Project for 2014

I like to set myself challenges and I thought next season I'd combine the sailing with a little research.

Ever since I started sailing with the Drascombe crowd there have been a cluster or group of venerable souls who seems to absorb local knowledge and information about the ports and locations we sail to- they know the characteristics of the port, the characters and the history of the area.

I thought next year the challenge would be to try and get some of this knowledge down and combine it with conversations with locals - the harbour master, fisherman etc and try to compile a series of articles on here.

 A sample of the venerable Drascombers

We'll see how it goes but you have been warned - you Drascombe lot - prepare to be downloaded for the greater good.

Contributions to the articles/notes are welcome - our first sailing event is the early May bank holiday  so we'll see where we go and who I can speak to.

End of Season review

Well the season is well and truly over now. The Drascombe dinner at CYC earlier in the month puts the final stamp on it and then it's looking forward to the February dinner and the new season that lies ahead.

Daislebee is put to bed, cushions, batteries, sails etc all safely stored at home, the mast down and her winter cover tied down snugly.

Caroline and our new(ish) dog Suki, came down to help with the winterisation in late October. She was very good, taking the boat out of her berth, around the marina to warm up the engine and then mooring her along side the pontoon where we dealt with the antifreeze. It bodes well for a short trip next season ... we'll see.....

Caroline and Suki

We spent the weekend in Chichester and enjoyed looking around the city once our work at the boat was done.

It is about this time of year I do a review of the season so here it is:-

• In spite of work I managed 26 nights afloat
• I sailed on the East Coast for the first time
• I didn't need to use the heater - so I'll keep it on board for next season
• I used the grill fitting a couple of time with success so I'll keep that as well
• I expanded my recipes for on board cooking
• I saw a RIB dropped form a C-130
• I had some great sails and good times with all concerned.
• My wife came on the boat - didn't hate it and may come for a voyage next year.

So a very good season, blessed with a lot of good weather. I'm looking forward to the next one and planning already.

Solent Cruise - Saturday 7th - Friday 13th September 2013

Couldn't wait to escape from work to get away on the boat. Anticipation mixed with sadness as it will probably be my last jaunt of the season so let's hope it's a good one.

I had planned to get out on the Saturday and get a day and night alone before joining the crowd but as it turned out i spent a leisurely Saturday getting to the boat, getting sorted on board and then chilling for the rest of the day with Adrian, over a few beers, before adjourning to CYC for a meal and then bed.

Sunday 8th

In the marina the day dawned bright and warm and planning a departure to miss the lock traffic I had an early breakfast, and what a breakfast....

I had caught Nigel Salter on the box the week before and whilst I am not a TV chef fan he was cooking an unusual bacon sandwich that i thought I'd try so here is a first - a recipe on this blog site - probably not the last

A packet of pancetta -  the strips like thin bacon
A packet of medjool dates
1/2 doz cocktail sticks
a little oil
Good quality white bread (out of preference)

Take a date and roll a strip of pancetta around it, holding in place with a cocktail stick. Prepare as many as you want - four suited me for two white bread rolls I was using.

Heat the oil and fry the date/pancetta rolls until crisp enough for you. remove from the pan leaving the oils and juices (there won't be much) into which you put the bread/ roll to absorb the  juices and then put the pancetta/date rolls into the bread and devour. The mixture of saltiness and sweetness is lovely.

Simple, quick, different and a one pan dish - ideal on a small boat.

 Back to the sailing...

As it was the anticipated rush didn't take place so Adrian and I planned to leave at 12.00 to head down to East Head to meet Richard and Steve.

At 13.00 we suddenly realised we should be off and left in a rush. Heading down the harbour I tried out the route taken last time out when Peter T stuck close to the Visitors pontoon travelling down the harbour - there is at least a knot less tide there and I came out into the main reach well ahead of Adrian.

We r/v'd with the others and decided to set off straight away, the plan being to get over to the island as soon as possible, heading to Seaview, in order to get into the lee of the weather that had become increasingly windy. This is where we should have paid more attention to the time and left earlier - we anticipated the bar area being rough but the reality was a very rough passage all the way to the forts.

