Hurricane
Well-Known Member
It seems that you've all been waiting for this post.
But it was a very special day for us anyway and now that we are safely back in Devon, I can put this post up for you all to see.
Firstly, I apploogise for those of you that know the Solent and these waters, but it occurred to me that some on this forum might like to see some of the areas that we've been talking about over the years. I dont think anyone has posted a full set of pictures all the way up the Hamble. The later part of this post could be a bit boring but thos of you that havent seen or been to the Hamble might be interested - IMO this is probably the busiest leisure waterway in the world - can be a magical place - and very challenging, say, on August Bank Holiday!!!
Anyway back to the main point.
Some Background.
For those of you joining the story here, a few months ago, SWMBO and I ordered a new boat. She was to be (and now is) a brand new Princess 67 - that makes her just over 20 metres long. She is a conventional flybridge cruiser with three main cabins and crews quarters. The difference between this and the old boat (the first JennyWren) is mainly size. The accomodation layout is similar but everything is MUCH bigger. She is destined for the Med and so, wont be staying in these waters long. Being retired, and having loved the experience of our prevuious boat (a Sealine T51), we have decided to take her down to the Med "on her own bottom". This should be an adventure in itself and I hope to be opsting the whole thing on this forum as it happens. From the replies that I've had on other posts, it seems that you are all interested in our adventure.
Over the last few months we have been watching our new baby being built in a massive shed with 5 others for company and a few weeks ago, I posted some pictures of our first visit to see her in her completed form - she had finished her initial sea trials and was part way through her PDI. She finishes her PDI after we have fitted new electronics. These new electronice include a full Raymarine G Series installation - 4 displays will be linked to a PC and have Cat6 cables throughour distributing such things as Satellite TV and radio etc to make her a truly "home from home" when she enters service in the Med.
So - earlier this week we started the next phase - transporting her to the Hamble where she will undergo the final stage of the build. I have to say at this time, she only half belongs to us and this delivery trip was the responsibility of the dealer - we only went along as crew.
It was last Wednesday morning a really wonderfull day - cold but brilliant sunshine when we arrived at Plymouth's Sutton Harbour marina. The boat was fuelled and ready to go. The forecast was ok - F3/F4 from the north. We would be pushing a tide most of the way so it wasnt to be the most comfortable of passages but certainly do-able. However, the forecast for the next day was entirely different and we all agreed that if we didnt get her to Swanwick on the Wednesday, and with the Easter Bank holidey, it would be another week before we could do the trip.
Beautifull day in Plymouth.
So off we went
And into the lock with another Princess that was on delivery and the Pilot
Then out into Plymouth Sound
And FINALLY - we get to have a quick drive of our new baby.
Things got a little cold so we all went below and just let the boat get on with the passage.
There is certainly something going on below decks in this picture - a total of 2400HP and, of course, the obigatory wake shot - perhaps with a little difference.
Things were all going to plan - is was a bit bumpy going through Lyme Bay but nothing untoward - until BANG - a bloody submerged lobster pot. It has never happened to me and the delivery skipper said that it hadnt happened to him recently either (afterwards, he admitted that he was overdue).
I have to admit I wouldnt have reacted as quickly as he did - the engines were immediatly throttled down and we went through the old reversing back etc to free things.
No luck - it was jus as well that (as the skipper put it) Old Bill was lokking after us today. He was, of course refferring to Portland Bill which is more or less where we were when it happened. The overfalls were non existant and the sea was really very calm.
It was the port prop - the starboard engine seemed free but there were some vibrations when we throttled up the port engine. The only solution was to call in to nearby Weymouth so with the starboard engine carrying most of the load and the port engine lightly feathering we limped into Weymouth.
Here's a graphic of our track and where it happened. The red line is our actual track as recorded by Memory-Map on my PDA.
And here we are - safely in Weymouth - very empty - gave me time to give Rickp a call. We were hoping to get to a forum meeting later in the evening at Wokingham which seemed miles away at the moment and Rick was also planning a trip to Weymouth so it seemed to me a good time to give him a call. "Hi Rick - Weymouth's lovely" - I said.
Soon after we had taken the lobster pot round the prop, the delivery crew had been on the phone and a diver was waiting at the quayside when we pulled in. There was barely time to grab a coffee before the problem was rectified.
It turned out to be a small buoy on some 10mm rope - there were actually three of us "looking out" at the time of the incident so it must have been submerged and unavoidable - although it is an area renouned for its pots I believe.
So that done - we set off again - only an hour delay - amazing - if we were on our own, I think the incident would have taken me all day to sort out.
Thanks Weymouth - see you again sometime.
