Voyage abandoned

[LadyInBed]

First outing this year, took a sailing friend for his first cross channel trip for a few days in Cherbourg.
We set off Wednesday with a ENE 4-5 forcast, we got a third of the way across and it was gusting 20 knots with apparent wind just S of East. Friend was looking unhappy so we decided to turn tail back to Poole but that apparent wind was too close to set a direct course so we bore off and headed to Weymouth. Now enjoying a couple of sunny days there but at a price £63.80 for two nights, that's eye watering to me, but they do stamp you a loyalty card so you can get 5 for 4 so that is getting down to Cherbourg rates. Card is valid until March 2021 so that will give me time to save up for the other two nights
Looks like we will be faced with a motor back to Poole on Saturday, it's always the way, too much wind or not enough!
WiFi here is good :encouragement: but that doesn't make up for a good moules - frites

 

[scrambledegg]

I sympathise. I have a few friends and relations that start to panic whenever the boat heels more than 20 degrees. It takes all the enjoyment out of it, but I think it's better to keep them happy.

 

[smb]

Are Weymouth still insisting yachts raft 4/5 deep whilst leaving acres of pontoon in case some mobos turn up?
Had it a couple of times last year so this year sailed straight past.

A quiet pint sat in the evening sun outside the boot is no bad thing though.

 

[Lucky Duck]

The Cove was rafted two or three deep this evening but there did seem to be some oddly empty bits of the pontoon just by the harbour office.

 

[Ningaloo]

Plenty of sheltered anchorage space just inside Portland harbour. Maybe just go into Weymouth for a short stay and spend the night on the hook next time?
I discovered the anchorage last year after getting held back by headwinds and adverse tides on my way to the Scillies. (We got as far as Fowey last year before the weather beat us but made it to Tresco last week!)

 

[oldmanofthehills]

I must confess I rather like Weymouth, but then I have Portland connections and our fathers old hut on the Bill. Good pubs, decent chandlery and good shops in Weymouth and you can watch the world go by - some are quite good looking and I like watching the kids fishing for crabs. On the other hand there is free anchoring in Portland Harbour and better access to the Cove Inn.

I spend £300 a year on my two moorings and don't go on holiday to save money so don't mind that much for a few weeks berthing or mooring fees in different places - anyway mooring fees can sometimes be dwarfed by the bills we get for the good food and drink in various shoreside establishments

 

[Lucky Duck]

Are there many anchoring spots in Portland suitable for a stiff East/North East

We abandoned the visitors' pontoons at the marina yesterday morning as it was getting rather bumpy just from the fetch within the marina breakwaters

 

[john_morris_uk]

First outing this year, took a sailing friend for his first cross channel trip for a few days in Cherbourg.
We set off Wednesday with a ENE 4-5 forcast, we got a third of the way across and it was gusting 20 knots with apparent wind just S of East. Friend was looking unhappy so we decided to turn tail back to Poole but that apparent wind was too close to set a direct course so we bore off and headed to Weymouth. Now enjoying a couple of sunny days there but at a price £63.80 for two nights, that's eye watering to me, but they do stamp you a loyalty card so you can get 5 for 4 so that is getting down to Cherbourg rates. Card is valid until March 2021 so that will give me time to save up for the other two nights
Looks like we will be faced with a motor back to Poole on Saturday, it's always the way, too much wind or not enough!
WiFi here is good :encouragement: but that doesn't make up for a good moules - frites

I wonder why your friend was looking unhappy. Was it for being out of sight of land, the boat leaning, the motion of the boat, or seasickness or a combination of any other above?

 

[LadyInBed]

I wonder why your friend was looking unhappy. Was it for being out of sight of land, the boat leaning, the motion of the boat, or seasickness or a combination of any other above?

I think it was a bit of seasickness combined with some apprehension thinking of the time taken for the first third so twice that time to go.

 

[LadyInBed]

Are there many anchoring spots in Portland suitable for a stiff East/North East

watch out for the wreck South of the North entrance and just inside the East wall.

We abandoned the visitors' pontoons at the marina yesterday morning as it was getting rather bumpy just from the fetch within the marina breakwaters

They put me on D2 in the basin over on the South side, it's nicely sheltered but a hike to the showers.
It's been a few years since I stopped in Weymouth, they appear to be using the basin pontoon for bigger boats than they used to, they have also got smart with the berth numbering.