Torridon in take off mode 

Torridon in submarine mode

Once through the forts Adrian and I were forced to straighten up as two large ships made their way down the shipping channel, but by then the lee of the island began to kick in and I even had a sail past Ryde and Wootton before the wind veered and the motor came back on. Richard and Steve went in close under Seaview for a brew and caught us up later.

We arrived at Shepards to find Tony W already moored up having had an 'interesting passage' over from Ashlett.

The five of us adjourned to the Duke of York where we enjoyed a huge portion of cod and chips which nearly defeated some of us.

Duke of York

Monday 9th

After a leisurely breakfast I went for a wander around town, the place was full of people making their way home from the music festival that had ended in the early hours of the morning. I half expected to see my son Chris who was travelling back to Southampton to get his head down before joining me later in the week.

Once the tide turned Tony and I left the others and began a drift in style down the Solent towards Newtown, still the sun was shining and the weather very warm so sit back and enjoy the sights.

Earl of Pembroke moored in Cowes

The wind filled in and apart from a brisk shower we arrived in Newtown after a lovely sail.

The lower raft

Sunset over the marshes

Upper raft in the morning

Marcus rowed over to see us all, he couldn't join us until later in the week, but was itching to get out and about. We rafted up in three separate rafts and enjoyed the sunset over the marshes.

Tuesday 10th

There were several different plans for the day including Yarmouth and Beaulieu. Some of the others hadn't come out the previous day so were due to meet up that afternoon at Hurst. In the end, due to wind and waves many opted to go for a walk along the foreshore in Newtown and visit the site of the old town, which after all used to be the capital town of the island.
Richard and Adrian decided upon Yarmouth as a stop over and Tony and I made our way over to Lymington - me because I had arranged to meet Chris there and Tony, well, he hadn't been there in a small boat so it seemed a good idea. We had a cracking sail across there, in spite of the tide being wrong for us really.

Lymington Town Quay had plenty of room for us and the tourists making the best of the last of summer seemed to enjoy the sight of the two boats with much sage nodding and pointing going on.

Chris arrived by train from Southampton were he had been recovering from the excesses of Bestival and after a beer we set off, deciding to head for Yarmouth to do some shopping.

We had a good sail across and had fun stemming the fierce tide to get some pictures of the paddle steamer 'Waverley' that had moored up to Yarmouth pier. Just as we got close it pulled away and I thought we'd missed it, until suddenly there she was, steaming across our bows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS_Waverley

The Waverley

She looked a fine sight as she headed out through the Needles towards Poole.

Once in at Yarmouth we decided to stay the night with Richard and Adrian, joining the fleet the next morning. In the event they decided the Hurst was untenable in the wind and tide and they re-located to the quay at Keyhaven.

We decided to eat out that night and Chris and I set off to recce a restaurant  that Judy Peter had recommended the night before 'On the Rocks'. We found it and booked in for the evening.

'On the Rocks'

We arrived at the restaurant at the appointed hour and were very impressed from the start. The staff were very helpful and attentive and Adrian and Richard were particularly taken with our waitress.

 Adrian acting the fool.....

The food was very good. The Rocks reference comes for the fact that the food comes on a hot volcanic rock and you cook it yourself in small quantities. The menu includes  steak, lamb and venison as well as a seafood option. The accompaniments are confined to fries and a greek salad  but is all goes down very well.

 Tony looking forward to his steaks

Wednesday 11th

The original plan for most had been to r/v off Hurst at 08.30 to go through at slack water and make an attempt to go round the southern side of the island. The weather and enthusiasm conspired against us and so the departure and r/v time were put back to 10.30.

Tony in Martha and Chris and I in Daislebee set off just after 10.00 and had a cracking sail, in the sun, up to the entrance to Newtown were we dropped anchor and had a brew whilst we waited for the Keyhaven fleet to catch up. Once we saw their sails approaching we upped anchor and set off again. Tony elected to go straight to Cowes and up the Median to Newport where we were going to spend the night.

