Watchet weekend.17th-18th May

[graham]

Some timings for anyone thinking of going. All in BST

sat 17th Watchet Gate opens 1539 Closes 2022

sun 18th Watchet Gate closes 0849 Opens 1613

Remember that the exact gate times depend on the tide on the day which may be affected by weather etc so it pays to get in with 30 minutes to spare if you can.

If you just miss the last gate time you can lie in the mud next to the steps/ladders in the outer harbour.A fender board is needed to keep you off the buttresses.

We are thinking of locking out of Cardiff about 0930 on Saturday then going down to Blue anchor on the ebb ,anchor then to wait for the afternoon gate opening. All dependant on weather of course.

Watchet Marina

 

[Csail]

Not been there for ages so will ask swmbo when she gets up.

 

[Elza_Skip]

Looks like we will be getting there early- About 1 week!

We are going over tomorrow for the night as wife is away the following week. Also the weather looks great this week-end

 

[LizzyD]

Checked the diary and for once, I'm not on call. Boat not ready though. I could pull my finger out on Friday evening though and put that right. Need to check with Bev, but we might actually make it on a trip this year! I wonder whether we'll have decent weather?

Lizzy D

 

[Elza_Skip]

If I can find somewhere to fly the burgee you may be able to spot me there!

 

[seedog]

Stepped mast today and everything looks ready for going into the briny this week. Will hopefully get in Wednesday/Thursday and hopefully be ready to go saturday AM. Slight problem is I have to drop SWMBO at Bristol airport so won't get out of portishead till an hour after HW. Does that leave me enough ebb to get down to Watchet?

 

[damo]

Doubt it, unless you can maintain about 15kn SOG! It is nearly 30 miles, and the gate closes at Watchet about 2hrs after HW Avonmouth IIRC. It is hard enough to do in a sail boat, even if you leave before HW to punch the tide down to Clevedon. There is a good anchorage at Blue Anchor Bay, only a couple of miles away, to wait until the next opening time. The advice is to approach Watchet just before HW

Check out their website:http://www.watchet-harbour-marina.com/index.htm

 

[graham]

An hour after HW would be a good time to leave. As Damo said you wont get down in time to go straight in but that would be virtually impossible to do at small yacht speeds no matter when you leave.

If weather is suitable you could anchor in Blue anchor bay a mile or so West of Watchet. Another possibillity is to drop down to Barry first.Kill an hour or so in the harbour then head across .The tide will then be more or less on your beam from Barry to Watchet.

No need to wait until nearly HW to go in It pays not to go in immediately the flap opens.Leave it ten or fifteen minutes when the currents die down.Go through the marina entrance fairly quickly to minimize the effect of the cross tide on the entrance.Rig lines and fenders in Watchet outer harbour which you can enter about 20 minutes earlier than the Marina opens.

We will probably use one of the same options coming down from Cardiff. We can do it on one tide but prefer to take our time and enjoy the sail rather than be constantly looking at the clock to make sure we get there on time.

Fingers crossed for suitable weather look forward to seeing you there. Cheers Graham

 

[seedog]

Cheers Damo,
Will sit sit down and do the passage plan this week. I did a quick back of fag packet calc. last week and think if there is a breeze it is doable but without a breeze it is not going to happen. If you are abou this week will pick your brains.
Cheers
SD

 

[graham]

Its looking as if Bristol is a more convenient destination for the people who may be going this weekend so the Watchet meet is now renamed the Bristol meet.

We will lock out from Cardiff about 1100 on Saturday for an afternoon sail up channel to Bristol hopefully meeting a few other forumites on the way. Could be a good mutual photo opportunity somewhere hint hint. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Mike_S]

Looks like we'll have to give it a miss, I'm still waiting for a new fuel pump to be fitted, so she'll not be ready to go back in until Saturday morning at this rate and I'm not risking the first run to be right across the channel. 7 weeks encounting we've been in the yard out on the trailer now /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Arsebiscuits /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Sneds]

Shame! Feel for you, been there and not nice!

 

[damo]

Off to Portsmouth tues to pick up s/h cruising chute from a forumite /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif On duty weds and thurs night if you want to drop in, otherwise working on the boat most of the time (F13). Nearly there /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mike_S]

[ QUOTE ]
Shame! Feel for you, been there and not nice!

[/ QUOTE ]

Tell me about it !!! Last weekend was annoying to say the least, watching everyone else ripping round the bay & channel in the sunshine on a millpond. I've not seen it that flat for nearly a year /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Let's hope the weather stays sunny and calm for a while /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[seedog]

Extragreen went back in the water this afternoon so first cruise will be up to Bristol on Saturday.

By the way Portishead yard staff were excellent, could not do enough to help and very patient.

Meant to put this on the Bristol Weekend post so will put it there now.