September Solent Cruise 8th - 13th

After a late finish at work I scampered out of London and down to Chichester , arriving about 02.00 am!!

Monday 8th

Soon asleep I set the alarm for 07.00 and was up bright and early enjoying lovely weather as I headed down the harbour. Most of the fleet was departing Ashlett on the late morning tide, with others setting out, or waiting at strategic locations around the Solent.
The easterly wind and a strong westerly spring tide carried me along to Cowes at a brisk rate and I could see and hear the Ashlett fleet as they came out past Calshot. Adrian was in Shepards Wharf, Cowes and was soon joined by Stewart B towing in Martha who had had an outboard failure which Tony decided to get fixed straight away rather that spoil the rest of the week. So it was a reduced fleet of Hippo, Siesta, Blue Peter, Salicorne, Skua and Virginia as well as Daislebee that rafted up in Newtown Creek that evening. The sunset was superb.

Newtown Creek in the evening sunset

Skua and I separated from the raft after dinner and pick up a buoy for the night.

Tuesday 9th

Another lovely day and we needed to be out of Newtown by about 09.30 to get the best of the tide. I had enough time to meander slowly up Clamerkin to the very far end, seeing all the wild life up and about in the early sun. Jim followed me and we then ghosted back down towards the entrance in a freshening breeze. The engine had to come on at the entrance as there seemed to be about 4 knots of tide that I needed to overcome. Out in open water I has a comfortable sail in the sun across the coach the others in the Beaulieu river.
As many of you will know there is a long east west run from the entrance, parallel with the main Solent - looking carefully at tide times and tables I managed to cut across the shingle bank and had fun with Adrian trying to out do each other as we made our way up the river, past Buckler's Hard and up to the head of the river at Beaulieu.

Hippo heading up to Beaulieu

After lunch we made our way down river with the flood beginning to run. We decided to pick up buoys and anchor (forgetting the rules within Beaulieu). No sooner had we sorted lines and fenders out than the harbour master was alongside moving us on. The beauty of the river is outweighed by the rates they charge, even in the small area where anchoring is permitted, which is back down on the straight run towards the entrance. We spent a pleasant night with a short period of uncomfortable motion as the tide reached it's height.

Wednesday 10th

The morning dawned bright and sunny but in spite of entreaties Terry decided to leave us and head back to Ashlett to haul out. The rest of us headed over to Yarmouth.
Peter and I walked up the hill behind Fort Victoria and had a great view of Keyhaven and the Narrows. The tide was rushing out and three or four yachts were stood still battling the current.

That evening we spit into two groups - five of us opting for the 'On the Rocks' as and end of year treat with the others dining across the road in a pub. Adrian had been enjoying drinks on Richard's boat earlier and was the source of amusement as a result  - although he was banned from having any red wine.

The hilarity continued when we adjourned to the Kings Head, where the resident guitarist was very 'appreciative' of Adrian's offer to accompany him on the piano. He packed up shortly after ( planned apparently...) and left Adrian to empty the pub alone.... but could we left him do it by himself...oh no...John B fetched his banjo ukulele and together they ensured that when time was called it was only the Drascombers, bar staff and the goldfish left in the pub....

Thursday 11th

We arranged with the harbour staff for the bridge to open at 11.00 and we passed through and drifted on the tide up to the top of the year. We spent lunch up there and then drifted down for a afternoon bridge which allowed us out in the Solent to sail for Keyhaven.

The Yar bridge

Leaving Yarmouth we encountered a fierce tide which resulted in the 'L plate' story. We all got swept down to the west but managed to counter the current by pointing high and using our engines. Adrian, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaware until  I phoned him. He almost reached the cardinal marker and had to hug the northern bank to creep in over the tide.

We all made it into Keyhaven but I managed to get caught on the hard standing sill as the tide ran out. It was the lowest tide I have ever seen there but it was useful to see the lie of the land.



Friday 12th

We sailed for Cowes and with the strong tides and a fair wind it was a great sail, especially as it was probably my last visit to the western Solent this year. The tide turned just as I got to Cowes entrance which caught out some of those behind me who had to battle to make ground over it. We tied up in Shepards Wharf and ate in the pub. Adrian's boat was duly decorated with 'L plates' fore and aft in recognition of the brief visit to Christchurch he so nearly had......

Saturday 13th

In order to get the right tide into Chichester Adrian, Richard and I left the fleet early . I sailed over to the 'northern island' to get a closer view of the tall ship sailing into Southampton for the Boat Show.

The wind pushed me along to Chichester where I continued to the marina to tie up. I hope to get out again this year but this may be the last trip of the season.