Chris had never been up the Beaulieu river to Bucklers Hard so we took the opportunity of sailing over to the north island. Off Beaulieu we met Roger and Anita in Little Dipper, who were also waiting for the fleet to arrive, having launched that morning.

Jim in Hippo with Little Dipper in the background

Jim lead the fleet around to the shelter of Lepe Point for lunch whilst Chris and I made our way up the river to Bucklers Hard. Some lovely boats and huge houses, complete with golf courses and helicopter pads could be seen on the trip and although the cloud had come over it still looked lovely up at the Hard.

Bucklers Hard - Beaulieu

We made our way back to the Solent passing a Crabber 26 on her way up. The owner didn't seem too interested in a straight swap.....

Crabber 26 up the Beaulieu

We sailed gently in the fading wind across to Cowes and motored up to Newport to join the rest of the fleet.

After a bit of shopping Chris cooked up a treat and Tony came on board for supper - I feel another recipe coming on...

Garlic and Onions finely chopped and gently fried.
To which add some finely chopped Chorizo sausage and with a splash of wine add, at the end a packet or two of seafood mix ( mussels, prawns, squid).

Meanwhile cook sufficient spaghetti in a pan and once done drain.

Add the sausage/seafood mix to spaghetti and cook for a while stirring to mix thoroughly.

SERVE

Lovely

After the meal we adjourned to the Bargeman's Rest for some beer and live music.


Thursday 12th

The dilemma that faced us in the morning was a potential lack of water to get out which meant an early start or hanging around until 14.00 ish which would limit our options.

Chris and I went for the early start although it had little or no effect on him..... so 06.00 am found me untying and drifting off down river before starting the engine. I don't think anyone heard us go.
It was magical slowly travelling down towards Cowes but I was happy to reach Shepards and get my head down again.
Richard and Adrian left slightly after us and when I did surface they were tied up astern of us in Shepards as well.

At the yard they were doing the usual lifting in of race boats for the week end with one young lad volunteering to make some mast head adjustments......

Rather him than me

The three of us departed for Bembridge at about 12.00 and were joined en route by Steve Maynard who had remained lurking in Newtown Creek in case he could get round the island. The wind was very light and he joined us on a motor along the coast.

As we left Cowes we saw David Moss's Snow Goose being sailed by son Timothy

Lunch was had en route and again Chris cooked up a storm.

Chorizo sausage and Mozzarella in bread

Chorizo sausage fired in a little oil with a drained ball of Mozzarella cheese broken up and added at the end - It will start to melt and go stringy as you mix it with the sausage.

At which point fill a split 6" section of French bread with the mixture and add, if you have them, some salad leaves (we didn't).

Great

We arrived at Bembridge and before tying up visited Fisherman's beach to make a trip to the chandler's

Here we came across another catamaran that hadn't bothered with a kedge and was in danger of being neaped by the cross current sweeping him up the beach. After a chat we left him to his devices but it was interesting to see a kedge being deployed once he thought we were out of sight. On our return from the chandler's he had just managed to pull himself off

The Cat

We made our way over to join Richard, Adrian and Steve tying up at the Duver Marina which has been tidied up a lot under the new ownership. Unfortunately this has meant that the interesting barges and other strange craft moored alongside have gone, but so to has the scrap yard that needed to be negotiated to get to the showers.

Duver Marina

Another nice meal in the Bay Cafe brought the cruise to a fitting end.

Friday 13th

As I went to pay the next morning I discovered that the new management had dredged the harbour by the Duver to allow more pontoon moorings as well as the area up by the old marina (Bradwell), to allow more depth for boats up there.

The harbour master advised me that I'd need to leave quick sharp if I wanted to get out which didn't quite accord with my calculations but bowing to his knowledge we bid farewell to the gang and cast off, leaving them waiting of the afternoon tide.

As it was we had over 1.5 m under us all the way, normally more, so there was no drama.

We anchored in Priory Bay for breakfast and then had a good sail across to Chichester, spoilt by some heavy rain about halfway across that lasted about 30 minutes before drying up.