Continued on post #34
But it was a very special day for us anyway and now that we are safely back in Devon, I can put this post up for you all to see.
Firstly, I apploogise for those of you that know the Solent and these waters, but it occurred to me that some on this forum might like to see some of the areas that we've been talking about over the years. I dont think anyone has posted a full set of pictures all the way up the Hamble. The later part of this post could be a bit boring but thos of you that havent seen or been to the Hamble might be interested - IMO this is probably the busiest leisure waterway in the world - can be a magical place - and very challenging, say, on August Bank Holiday!!!
Anyway back to the main point.
Some Background.
For those of you joining the story here, a few months ago, SWMBO and I ordered a new boat. She was to be (and now is) a brand new Princess 67 - that makes her just over 20 metres long. She is a conventional flybridge cruiser with three main cabins and crews quarters. The difference between this and the old boat (the first JennyWren) is mainly size. The accomodation layout is similar but everything is MUCH bigger. She is destined for the Med and so, wont be staying in these waters long. Being retired, and having loved the experience of our prevuious boat (a Sealine T51), we have decided to take her down to the Med "on her own bottom". This should be an adventure in itself and I hope to be opsting the whole thing on this forum as it happens. From the replies that I've had on other posts, it seems that you are all interested in our adventure.
Over the last few months we have been watching our new baby being built in a massive shed with 5 others for company and a few weeks ago, I posted some pictures of our first visit to see her in her completed form - she had finished her initial sea trials and was part way through her PDI. She finishes her PDI after we have fitted new electronics. These new electronice include a full Raymarine G Series installation - 4 displays will be linked to a PC and have Cat6 cables throughour distributing such things as Satellite TV and radio etc to make her a truly "home from home" when she enters service in the Med.
So - earlier this week we started the next phase - transporting her to the Hamble where she will undergo the final stage of the build. I have to say at this time, she only half belongs to us and this delivery trip was the responsibility of the dealer - we only went along as crew.
It was last Wednesday morning a really wonderfull day - cold but brilliant sunshine when we arrived at Plymouth's Sutton Harbour marina. The boat was fuelled and ready to go. The forecast was ok - F3/F4 from the north. We would be pushing a tide most of the way so it wasnt to be the most comfortable of passages but certainly do-able. However, the forecast for the next day was entirely different and we all agreed that if we didnt get her to Swanwick on the Wednesday, and with the Easter Bank holidey, it would be another week before we could do the trip.
Beautifull day in Plymouth.
So off we went
And into the lock with another Princess that was on delivery and the Pilot
Then out into Plymouth Sound
And FINALLY - we get to have a quick drive of our new baby.
Things got a little cold so we all went below and just let the boat get on with the passage.
There is certainly something going on below decks in this picture - a total of 2400HP and, of course, the obigatory wake shot - perhaps with a little difference.
Things were all going to plan - is was a bit bumpy going through Lyme Bay but nothing untoward - until BANG - a bloody submerged lobster pot. It has never happened to me and the delivery skipper said that it hadnt happened to him recently either (afterwards, he admitted that he was overdue).
I have to admit I wouldnt have reacted as quickly as he did - the engines were immediatly throttled down and we went through the old reversing back etc to free things.
No luck - it was jus as well that (as the skipper put it) Old Bill was lokking after us today. He was, of course refferring to Portland Bill which is more or less where we were when it happened. The overfalls were non existant and the sea was really very calm.
It was the port prop - the starboard engine seemed free but there were some vibrations when we throttled up the port engine. The only solution was to call in to nearby Weymouth so with the starboard engine carrying most of the load and the port engine lightly feathering we limped into Weymouth.
Here's a graphic of our track and where it happened. The red line is our actual track as recorded by Memory-Map on my PDA.
And here we are - safely in Weymouth - very empty - gave me time to give Rickp a call. We were hoping to get to a forum meeting later in the evening at Wokingham which seemed miles away at the moment and Rick was also planning a trip to Weymouth so it seemed to me a good time to give him a call. "Hi Rick - Weymouth's lovely" - I said.
Soon after we had taken the lobster pot round the prop, the delivery crew had been on the phone and a diver was waiting at the quayside when we pulled in. There was barely time to grab a coffee before the problem was rectified.
It turned out to be a small buoy on some 10mm rope - there were actually three of us "looking out" at the time of the incident so it must have been submerged and unavoidable - although it is an area renouned for its pots I believe.
So that done - we set off again - only an hour delay - amazing - if we were on our own, I think the incident would have taken me all day to sort out.
Thanks Weymouth - see you again sometime.
Continued on post #34
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