Brighton
30/05/06 08:23 Filed in: UK
Spend two days in Brighton. Brompton deployed again and proved very useful getting to and from the Marina.
The germans find that their engine is ok and that the source of their problem is a fouled propellor.
First time in a Premier marina and found the staff very friendly and helpful. Quite unlike what I had expected.
Visited an old friend, Alison, who is in the process of moving house but still found time to show me round and feed me.
I liked Brighton. It had a nice feel about it and was very cycle friendly.
A most enjoyable stay.
The germans find that their engine is ok and that the source of their problem is a fouled propellor.
First time in a Premier marina and found the staff very friendly and helpful. Quite unlike what I had expected.
Visited an old friend, Alison, who is in the process of moving house but still found time to show me round and feed me.
I liked Brighton. It had a nice feel about it and was very cycle friendly.
A most enjoyable stay.
Portsmouth to Brighton
29/05/06 14:05 Filed in: UK
A very early start (07:00) to catch the tide.
Wind quite variable but manage to sail for about half the trip with a good wind for the last two hours.
Arrived late afternoon and rafted in Brighton marina alongside a German yacht bound for the med.
They have been having a rough time and are waiting for an engineer to investigate a low power problem.
Wind quite variable but manage to sail for about half the trip with a good wind for the last two hours.
Arrived late afternoon and rafted in Brighton marina alongside a German yacht bound for the med.
They have been having a rough time and are waiting for an engineer to investigate a low power problem.
Poole to Portsmouth
28/05/06 17:00 Filed in: UK
A relatively early departure in order to ensure a fair tide around the Isle of Wight. Motor sailed all the way apart from about an hour in the Solent.
Entrance to Portsmouth harbour quite an intense experience with ferries and all sorts of small craft funneling through a very narrow entrance on a fast ebb tide.
Moored at Haslar Marina which at £22.40 is the highest overnight cost encountered so far.
Entrance to Portsmouth harbour quite an intense experience with ferries and all sorts of small craft funneling through a very narrow entrance on a fast ebb tide.
Moored at Haslar Marina which at £22.40 is the highest overnight cost encountered so far.
Poole
26/05/06 22:07 Filed in: UK
Early on the skipper of a large Oyster berthed inside of me comes over and asks if I would move so he can more easily clear his berth.
As I have to move anyway due to the Marina being fully booked this presents no problem and I shift from the Marina to Town Quay - Poole which is a bit more bouncy but quite OK.
Also moored alongside the Town quay is the sail training ship "John Laing" run by the Ocean Youth Trust South. I had seen her in Dartmouth and Weymouth. I get invited aboard for a cup of tea and a tour. What a fabulous vessel and very helpfull staff and crew. She is a 72 foot steel ketch with berths for 12 crew and six staff. Her layout and finish is first class and extremely well thought out. I am highly impressed by the attention to detail. It turned out that the chap responsible for the fitting out and layout of "John Laing" was the owner of the large Oyster referred to earlier. She is a real credit to him.
Ocean Youth Trust South is a charity and well worth supporting.
Mooring on town quay £17.08
As I have to move anyway due to the Marina being fully booked this presents no problem and I shift from the Marina to Town Quay - Poole which is a bit more bouncy but quite OK.
Also moored alongside the Town quay is the sail training ship "John Laing" run by the Ocean Youth Trust South. I had seen her in Dartmouth and Weymouth. I get invited aboard for a cup of tea and a tour. What a fabulous vessel and very helpfull staff and crew. She is a 72 foot steel ketch with berths for 12 crew and six staff. Her layout and finish is first class and extremely well thought out. I am highly impressed by the attention to detail. It turned out that the chap responsible for the fitting out and layout of "John Laing" was the owner of the large Oyster referred to earlier. She is a real credit to him.
Ocean Youth Trust South is a charity and well worth supporting.
Mooring on town quay £17.08
Weymouth to Poole
25/05/06 16:00 Filed in: UK
Left Weymouth after lunch to catch the tide for an uneventful trip to Poole. Seas still running quite strongly and with the wind almost astern we roll a bit until rounding St Albans head.
A little bird which came aboard for a rest, stayed for about an hour and then left.
Arrived at Dolphin Haven - Poole to find the whole place booked solid for a weekend regatta.
Staff kindly locate an overnight berth (A19) for me which turns out to be a bit tight and I make a pretty messy job of squeezing into the berth and mooring.
No gelcoat harmed during this process.
Mooring £20.00
A little bird which came aboard for a rest, stayed for about an hour and then left.
