Halcyon Yachts
Well-Known Member
Brighton to Port Medoc
Upon arrival in Brighton the crew were initially apprehensive. The vessel looked big and solid, but we all had the sense that she hadn’t been anywhere for a while… She was well set up as live aboard, but as she is now approaching 20 years old I was slightly nervous as to how the engines and systems would fair with a passage of around 500 miles.
We set off an hour or so before the sunset, just as the tide was turning to push us west. The conditions were calm and the skies were clear! We were informed that 10kts was a comfortable cruising speed with a maximum of 16kts.
Our first stop would be St Peter Port for fuel. In order to get to Alderney at slack water (just on the turn) we opted to slow down to around 8.5 kts as we crossed the Channel. The wind had picked up from the south with amazing accuracy from the forecast. We pulled into St Peter Port just after sunrise and tied up onto one of the floating pontoons. The forecast was such that we wouldn’t be going anywhere for 24hrs, so after a bit of sleep, a clean up and wash down, we rowed ashore and wandered around town. The heavens opened and the inevitable happened – we sought refuge in the nearest pub – The Harbour Lights. An amazing lack of good ale in Guernsey – so Guinness it was! Although only 4 O’clock in the afternoon (on a Thursday) the pub was still full of drinkers – with bad weather at sea I think all the fishermen had similar ideas to us.
With no particular rush to leave in the morning we slowly meandered over to the fuel dock and filled up her 3000 litre tanks before our next leg. By early afternoon the wind had dropped and the sun was even trying to show its face. Next stop would be Audierne for more fuel…
The night passage through the Chanel du Four involved a bit of excitement when a cruise ship overtook us heading south. We spotted them a long way off at the top end of the channel and noticed they were displaying Not Under Command lights. I was very surprised that a large vessel “not under command” would continue on through the Chanel Du Four at 20 kts… They passed a little close for comfort, felt like being between a “rock and a hard plaice”!
Note to anyone wanting fuel at Audierne – the pump doesn’t work and the slipway is badly affected by swell (it was calm there last time I called in). Having wasted several hours waiting for the tide we had to carry on round to Loctudy. Fortunately we fuelled quickly and carried on.
As we got about 5 miles offshore the fog rolled in. It was the worse fog I’ve been in since rounding Finisterre a few years back when I could barely see the bow! My entire watch involved staring straight ahead with my hand hovering over the throttle. Radar alarms were set and sensitivity increased to maximum. Just as I was due to come off watch a large dolphin jumped at amidships. As if by magic the fog then suddenly cleared. We sped back up to cruising speed and I handed over safe in the knowledge that I could now comfortably sleep!
By morning the conditions were perfect; Glassy seas and finally some warm sun. The final approaches up the Gironde were marvellous, the crew were all in high spirits and we were all feeling very pleased that the boat had performed so well.
Port Medoc was quiet as it still early in the season. The afternoon involved cleaning the yacht - scrubbing the deck in the sun was a welcome change from the snow back home!
It was my first time onboard a Trader 58 and I have to say that I was very impressed. The Caterpillar 3208 Engines ran perfectly, she felt very stable and was extremely comfortable to be onboard. With bow thrusters and twin props she was incredibly easy to Manoeuvre. She was also much more economical than I’d expected. All in all a very pleasing trip with some excellent crew!
I hope you enjoy the video:
Pete
Upon arrival in Brighton the crew were initially apprehensive. The vessel looked big and solid, but we all had the sense that she hadn’t been anywhere for a while… She was well set up as live aboard, but as she is now approaching 20 years old I was slightly nervous as to how the engines and systems would fair with a passage of around 500 miles.
We set off an hour or so before the sunset, just as the tide was turning to push us west. The conditions were calm and the skies were clear! We were informed that 10kts was a comfortable cruising speed with a maximum of 16kts.
Our first stop would be St Peter Port for fuel. In order to get to Alderney at slack water (just on the turn) we opted to slow down to around 8.5 kts as we crossed the Channel. The wind had picked up from the south with amazing accuracy from the forecast. We pulled into St Peter Port just after sunrise and tied up onto one of the floating pontoons. The forecast was such that we wouldn’t be going anywhere for 24hrs, so after a bit of sleep, a clean up and wash down, we rowed ashore and wandered around town. The heavens opened and the inevitable happened – we sought refuge in the nearest pub – The Harbour Lights. An amazing lack of good ale in Guernsey – so Guinness it was! Although only 4 O’clock in the afternoon (on a Thursday) the pub was still full of drinkers – with bad weather at sea I think all the fishermen had similar ideas to us.
With no particular rush to leave in the morning we slowly meandered over to the fuel dock and filled up her 3000 litre tanks before our next leg. By early afternoon the wind had dropped and the sun was even trying to show its face. Next stop would be Audierne for more fuel…
The night passage through the Chanel du Four involved a bit of excitement when a cruise ship overtook us heading south. We spotted them a long way off at the top end of the channel and noticed they were displaying Not Under Command lights. I was very surprised that a large vessel “not under command” would continue on through the Chanel Du Four at 20 kts… They passed a little close for comfort, felt like being between a “rock and a hard plaice”!
Note to anyone wanting fuel at Audierne – the pump doesn’t work and the slipway is badly affected by swell (it was calm there last time I called in). Having wasted several hours waiting for the tide we had to carry on round to Loctudy. Fortunately we fuelled quickly and carried on.
As we got about 5 miles offshore the fog rolled in. It was the worse fog I’ve been in since rounding Finisterre a few years back when I could barely see the bow! My entire watch involved staring straight ahead with my hand hovering over the throttle. Radar alarms were set and sensitivity increased to maximum. Just as I was due to come off watch a large dolphin jumped at amidships. As if by magic the fog then suddenly cleared. We sped back up to cruising speed and I handed over safe in the knowledge that I could now comfortably sleep!
By morning the conditions were perfect; Glassy seas and finally some warm sun. The final approaches up the Gironde were marvellous, the crew were all in high spirits and we were all feeling very pleased that the boat had performed so well.
Port Medoc was quiet as it still early in the season. The afternoon involved cleaning the yacht - scrubbing the deck in the sun was a welcome change from the snow back home!
It was my first time onboard a Trader 58 and I have to say that I was very impressed. The Caterpillar 3208 Engines ran perfectly, she felt very stable and was extremely comfortable to be onboard. With bow thrusters and twin props she was incredibly easy to Manoeuvre. She was also much more economical than I’d expected. All in all a very pleasing trip with some excellent crew!
I hope you enjoy the video:
Pete
But they seemed to have turned out a really nice boat.