Chris helmed the whole way and got us right up to the marina fairway before sails were furled.

Another good cruise and nice to have Chris out and about.

Time for a change

With the end of the season approaching I have decided to change the layout and colour scheme of the blog. I'll settle on this style for awhile but who knows - it may change again....

Cruise with Adam 9th - 11th August 2013

With Adam back from his inter railing trip we decided to get away for a couple of days as he hadn't been sailing since last season.

An early start on Friday saw us at Tesco stocking up and breakfasting before arriving at the marina at the same time as Gerry, a fellow Shrimper owner, who was after some ideas for comparison to his own boat.
As we met, Doug Hopwood arrived with his Coaster 'Appuskidu' which he was demonstrating to a prospective purchaser - successfully as it turned out.

Peter Tiplady was already afloat so whilst Adam ferry stored and bags from the car I showed Gerry around.
We needed to get going about an hour before high water so once sorted we set off down the harbour, leaving Gerry to ponder over adjustments and gadgets for his own boat.

The original plan had been to head for Ryde but the wind and the narrow time gate determined that Bembridge was a better option. It was lumpy at first over the Winners but as the depth increased the seas smoothed out and we had a good sail in bright and sunny weather in about F4.

We had expected the beach at Bembridge to be pretty full so we were surprised to find a couple of Seals ashore which with Peter and us made 4 small boast in total. We were soon joined by Jim in his 38 foot cat who just drove up the beach and dropped his bow anchor.

Bembridge - High and dry

Jim set to with a plastic scrapper to clean up his hulls and after a while invited us on board for a look around - palatial is the only way to describe the huge seating area, three double cabins two with en suite and the masters cabin with shower room etc adjacent........ it made Daislebee look like his tender.

Peter, Adam and I barbecued on the sand next to the boats and enjoyed a lovely evening in the setting sun.

Jim joined us for a drink and then departed for the pub where Adam and I joined him later. Jim it appears is a mathematician and had sold his software company some years ago to go sailing. He had sailed to Cyprus round the outside and back thorough the Canal Du Midi  and the next weekend was off to Alderney. In spite of this experience as we discussed the merits of a stern anchor but it tuned out he didn't possess one and 'it would be alright, he'd put a couple of fenders out'.

I decided to give my bow anchor a lot of scope so I could drop back behind him as the beach at Bembridge has quite a cross current. In the event I floated before him and at about 01.30 actually found myself nestling against his rubber dinghy - a good fender.

A quick tug on my stern line pulled us clear and we floated off about 6 metres behind him. In the morning we awoke to find him almost broadside on the beach - the only thing preventing him being neaped was my bow line that had kept him at a slight angle. The tide was out so we enjoyed a leisurely beach breakfast waiting for the water to return.

Breakfast on the beach

Saturday

We floated first and so bid Jim farewell and set off for Ryde ahead of Peter. We took the inshore passage, meeting up with a lovely old barge 'Alice' and following her across Ryde sands. We motored as the wind was very light and we we told that Ryde was quite full.

On arrival we directed against the wall which required long lines to cope with the tidal range and in a small boat that doesn't quite match the gaps between the piles it can prove awkward to moor up satisfactorily. The first place was too near the entrance and affected by swell, the second was on the bend in the harbour wall so with Peter alongside would leave a very narrow gap for other boats and as we settled in the third place on the wall, further up towards the HM's office, Peter arrived. As he tied up, a boat departed the far side of the adjacent pontoon. It's amazing quite how quickly a Drifter will reversed around a harbour.

Safely tied up we went for a walk along towards Sea view, enjoyed a cup of tea at the cafe and then came back through the town.

BBQ was on the agenda for supper again and the mini survey I have been conducting on disposable BBQ s puts Sainsbury's ahead of Tesco by a long way - the best I've seen so far is Brad's Lidl purchase.

Sunday

We awoke to showery rain, very heavy at times and were grateful of the umbrella when we took a walk along to see the model yacht racing in the pond by the swimming pool - very competitive stuff.

