Wind is not always in wrong direction

[Sailfree]

It always seems that way!

Last Friday forcast at Cherbourg was for NW so off to Guernsey. Wind was exactly SW and on the nose going down to Guernsey.

Returned on Sunday with the most fantastic sail I have ever had in last 20yrs. Wind was W did not go weak as forcast did not go to the NW as forcast just a good reach all the way and wind increasing from 12 to up to 22kts.

I have not got a fast cruiser racer in the old shape Jeanneau 43DS but did the journey in 10hrs Guernsey to Poole! Allowing half hour each end to get out of Marina and motoring into Poole Harbour and berth at Parkstone YC the total time from slipping ropes to tying up was 11 hrs.

Could not wipe the grin off crews faces when we hit 11 kts at one point. Boat started to get overpowered at 18 -22 kts in last 4hrs so reefed down both Genoa and Main but pleased we only lost about 0.5 kt of speed.

I love sailing but this journey was the to me that a hole in one must be for golfers.

 

[TiggerToo]

I love sailing but this journey was the to me that a hole in one must be for golfers

never played golf, but I can fully relate to that grin.... :encouragement:

 

[Sandy]

I love sailing but this journey was the to me that a hole in one must be for golfers.

Sailing lasts much, much longer and when you get it right it is much, much better.

 

[KellysEye]

I remember when we chartered a boat from Kos ,Greece and it was blowing a southerly gale, no problem we were heading north for a week, but dreading sailing back. On the day we returned the wind turned to a northerly gale, reefed down they were the fastest passages we ever made chartering and couldn't believe our luck.

 

[DJE]

It was the same last Thursday for us. Eastbourne to Portsmouth on the last leg of the new boat delivery. Very light wind round Beachy Head then northerly F3-4 all the way from Newhaven to the Looe channel where it went light westerly. So we motored through and got a SW F3 for another beam reach from Selsey to Portsmouth. I even got the camera out somewhere off Shoreham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgOs_r4ykm8