Skipper's Log 2nd May 1997 - Walton to Plymouth

Cruise to Spain and the Azores

    

England

24 May	1040	We’re off on our great adventure from our base in Walton on the Naze, England and leaving Pye End and under sail with reefed main and a couple of rolls in the genoa. The Windpilot steering gear was engaged for the first time, and seems to work well.
	1400	Rolling down The Black Deep, there is quite a sea running.
	1615	Entered Fisherman’s Gat. Wind now up to F6. Claire not too well and very quiet
	1930 2005	Arrived off Ramsgate channel, but Port Control kept us waiting for half an hour rolling in the F5 and confused sea.  Finally entered Ramsgate at and moored in the outer marina.
25 May	1145	Left Ramsgate harbour with still a cold NE F3-4 blowing, so reasonable progress made .Cleared the Dover harbour area by 1620.
	1940	Rounded Dungeoness with a following tide and decided to carry on to Brighton.
	2300	Off Hastings, with wind still a steady NE F4. The sky is clear and it is cold. The moon is very bright and low in the heavens. Claire has been in her bunk most of the day feeling unwell but no sickness.
	2000	Les took over the watch and handed over to the skipper at midnight.
26 May	0130	Progress around Beachy Head was slow, so ran the motor for an hour and a half. Stayed on watch the rest of the way to Brighton.
	0540	Arrived at Brighton Marina. The day turned out sunny and clear but a chill in the wind.  My former boss, Dave Farncombe and his wife came on board in the afternoon.  Today, we rigged up an HF aerial for the Ham Radio. Total wire length is 12.91m which is 5/8 wavelength at 14.15MHz.  We had a meal at the nearby Beefeater establishment and had an early night.
27 May		We managed to lock ourselves out of the boat this morning! A junior hacksaw soon dispatched the “hardened” steel padlock though.
	0716	Departed Brighton Harbour and raised the main and genoa soon after.
	0935	Although we’re doing 5 knots, a Vertue has just passed us on genoa alone! Tried the same but without much increase in speed and at 1115 still hadn’t caught him up. Claire seems to have been ok today even though the ship is rolling in the following seas.
	1000	Phoned up Graham Ferris, another ex colleague, to arrange a meet at Cowes tonight at the Island Sailing Club. Earlier this morning, we had contact with the Ham maritime mobile net with G4DRN in England and Dominic in Spain, so we now know the aerial works.
	1342	Mixon Beacon and Coastguard tower in transit, Arrival at the Looe channel timed just right, just after the tide turned in our favour.
	1550	Entered The Solent at Horse Sand Fort.
	1630	Was hailed by “White Knight” with Rod & Doreen Cooper on board, they accompanied us to Cowes Yacht Haven for the night.
	1730	Moored up at Cowes Yacht Haven. Met up with Graham at the club, he had just won his race on “Barbie”, his Contessa 32, and was in good spirits.
28 May	1205	Left Cowes and soon after had full main and genoa up for the run down the Solent.
	1510	Hurst Point abeam. The weather still sunny but the NE F4 wind still had a chill in it. After clearing the North Channel, we set a course of 260M to clear Portland Bill.
	1630	By now the sea condition was moderate to rough with the wind increasing to F6 off Hengistbury Head. Reefed the main and genoa.
	1840	Rounded St Albans Head
	2045	Cleared Portland. Sea conditions eased after Portland, but wind still steady F6. Tucked a second reef in the main for the night and reduced the genoa still further to balance the sails for the Windpilot. We decided to abandon the stop at Dartmouth and set a new course of 260 M for Plymouth. I took the last watch and Les took over at midnight.
29 May	0400	Claire took the 0400 watch, but I stayed up a while to make sure she was ok.
	0440	Found a very strong southerly set, so altered course to 300 M to clear Bolt Head.
	0630	Start Point seen on Radar at 8nm, but coastal fog hid it from view.
	0840	Wind a steady E F5, and all systems still working. Another fine morning and it feels a little warmer. Called up Sutton Harbour on VHF, but no reply. Called up on the mobile phone, and arranged to call on ch 12 on passing Fort Mountbatten. As we came in sight of the lock, the footbridge was swung open and we motored straight through.
	1300	Moored up on the visitor’s berth, lying head to wind. Contacted my son, David, and went out for a meal at a Greek restaurant in the Barbican. Afterwards, we all went to his flat, overlooking Sutton Harbour. We saw another Rival yacht, “Vain Jane” in the harbour, the owner appears to live in the nearby block of flats.
30 May 31 May 1 June		We’re staying here until Monday morning. A new crewman, Dave Miles is arriving at 6pm. on Sunday. I have never met him before, but he was recommended by another ex colleague, and is reputed to be a very good cook! Many of my ex colleagues are also sailors. Found the main water tank leaking at the outlet, tightened things up and have stemmed the flow. Still a few drips though. Rigged an aerial for MF and general reception by attaching a wire to one of the cap shroud anchors. I put a PL239 plug on the end of the wire, so it’s easy to change aerials. (The 14MHz aerial doesn’t receive on bands we don’t transmit on, because the automatic tuner blocks the signal). Filled all the water containers, so we now have a total 405 litres of fresh water on board. Les left to catch a train home at 0930. Andy , David and Dave Miles joined the crew.
2.June	1425	Left Sutton Harbour, bound for La Coruna, Spain.