Ezetil Cool box - update

As the season starts to draw to a close I thought it timely to update you on how the cool box has performed

Well, in short , very well. The handle and lid do come off quite easily and you need to be carefully of this. Initially I thought this was a fault but it does make it much easier to clean out and dry so I am beginning to think this is intended.

It has made me a little of a slave to shore power. When this is not an option although it runs very satisfactorily on the batteries, I do tend to only have it on when the engine is running.

That being said I am, for the first time, using all the milk before it goes off and the butter stays firm instead of melting into a pool.

It takes up no more room that a conventional box and I would judge it to be a resounding success allowing me to stay out longer and not to have to go shopping ever other day or so.

August cruise and Bank Holiday rally

Starting to panic that the season is drawing to a close - I don't know why, it's only August but it seems to have changed to a quite autumnal feel.

Monday 18th August

With that in mind I grabbed a few days and set off to the boat on Monday with my younger son, Adam, as crew. It will mean moving things about a bit as I am so used to being alone but once we get sorted it will be ok.

We stopped at Tesco for provisions and it was immediately apparent that having a crew more than doubles the food bill.......

We got to the boat by about midday and set about putting things away properly to ensure there was enough space for us in the cabin, and set off down the Itchenor Reach in bright warm sun but with the wind on the nose so motored.

Adam had been burning the candle at both ends so fell asleep below and only surfaced when we were tied up to a buoy in Mengeham Rithe where we had arranged to meet Richard and Adrian.

A few drops of rain started and looking at the clouds I decided to put the clear plastic tarpaulin up that has served as a 'tent' for some time - crude but effective. No sooner was it up than the heavens opened and the calm sunny conditions were turned into a maelstrom of wind, rain and waves. I sat in the cockpit and hoped that Richard who had rung earlier wouldn't chose this moment to arrive..... you might have guessed..... fortunately as he came alongside the weather calmed down and we managed to secure him without getting soaked.

Supper was had and Adrian arrived to complete the fleet, ready for departure the next morning.


Tuesday 19th August

Bright and sunny Adam and I set off by about 09.00 leaving the other two to sort themselves out. We passed the Chichester Bar Beacon and tried a 'selfie' with it in the background - not flattering so I won't post it here so just one of Adam

Crew...

The wind was good but wouldn't let us point to Bembridge, our destination, so we kept as close hauled as we could and headed out to sea eventually tacking into White Cliff Bay

Mengeham Rithe - south and west to White Cliff Bay IOW

White Cliff Bay with Yarborough monument

As you can see in the centre right of the photo there is a large monument above the bay called the Yarborough monument. It was built in 1849 in memory of Charles Pelham, Earl of Yarborough,who was the first Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Apparently the monument was moved to its current position in 1860 to make way for the building of the  Bembridge Fort.

A note for sailors - not a great anchorage - the holding is good but the beach is noisy when populated as it was in August and the wash of ships far out in the channel seems to roll inon a regualr basis making it quite uncomfortable - it is very sheltered for the wind when there is any west in it

We left there after lunch, judging that with the neap tides we'd be able to get into Bembridge about three hours before HW - and so it proved to be. We r/vd with Richard and Adrian who drawing less had got in sometime before us. 

Bembridge Harbour from the marina walkway

Wednesday 20th August

Adam had to leave to get to a music festival so we departed Bembridge by about 10.00, arranging to meet Richard and Adrian in Langston Harbour that afternoon.

We had a great sail across to Portsmouth in sunny and warm conditions. I has re read the pilot book as we needed to drop him somewhere on the Portsmouth side to catch his train. As a result I was monitoring Ch11 and listening to the busy harbour traffic - following the pilot instructions, having used the small boat channel as usual, we headed north to the Ballast buoy - there we called up and were granted permission to corss the main channel, where I intended to look at landing possibilities in Camber Dock, and area I had visited many years before.

As we crossed I could see lots of space on the pontoons of Gunwharf Quays and so I called up to see if we could 'touch and go' , "Certainly Sir, anywhere you can see some room. There will be a £5.00 landing fee...."   We went to Camber.....

North approach into Portsmouth and across into Camber dock

Camber dock is the home to the White Link ferries and the space between the ferry and the wall is quite narrow but it opens out into a small harbour with fishing boats and leisure craft and a dry stack boat storage.. We got chased in by another ferry arriving that made it interesting but once round the corner I dropped Adam on a barge so he could scramble a ladder to the quay.

Landing crew

As I came out on Camber I noticed a man doing some maintenance on Spinnaker Tower..... rather him than me.

