Concerto
Well-known member
I left England for Scotland and went round the very top, then headed for Northern Ireland, followed by the Isle of Man and Wales. Guess what, I am back in England.
The wind was forecast to be ENE veering to E and returning to ENE with a wind speed of between 10 to 24 knots. The course was 175 degrees and the distance was 68 miles. I estimated it would take 10 to 11 hours.
The day started with a good sun rise. The other larger boat on the pontoon decide to leave at 7, but I thought it was too early considering the conditions. Access across Padstow bar would be from 18.20, with entry to the wet harbour from 18.50. My calculations suggested leaving at 7.30, which I did.
Before leaving Dale I raised a single reefed mainsail and single reefed genoa. Once by the heads, I realised I was under canvased, so shook the reefs out as I was on a beam reach. The other yacht was about 3 miles ahead and a useful marker on the skyline. The speed was knocked back by some tide, so only making about 5¼ knots over the ground. The further away from land the speed increased and the tide eased so I was making about 6¼ knots over the ground. Gradually over time the wind increased and the tide eased. I was starting to make 7 knots over the ground, which was more what I expected. By this time I could no longer see the yacht ahead due to a slight haze.
The wind kept increasing and the autopilot was using a lot of power, so I decided to hand steer. Having been off the mains electricty for 2½ days, my batteries needed charging, so 4 times during the day I had to run the engine to boost the charge. New solar panel and wind generator are on the shopping list for the boat show. Eventually I thought I should reef the main. Within 10 minutes, I then decided the genoa needed reefing as well. About an hour later I started hand steering again, when I started exceeding 7½ knots, I knew I was overcanvased again. Both were double reefed and the speed dropped a little but more than made up with favourable tide with the speed over the ground being between 6¾ and 7½ knots. There were some reasonable rollers with up to 2m peak to trough and planty of white cap waves. Concerto was really tramping, even catching the odd wave and trying to drench me. Then some dolphins came to visit, but they did not stay long. There was very little marine traffic. A couple of fishing boats, one yacht heading from Padstow to Milford Haven and a Sadler 34 motoring, or should I say pitching and slamming, to windward. They say gentlemen never beat, but me seeing the forward end of the keel meant it could not have been comfortable on board.
My track was very close to straight line course and then the tide changed at the same time the wind went E. Instead of a beam reach, it was just in front of the beam, even though I had freed off the course. Slowly the wind eased and backed to almost NNE, so I dropped back to single reefs. Calculating the anticipated arrival time, I did not need to go any faster as I would arrive too early. The cross tide kept increasing so forced me onto more of a run, so unfurled the genoa fully. The course now meant the genoa kept loosing the wind. Altering course by 30 degrees meant I could goose wing and then later when I changed course to Padstow it would be a two sail broad reach.
Once sheltered behind Pentire Point I dropped the sails and rigged fenders for both sides. Almost perfect timing to enter over the bar and guess who was just ahead of me. There was plenty of depth in the channel. I was directed to moor against ladder 9. I made a very smart gentle approach and the harbour master took my bow and stern lines. After moving a few fenders and fitting the fender plank and adding springs, I asked how much the water would drop. I was told half a metre, more like 1.5 metres as I have just had to slacken the bar hard mooring lines. It does seem strange to be moored on a wall with tourists sitting just above your boat. There is even a pub across the road and a busker a short distance away. By 10.30 it is almost totally quiet, it seems the sun and sea air have made them all sleepy and they have quietly gone home.
Sunrise just before 7
Sailing in sunshine and the odd drop of water slopped in the cockpit
The sun reflection of the rough water
Approaching Padstow entrance
I said there was a pub just across the road.
I was lucky as no one is rafted along side
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
All the links with place names are in my about me page available from my avatar.
Round Britian day 1
The wind was forecast to be ENE veering to E and returning to ENE with a wind speed of between 10 to 24 knots. The course was 175 degrees and the distance was 68 miles. I estimated it would take 10 to 11 hours.
The day started with a good sun rise. The other larger boat on the pontoon decide to leave at 7, but I thought it was too early considering the conditions. Access across Padstow bar would be from 18.20, with entry to the wet harbour from 18.50. My calculations suggested leaving at 7.30, which I did.
Before leaving Dale I raised a single reefed mainsail and single reefed genoa. Once by the heads, I realised I was under canvased, so shook the reefs out as I was on a beam reach. The other yacht was about 3 miles ahead and a useful marker on the skyline. The speed was knocked back by some tide, so only making about 5¼ knots over the ground. The further away from land the speed increased and the tide eased so I was making about 6¼ knots over the ground. Gradually over time the wind increased and the tide eased. I was starting to make 7 knots over the ground, which was more what I expected. By this time I could no longer see the yacht ahead due to a slight haze.
The wind kept increasing and the autopilot was using a lot of power, so I decided to hand steer. Having been off the mains electricty for 2½ days, my batteries needed charging, so 4 times during the day I had to run the engine to boost the charge. New solar panel and wind generator are on the shopping list for the boat show. Eventually I thought I should reef the main. Within 10 minutes, I then decided the genoa needed reefing as well. About an hour later I started hand steering again, when I started exceeding 7½ knots, I knew I was overcanvased again. Both were double reefed and the speed dropped a little but more than made up with favourable tide with the speed over the ground being between 6¾ and 7½ knots. There were some reasonable rollers with up to 2m peak to trough and planty of white cap waves. Concerto was really tramping, even catching the odd wave and trying to drench me. Then some dolphins came to visit, but they did not stay long. There was very little marine traffic. A couple of fishing boats, one yacht heading from Padstow to Milford Haven and a Sadler 34 motoring, or should I say pitching and slamming, to windward. They say gentlemen never beat, but me seeing the forward end of the keel meant it could not have been comfortable on board.
My track was very close to straight line course and then the tide changed at the same time the wind went E. Instead of a beam reach, it was just in front of the beam, even though I had freed off the course. Slowly the wind eased and backed to almost NNE, so I dropped back to single reefs. Calculating the anticipated arrival time, I did not need to go any faster as I would arrive too early. The cross tide kept increasing so forced me onto more of a run, so unfurled the genoa fully. The course now meant the genoa kept loosing the wind. Altering course by 30 degrees meant I could goose wing and then later when I changed course to Padstow it would be a two sail broad reach.
Once sheltered behind Pentire Point I dropped the sails and rigged fenders for both sides. Almost perfect timing to enter over the bar and guess who was just ahead of me. There was plenty of depth in the channel. I was directed to moor against ladder 9. I made a very smart gentle approach and the harbour master took my bow and stern lines. After moving a few fenders and fitting the fender plank and adding springs, I asked how much the water would drop. I was told half a metre, more like 1.5 metres as I have just had to slacken the bar hard mooring lines. It does seem strange to be moored on a wall with tourists sitting just above your boat. There is even a pub across the road and a busker a short distance away. By 10.30 it is almost totally quiet, it seems the sun and sea air have made them all sleepy and they have quietly gone home.
Sunrise just before 7
Sailing in sunshine and the odd drop of water slopped in the cockpit
The sun reflection of the rough water
Approaching Padstow entrance
I said there was a pub just across the road.
I was lucky as no one is rafted along side
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
All the links with place names are in my about me page available from my avatar.
Round Britian day 1