Arrived at Dolphin Haven - Poole to find the whole place booked solid for a weekend regatta.
Staff kindly locate an overnight berth (A19) for me which turns out to be a bit tight and I make a pretty messy job of squeezing into the berth and mooring.
No gelcoat harmed during this process.
Mooring £20.00
Weymouth
24/05/06 15:50 Filed in: UK
Remain in Weymouth for the day. Attend to a few minor matters. The new deck spotlight fitted earlier only operates for 17 seconds before tripping the breaker so further investigation will be required.
Later deploy the Brompton and take a tour of Weymouth. Meet Barry and Jackie from another Vancouver 28 "Celana 3" moored astern and pass a pleasant couple of hours with them.
Internet Cafe £1.00 for 20 minutes Mooring Fees £16.00 per day
"Kiriwina" and "Celana 3" at Cove Quay, Weymouth
Later deploy the Brompton and take a tour of Weymouth. Meet Barry and Jackie from another Vancouver 28 "Celana 3" moored astern and pass a pleasant couple of hours with them.
Internet Cafe £1.00 for 20 minutes Mooring Fees £16.00 per day
"Kiriwina" and "Celana 3" at Cove Quay, Weymouth
Dartmouth to Weymouth
23/05/06 16:30 Filed in: UK
Weather forecast SW 5-7 but wind charts indicate that wind should be around F5 in Lyme bay. Left Darthaven at 07:00. Made good progress with winds averaging F6 but stronger later. Cloudy with periods of heavy rain throughout the day. Seas moderate becoming rough.
Sailed with staysail and three reefs in the main for most of the day with 2 reefs from time to time. Wind eased in the shelter of Portland Bill but increased again when clear with torrential rain for the last hour.
Very bouncy off Weymouth harbour dropping sails and preparing for berthing.
Berthed at Cove Quay on the south side of Weymouth harbour.
Total logged 61.1 miles in 11.5 hours.
Sailed with staysail and three reefs in the main for most of the day with 2 reefs from time to time. Wind eased in the shelter of Portland Bill but increased again when clear with torrential rain for the last hour.
Very bouncy off Weymouth harbour dropping sails and preparing for berthing.
Berthed at Cove Quay on the south side of Weymouth harbour.
Total logged 61.1 miles in 11.5 hours.
Preparations Completed - Awaiting Weather
20/05/06 14:00 Filed in: UK
All preparations completed. On board ready to depart. Series of gales forecast.
Summary of May weather here
Summary of May weather here
Dartmouth
19/05/06 17:34 Filed in: UK
Horrendous forecast. Going nowhere today. Typical. Three weeks of good weather and I am weather bound on the first day of the trip. Friday looks wery bad as well though there may be a good weather window on Saturday.
Ghosting Genoa sheets of correct length delivered. All gear stowed away. Eberspacher heater appears to have no power.
Noon forecast is for winds of Force 9 overnight. Wind strength increases during the afternoon. All mooring lines doubled up. Sail cover lashed and all halyards led away from mast
Genoa on adjacent yacht partially unfurls. Afternoon gusts of 25 knots.
Seals on deep locker reinforced. Wind strengthens through the evening and rain sets in.
Ghosting Genoa sheets of correct length delivered. All gear stowed away. Eberspacher heater appears to have no power.
Noon forecast is for winds of Force 9 overnight. Wind strength increases during the afternoon. All mooring lines doubled up. Sail cover lashed and all halyards led away from mast
Genoa on adjacent yacht partially unfurls. Afternoon gusts of 25 knots.
Seals on deep locker reinforced. Wind strengthens through the evening and rain sets in.
Dartmouth
18/05/06 14:32 Filed in: UK
Train to Dartmouth. Arrive abt 14:30. Heavy rain in Dartmouth with strong winds forecast. Spinnaker pole mount installed and rivets on boom end replaced with removable screws. New main sheet car delivered but track ends have still not arrived.
Main cabin leak reappears in heavy rain. Controlled with sponges. Clearly dorade box screws were not the culprit. As water level in balsa core is above the level of the windows only possible culprit left are the cabin top turning block bolts. If sealing these does not cure the leak next step is unclear.
Hose, valve and connections for new water tank sourced.
Main cabin leak reappears in heavy rain. Controlled with sponges. Clearly dorade box screws were not the culprit. As water level in balsa core is above the level of the windows only possible culprit left are the cabin top turning block bolts. If sealing these does not cure the leak next step is unclear.
Hose, valve and connections for new water tank sourced.