 

[capnsensible]

First outing this year, took a sailing friend for his first cross channel trip for a few days in Cherbourg.
We set off Wednesday with a ENE 4-5 forcast, we got a third of the way across and it was gusting 20 knots with apparent wind just S of East. Friend was looking unhappy so we decided to turn tail back to Poole but that apparent wind was too close to set a direct course so we bore off and headed to Weymouth. Now enjoying a couple of sunny days there but at a price £63.80 for two nights, that's eye watering to me, but they do stamp you a loyalty card so you can get 5 for 4 so that is getting down to Cherbourg rates. Card is valid until March 2021 so that will give me time to save up for the other two nights
Looks like we will be faced with a motor back to Poole on Saturday, it's always the way, too much wind or not enough!
WiFi here is good :encouragement: but that doesn't make up for a good moules - frites

A good Skippers call I reckon. Cherbourg ain't going anywhere else anytime soon!

 

[Lucky Duck]

watch out for the wreck South of the North entrance and just inside the East wall.

They put me on D2 in the basin over on the South side, it's nicely sheltered but a hike to the showers.
It's been a few years since I stopped in Weymouth, they appear to be using the basin pontoon for bigger boats than they used to, they have also got smart with the berth numbering.

Apologies, should have been clearer I was referring to Portland Marina's visitor pontoons.

After a brief crisis at the mid-day bridge lift we are now in a safely in Weymouth marina.

 

[john_morris_uk]

A good Skippers call I reckon. Cherbourg ain't going anywhere else anytime soon!

I agree - although sometimes before sacking the whole cross channel passage, I experiment with a change of course - ie looking at options for Alderney etc might have meant that the motion changed and one might even have speeded up as the sheets were freed a little. It would all depend on what the tide was going to do as you approached Cap de la Hague. Wind against tide there isn't funny.

I remember once sailing from Bermuda towards Charleston and ending up in Norfolk Virginia!

 

[lw395]

I agree - although sometimes I experiment with a change of course - ie looking at options for Alderney etc might have meant that the motion changed and one might even have speeded up as the sheets were freed a little. It would all depend on what the tide was going to do as you approached Cap de la Hague. Wind against tide there isn't funny.

I would have thought Bray might have been a tad lively last night, and I don't mean the club bar!

Personally I only tend to end up in Cherbourg as a change of plan when I set off for somewhere else like StVaast.

 

[LadyInBed]

After a brief crisis at the mid-day bridge lift we are now in a safely in Weymouth marina.

How much are they charging there?

 

[longjohnsilver]

£3-25 pm I believe

 

[Seajet]

A good Skippers call I reckon. Cherbourg ain't going anywhere else anytime soon!

Agreed, a good skipper looks after their crew, and while it may be news to some people, sailing is supposed to be FUN for all, not an endurance test ! :encouragement:

 

[LittleSister]

Agreed, a good skipper looks after their crew, and while it may be news to some people, sailing is supposed to be FUN for all, not an endurance test ! :encouragement:

I agree, but I've occasionally had crew (and skippers) who were themselves a bit of an endurance test!

 

[john_morris_uk]

I agree, but I've occasionally had crew (and skippers) who were themselves a bit of an endurance test!

Indeed. There’s sometimes a fine line between jollying people a long and encouraging the faint hearted and perceiving that it really would be sensible to change the plan.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Indeed. There’s sometimes a fine line between jollying people a long and encouraging the faint hearted and perceiving that it really would be sensible to change the plan.

It is a point of discussion perhaps but experience and confidence can only be gained from breaking new ground and extending ones limits.

I taught a previous partner who was of a very cautious disposition by gradually and I mean gradually taking her out in increasingly challenging (for her) conditions. In the end she was confident enough in herself, the vessel and me that she was happy to undertake extended offshore voyages as a full participant in the running and management of the boat.

So yes don't break your crew, it is important that they are not put off forever but they need to have confidence in the boat and skipper such that they trust them in order that they don't become too limited by their own perceptions and limited experience. Sometimes a comforting word and a bit of encouragement is all that is needed, then again if the skipper knows the crew and their limitations it's his call.