Adam and I adjourned to a cafe in Monkton Street for breakfast - not a great experience. Peter joined us as we finished and we took an interesting walk along the pier before returning to the boats as the water floated us off.

Town of Ryde

Ryde pier

We had a lovely sail all the way back to the marina, with the wind, sun and tide all smiling on us.

Peter moored up in the Itchenor Reach as he was taking part in Jeff Landers Creeks rally during the week and at the marina we met Tony who had launched, ready to join the rally the next day.

A good weekend trip and nice to be out with Adam again.

Impromptu Mid week - Wednesday 24th July.

With the weather remaining bright and sunny, when it became apparent there wasn't much at work to keep my attention I grabbed a day and set off to join Chris and Meryl Briggs-Mead and their mid week sailing plan to Hayling Island Sailing Club.

Leaving home early and stopping at Tesco as usual for supplies I was leaving my berth by about 11.00 and using the steady F3 to take me down the harbour.

The wind picked up to such an extent that I wasn't making any ground as I reached the Thorney Channel entrance so down came the sails and I motored the rest of the way to East Head.

Quite a group had gathered - Chris and Meryl, Jeff Lander, Bob, Roger and Anita, Richard Goldsmith in his Cornish Coble and the Fergusons in their very smart motor launch.

I anchored a little way off from the main group and watch as a Crabber 24 came in, circled through the anchorage and dropped its hook a few metres astern of me. Two other Shrimpers were anchored quite close by. When lunch was over I waited for the group to disperse before hauling up the main sail, retrieving the anchor and then gybing through the anchorage, letting the jib unfurl as I powered through the moored boats, straight between the two Shrimpers - it did feel good.

Richard in his Coble

Sailing past later

Three of us ended up having a cracking sail up the harbour and I explored the top end of Mill Rythe which definitely looks worth a closer look sometime.

We then made for Sandy Point, a small drying creek behind Hayling Island Sailing Club, which is reached up the Sparkes Marina channel.

When we arrived there was still about 1.4 m of water in the bottom channel.

Mudlark and Little Dipper - before they dried out.

The water rushed out and swung me round with it. Almost as soon as I touch bottom the phone rang -could I be in for 08.30 the next morning ...???!!!! (I had planned on a quiet drift up the harbour and getting to the office for the planned 14.30 start - best laid plans.....

Dried out in Sandy Point

Still not to be put off we had a BBQ in the dunes and a walk up to the Lifeboat Station which was busy getting ready for its open day at the weekend.

The crews of Mudlark and Little Dipper

View from the Life Boat Station

I settled down for a couple of hours sleep before the tide came back and lifted off at about 23.30.

The tide was rushing back in so I was making about 6 knots up the harbour under little engine with a nice full moon to light the way.

Back at the marina I called up early, expecting to wake someone up but no, they has been watch my lights come up the channel. They gave me the offer of a lock in or to use the first part of free flow, although they did caution that the current was about 3.5 knots. I decided to go for it...... I think I slowed down about half way up the marina such was the flow of the current helping me along. It was like being on a fair ground ride.

Safe in my berth I got my head down again before rising early to tidy up and get ready for work - I arrived at the office with time to spare - not quite the quiet get away but good fun.

Delivery trip 19th - 21st July 2013

A little out of the normal blog territory but as it is a sailing adventure and also adds to my nights afloat tally I'll include it here.

My friend Jeff has bought himself a Mirage 27 called Escallon. He very diligently researched and viewed several models, inspected several different Mirages and deliberated long and hard over the pros and cons of fin v. bilge before deciding to plump for a very tidy example of the boat that was for sale, through the brokerage, at Woolverstone Marina, on the River Orwell on the Essex/Suffolk border.

Although it was a good example, it was still 30 years old and with any boat getting on in years, she needed some work done. The prop shaft needed checking and adjustment, an elbow on the exhaust needed replacing and the mast foot plate needed replacing or welding. Not bad, except when removing the mast to get at the foot the foresail rigging was damaged and to cut a long story short Jeff had to motor the mile or so to Foxes Marina, upstream at Ipswich, whilst the riggers moved the mast by road and would re-install  when fixed. This actually took them nearly three weeks but as they had arranged the berth at no cost to Jeff, he wasn't worried, especially as he was away on holiday for most of the period.

