Friday / Saturday 22nd / 23rd April - The Bembridge stink ?

Together with the boys I grabbed a couple of days on the boat during the half term break. The weather was fantastic as we set out for Chichester and the journey down the A3 was a pleasant change from the usual M3/M27 route I take.
Arrived in good time mid morning and got the boat ready to depart. As is usual I cast off from the pontoon, fired up the VHF and called up for a lock out. I should have realised, with half term, bank holidays and good weather combined, but it still came as a shock to receive the reply "Certainly sir, if you can take number 36 in the queue, we'll call you when ready"...... Still we had a nice lunch tied to the pontoon and once out of the lock a motor down the harbour to East Head.
The delay had taken us closer to high water so I was able to slip across the sands without going the long way round - much to the consternation of the yacht that followed us.. but didn't have the advantage of a lifting keel.......

The wind had got up and we had a pleasant sail across to Bembridge. The result of the queue to get out of the lock could be seen at the Duver marina where they were rafted up 3 or 4 deep.

We opted for the beach, and with the tide running took some time to set the stern anchor in the best position as we dried out. We were soon lighting the BBQ and settling down on the upturned dinghy to get the burgers and ribs going. Adam managed to demolish a whole packet of crisps that were meant to be shared but the food was on ready... and that was when it happened.... the most awful stomach churning smell drifted across the beach... where it came from wasn't clear but I can't think it was vegetation being revealed by the falling tide.. chief suspect was a yacht moored near the entrance, which may have opened it's holding tank.... but the smell did persist for quite a time so the jury is still out on that one.

Several pints ( for me) in the Pilot Boat and we were ready for bed.

Midnight saw us afloat and I moved out onto a buoy before getting up again at 07.00 to leave the harbour before it dried. The sea was glass like with absolutely no ripples and after a quiet motor round towards Priory Bay I was busy trying to get some of the sand and seaweed off the boat.

When the boys eventually surfaced we had breakfast drifting slowly across the bay. The motor back to Chichester was strange - glassy sea, table out in the cockpit complete with cups of coffee that never moved and a good read of the papers whilst Ray, the autohlem did his stuff.

Back at the marina a good tidy up and off back home- early enough to earn some brownie points.

Friday 8th April

Another lovely day - very tempted to phone home and make some excuse, but chicken out and enjoy breakfast whilst the harbour authority moved the East Head Spit buoy.

There was no wind at all so I had a very quite motor back up to the marina.

If this is a taster for the rest of the season, bring it on.

Thursday 7th April

Lovely day - bright sun and about F3 south westerly. Had planned to go across to Bembridge but the tides for Friday morning aren't good for departure and I need to be back to help out at home - earning some brownie points for later in the year......
Mooching about in the harbour seemed a little tame so I set off to circumnavigate the Nab Tower.

The Nab Tower was planned as part of anti submarine protection in WW1 and was sunk on the Nab Rocks east of the Isle of Wight in 1920, the original defence plan never being fully completed It was mounted on a honeycomb concrete base that was flooded to sink it into position. As it settled it came to rest at a 3 degree tilt - which is very obvious to this day. It was manned as a light house, although today it is automatic. During WW2 it had guns mounted on it and shot down some raiders destined for the docks at Portsmouth and Southampton.

Famously in 1999 it was hit by a freighter ship, which evidently came off far worse that the Nab which only required minor repairs whilst the ship had to be run aground to prevent it sinking.

The wind picked up and I had a great sail back into harbour and up to Emsworth

















I has lunch at the Emsworth pontoon and help a guy who was trying to come alongside in his 'new' to him motor boat - it was a little larger and heavier than his previous 16ft dory and he didn't appreciate the impact the tide had on the boat.
Than back to East Head for the evening. Another great sunset and the end to a lovely day.

Wednesday 6th April

After poor weather on the Tuesday I delayed going to the boat and arrived in beautiful sunshine this morning. The planned maintenance - oil and oil filter change went very smoothly but why do they put things like oil filters in such inaccessible places - the old one was distorted by the chain of the wrench and there was only just enough room to get purchase on it. It was also completely round so no option but to use the filter wrench. The new one has a rim with flats in it like a large 50 pence piece which at least allows some grip to be had - I didn't want to have to tighten it with the wrench.
Cleared out inside, washed down and hovered... don't tell her in doors..... and put it all back together again. Set off down the harbour once I had tested everything and anchored up off East Head - tired but happy - this mechanics lark and all the domestics takes it out of you...... Went aground on the last off the ebb and scrubbed the water line clean - she definitely needs a polish. Soon afloat again and moved away into deeper water - only two other boats in the anchorage to share the fantastic sunset.

Season starts here

The cushions are out of the attic, 3 boxes of bits currently, but hope to get it down to 2 once sorted, life jacket, wet weather gear, sleeping bag etc etc - all loaded into the car and ready to go to Chichester tomorrow. Weather forecast is great, although not much sign of the sun on Thursday. Escape tunnel remains open until Friday morning so intend to make the most of it. A little maintenance to do - oil change, a general tidy up and then down to somewhere like East Head. I want to go aground near the bottom of the tide and give her a good scrub - the anti foul seems to work well but she would benefit from a clean bottom.
The rally at the end of April is fully subscribed and all is required now is some good weather - fingers, toes and everything else crossed.