Spinnaker Tower - above Gunwharf Quays

I mooched around the harbour, stopped in Gosport Marina and shopped in Gosport before setting out of Langston Harbour.

Portsmouth to Langston

I went through the inside Submarine barrier gap and found that Richard and Adrian were tied up waiting to get into Southsea marina.I caught up with them and just about had time for a beer before the sill came down and we could get into the marina.
We had a good curry in the restaurant based there before retiring for the night.


Thursday 21st August

Our original plan was to explore the upper reaches of Langston, but with the threat of deteriorating weather we decided to sail for Chichester and left Southsea at about 11.30. The wind was south westerly and pushed us along very nicely. Richard and Adrian elected for Mengeham whilst  I carried on to the Emsworth pontoon for a late lunch.

Shortly after I tied up a 27 Albin Vega arrived on the pontoon - Lizzie-G, skippered by Denis Gorman. He was on the final days of a 3 month adventure down to Falmouth and across to France, Channel Islands etc..
I thought the boat and its name were familiar and it turned out they had been featured in one of the sailing magazines when he took part in the 2013 Jester Challenge. He's currently writing a book of his experiences and what got him into sailing.

I left Denis, intending to join the others but looking at the weather and tides decided to head straight up to the marina where I arrived at about 19.30.

Tony Wood was there together with Andy, who had brought his Coaster all the way from Lancaster, - we adjourned to the pub.


Friday 22nd August

The next day Andy went out early and Tony was persuaded to come for a sail in the beautiful sun. We headed up to Dell Quay before returning to help as the boats arrived for the rally itself.

Dell Quay - Chichester harbour

Most launches went quite smoothly with the exception of one - I won't mention names to save red faces but the manoeuvre could be called the 'Bosonover method of launching'. Too many ropes undone too soon....

Waiting for the tide......

After laughing fit to bust we gathered around to help a colleague in distress.....

Heave ho.....

Dinner was taken at Chichester Yacht Club as usual and seemed to be enjoyed by all.


Saturday 23rd August

For the first time ever the skippers and crews were gathered together for the briefing before the appointed hour, although there was much discussion as to briefing at 10, ready to go actually meant briefing at 09,30 go at 10.00...not that it mattered and perhaps the glorious sunshine had everyone eager to get out and about.

The plan which was well executed was to depart the marina on 'free flow' and head up the channel to Dell Quay where Richard Wood would be lurking with a camera.

The wind was superb in the upper reaches and the fleet was soon cavorting about until to hooter sounded and we all turned to run up to the quay.

Fleet from the back

Bundy Bear

Felicity

Martha

The wind became fluky as we turned to head down the Itchenor Reach so I decided to furl the sails and motor ... a unusually wise choice for me..... once down the far end into clear water the sails came out again and I had a good sail down towards the East head lunch stop.

En route Jeff Lander called up, already down at the Head and suggested Pilsey Island as a more suitable location as Easy head was very busy and quite rough, so we diverted and the members of the fleet that hadn't stopped for lunch already or turned back already, gathered at anchor for a very pleasant lunch break.

It was there we heard news of Stewart's misfortune...in the gusting fluky wind he had put his engine on tick over as a precaution...in one strong gust he had gone to release the main sheet only to find himself moving rapidly forward into the side of a moored yacht, punching out and breaking the window and breaking his not unsubstantial bowsprit in the process. The main sheet had caught the engine controls, engaging forward gear with some revs and he hadn't been able to correct in time.... still no one was hurt and all is repairable except perhaps pride.

The BBQ was held in the lee of some bushes by the slip way with everything form the the Pound shop special through to a gourmet gas barbecue that Jamie Oliver would have been proud of. The sun smiled on us and as it set, with full stomachs we made our way round the the yacht club to enjoy the Real Ale festival and some jazz, not necessarily in that order.


Sunday 24th August

I needed to earn some brownie points so was up bright and early squaring the boat away and packing the car before departing for home at about 8.30 - I understand the rest had a great day, visiting Dell Quay Sailing club for tea and cake and enjoying a sail in the harbour. I gather most packed and departed that afternoon evening as Monday was a wash out were ever you were.

A great week and a great rally



To be continued..... I hope to be able to add some more photos in so do come back and visit.

Bembridge jaunt

I had Thursday and Friday off work so thought I'd have a little last minute solo trip. I had planned to come down straight after work on the Wednesday to get a head start but not getting away until 22.00 or so put paid to that.
As it was with the tide times etc I got down mid morning on the Thursday and headed down the harbour to get out by about 13.00.

