mainsail. Once it was down, I put out the fenders and lines for mooring on port side. Then finally I put the engine in gear and turned to close the approach channel, calling the harbour on VHF to check there were no commercial movements. With so many lights on shore it was difficult to pick out the pier on the east side, but it soon became clearer as I used the blue leading lights. Finding the holding pontoon was a bit more fun as it is tucked almost in the dark corner of the pier. Finally I nudged alongside and moored up. It was now 22.30.
Access to the marina is by a flap gate, but according to the published times this would not be opening until just after 2.30 in the morning. The holding pontoon did have a fair amount of movement with the fenders and lines squeaking and groaning. After a quick tidy up, I settled down to read a book, only to be disturbed by my daughter starting to text. Feeling a bit tired I stretched out with a throw over me to catch a few zzzz's, making sure I had an alarm set for 2. I slept for about 90 minutes before being rudely awoken by the alarm. I prepared the boat to leave and contacted the harbour control so I could access the marina. The tide had not risen as forecast and they said they would lift the bridge at 3, so I slowly made my way there. One of the team would meet me on the pontoon to assist me berthing. The berths are angled and I do nt think they could have given me a tighter berth to fit into. There were empty double berths which would have been simpler at that time of night. Finally all moored up at 3.15, hence why no report last night.
On course for Calf Sound
It was rough at times
Calf Sound ahead. I had to slip beween the port island and the beacon and then harden up to miss some shallow rocks
Inviting rocks to lee
From memory I think this was Black Head
I told you it was narrow
From a different angle. very inviting
Chicken Rock Lighthouse off the tip of Calf of Man
Leaving Calf Sound in the distance
Calf of Man slipping astern
Sunset is getting close
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