A call from the riggers confirmed the mast was up and so the Friday saw us setting off just after the traffic had died down on the 2 hours journey to Tollesbury Marina, where Jeff had arranged a berth for the season.
From there, once the paperwork was done we jumped into a taxi to travel to Foxes Marina, some 60 miles away.

As chance would have it the taxi driver lived, with his wife, on a newly commissioned barge in the Tollesbury channel that leads up to the marina. He was a mine of local information and, on arrival at Foxes, spent several minutes pointing out approaches and hazards on the charts we had with us. (In fairness I showed him the traffic feature on his Samsung tablet which he knew nothing about so we were all square on the knowledge transfer front).

Friday was spent rigging, checking and testing. Both the main sail and the Genoa appeared to be almost brand new, very crisp and clean. The chandlers at Foxes was well stocked and Jeff experienced the sudden wallet emptying effect boat ownership has.......

Escalon in Foxes Marina

We retired to the pub across the road for a meal and turned in tired but happy - ready for the the adventures of the next day.

Saturday

We departed mid morning, giving us enough time to play around in the Orwell before catching the current south along the coast to our overnight destination of Brightlingsea.

Our first discovery was the  performance of the boat when motoring astern. As we found out later, with enough room and way on her she becomes quite responsive. Unfortunately within the marina we didn't have enough room to get the way on her and the prop wash kept pulling her back into the berthing position we had been in. However with some advice form those around we managed to use this to our advantage, finding that she would turn very easily after a combination of forward and reverse bursts of throttle.

We navigated our way out into the main channel that leads to Ipswich Docks and turned to starboard to head down the river under the A14 bridge

Ipswich docks

A14 bridge over the Orwell

Proud skipper

We motored down under the bridge and played about with the engine, finding that she would steer astern quite well once you got her moving but you need about 20 m to play in.

We set the main with a reef in it and then the Genoa and had her sailing nicely all the way down the river, past Felixstowe docks and out to sea.

Felixstowe Docks in the background

It was then I decided to go down below and make a brew. The casual comment "isn't all this water meant to be on the outside" provoked a suitable reaction from Jeff... but as it turned out I only managed to get two bucket full up before it seemed to stop. Later investigations led us to believe that the boat had been washed out prior to going on the market and some of the water had found itself into nooks and crannies that when the boat was flat and level contained the flow. It was only on this first sail that the motion caused it to run out and into the bilges. Drama over we enjoyed our cup of tea.

As we approached Brightlingsea the wind got up and I had some fun on the foredeck bouncing around trying to tame the Genoa that had freed itself and it's sheets.

We doused the sail in the entrance to the harbour and made our way in.

Brightlingsea entrance

It was very shallow and when we called up the harbour master came out to meet us and guided us up the visitor's pontoon that was very full.

Face of concentration

Brightlingsea is a quaint mixture of old and new. Some flats and a marina are under construction and yet photos show the bus stop in the central square as the only area above water on a high spring tide....

New flats on the left and old  house to the right

Old craft and new flats

We made friends in the pub and enjoyed some strange sights - not sure if was a fancy dress party or a normal Saturday night in Brightlingsea. We enjoyed a curry before returning by water taxi, to the boat and bed.

Sunday

We set off  in good time for Tollesbury and took advantage of a course shaped by another yacht to take a tighter route across the bay than we had planned on the charts. Picking up the tide we arrived off Tollesbury quicker than we thought and were soon search for the entrance. Thank goodness for chart plotters otherwise we would have quite happily headed up the wrong creek. It's so flat and has so many creeks you can see where you want to go in the distance but the route is altogether more complicated.

Tollesbury in the distance

We made our way up the creek and over the sill into the marina. We found the berth and Jeff judged it just right as we moored up in Escallon's new home.

New berth at Tollesbury Marina

A good adventure and no doubt one of many to come.

Voyage route - Day one yellow / Day Two pink