Passing East Head I came across Richard Goldsmith in Egret who had just come back form Bembridge and told me that Adrian Kneller ( Torridon) was still over there.

A quick phone call and Adrian cancelled his plans to return and stayed in Bembridge, securing two berths for us that night.

Once out of the harbour it was soon apparent, even with a reef that I couldn't make much head way under sail, pointing alternately towards the submarine barrier or the Nab Tower, in uncomfortable seas so it was engine on, sails down and plug across to the island.

Bembridge was a calm tranquil place after the trip across and was made even better when I managed to secure a table at the Beachcomber restaurant (as recommended in the Telegraph) on the front.

The hilarity of the evening was topped when there was a loud  ping and crash as Adrian's knife bounced off what he was trying to cut and shot across the restaurant narrowly missing other diners. We decided that the 'thermidor' in crab thermidor meant something like 'served in shell' ...not a good thing to try and cut through
...........

The next day dawned bright and sunny after a few clouds had been chased away by a fresh south westerly and we set off as soon as there was sufficient water in the harbour .. or so I thought...we found that inside the pontoons at Duver marina is very shallow close to and had to scrape over the mud to get to deep water within the harbour.

Following Torridon out of Bembridge

Just outside Bembridge the weather was calm and I shook out the reef that remained from yesterday, but perhaps I should have left it in...out of the lee of the island we got the full benefit of the F4 rising 5 and covered the 12 - 14 miles to Chichester in less that 2 hours.

A brief stop in the lee of Pilsey Island for lunch and I left Adrian to a quiet afternoon as I headed for the marina and home.

Red Letter Day

I thought I'd misheard...

"Are you sat down... I thought we'd got to the boat on Saturday"

This was my wife on the phone to me at work. I've had the boat 4 years or so and she has been on her twice so this was amazing - volunteering...needless to say I agreed.

We set of early together with the dog (Suki) and a picnic, leaving two boys fast asleep and totally unaware.

I got the boat ready whilst the dog had a run and promptly handed the tiller to my wife to take Daislebee out of her berth and down the marina into the lock. No dramas in the lock, helmed as though she had done it many times before.

She maintained the helm as we picked up a buoy in the Itchenor Reach for breakfast - very posh, croissants and coffee, before we set off for East Head. Suki was no trouble at all. gazing generally from her as they say in Ireland, or dozing in the sun.

Breakfast being prepared

Suki enjoying the cruise

East Head was quite crowded as you'd expect on a sunny weekend but we dropped the anchor and inflated the dinghy to get ashore.  As usual , once ashore we realised we'd left important things aboard so I rowed out, nearly boarding the wrong boat - another blue Shrimper had come in and anchored just behind us.......

Once properly ashore, we walked along the beach only to encounter a certain Richard Goldsmith, on his Coaster Egret, who was assisting a West Wittering sailing club event. Introductions made we continued round to the main Wittering beach for an ice cream but soon escaped from the madding crowds, walking back along the western beach, looking across to Hayling Island.

I rowed out again for lunch, followed by a snooze on the beach..at least for some...what is it about spaniels..they never stop and will run and fetch a ball all day long....

"Come on throw the ball"

We returned to the boat for a very civilised cup of tea with only one moment of drama...Suki had played with the ball all day and when we boarded Daislebee I carefully placed the ball in a cockpit pocket without her seeing. She in a moment of panic, thinking we were going to leave her ball in the dinghy, leaps from the boat to the dinghy to fetch it, just as I let the dinghy go on a long painter.The tide was running and she is not a fully competent sea dog by any means so before she could jump again I pulled the dinghy back alongside and she scrambled back in to the boat.....

Tea and cake were had in a leisurely fashion, but not without more mooring dramas in the anchorage. A 25 - 30 ft yacht raised anchor and got caught by the tide and swept down onto Cape Cutter with the yacht going one side of the Cutter bowsprit and her dinghy going the other. The Cutter dragged on her anchor and the tangle of boats were swept down towards a group of yachts that were rafted together. With much shouting and pushing they fended off and the miscreant fetch up against a large yacht further down the anchorage. The owner of the Cutter arrived from the beach at speed in a little Rib and set to untangling the mess.

We departed, with Caroline at the helm again, and headed back up the harbour and into the marina. We ended up eating at the new Cafe at the marina - pleasant but very slow - quite a few upset customers - some who seemed to have been waiting over an hour, only to be told that the kitchen had run out of what they had ordered. A shame as the venue is ideal and the staff bright and helpful - I hope they get it together.


We eventually got home by about 11.00 feeling like two teenagers who had run away for the day....