mjf
Well-Known Member
Oh the Joy! Reading various threads on here on mooring issues and anchorages in different areas and boating in general makes me think actually how lucky I am boating in the Solent.
Last weekend for example the radio was alive with sunsail hosting 50/60 boat regatta all trying to leave Puerto Solento lock at the same time. Luckily I had foreseen this and slipped early.
Then the wind picks up a little and there is a yacht collision – near sinking, helo airborne etc
I’m tucked up in Newtown Creek – HM comes by and we have a nice chat; have not seen each other since September.
Great afternoon watching the antics of first seasons’ anchoring
Big sail boat anchors nearby and as the tide reaches its full height his anchor lifts off the bottom (no scope see) and off he drags – SWMBO hails the skipper whilst I hoot and flash the floodlight in the dusk conditions. Up comes the skippers pulls the 5 m of chain he has out in 5m of water and re-anchors further away this time.
Not quite a pj party but could have well been…
Then on the way home we encounter the sunsail fleet racing right across between Osborne Bay and the main land… 60 boats! Got through without damage but did witness a full on 60 degree collision between two of them, bits of F/G and stanchion rails etc flying about left right and centre! That was exactly what worried me as these guys get the red mist and under full sail just have no idea of what is about them.
Then a pleasant interlude back at base with the hand held listening to their return and crash-bang-wallop in the lock.
Terrific w/e – I reckon it would be a bit boring elsewhere? Certainly The VHF never lets up.
One thing I did notice was the vastly more AIS craft on the water with Tx on. It’s quite confusing as the Solent used really only used to display the ferries and commercial stuff. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry seem to Tx the world their position. I think jfm is right and only Tx this at night or on long ‘ocean’ passages.
All this fun 90mins away from my home by car too!
Last weekend for example the radio was alive with sunsail hosting 50/60 boat regatta all trying to leave Puerto Solento lock at the same time. Luckily I had foreseen this and slipped early.
Then the wind picks up a little and there is a yacht collision – near sinking, helo airborne etc
I’m tucked up in Newtown Creek – HM comes by and we have a nice chat; have not seen each other since September.
Great afternoon watching the antics of first seasons’ anchoring
Big sail boat anchors nearby and as the tide reaches its full height his anchor lifts off the bottom (no scope see) and off he drags – SWMBO hails the skipper whilst I hoot and flash the floodlight in the dusk conditions. Up comes the skippers pulls the 5 m of chain he has out in 5m of water and re-anchors further away this time.
Not quite a pj party but could have well been…
Then on the way home we encounter the sunsail fleet racing right across between Osborne Bay and the main land… 60 boats! Got through without damage but did witness a full on 60 degree collision between two of them, bits of F/G and stanchion rails etc flying about left right and centre! That was exactly what worried me as these guys get the red mist and under full sail just have no idea of what is about them.
Then a pleasant interlude back at base with the hand held listening to their return and crash-bang-wallop in the lock.
Terrific w/e – I reckon it would be a bit boring elsewhere? Certainly The VHF never lets up.
One thing I did notice was the vastly more AIS craft on the water with Tx on. It’s quite confusing as the Solent used really only used to display the ferries and commercial stuff. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry seem to Tx the world their position. I think jfm is right and only Tx this at night or on long ‘ocean’ passages.
All this fun 90mins away from my home by car too!
house to boat 5mins.
