Friday, 17th May I sailed from Brighton Marina to Chichester Harbour, a total of approximately 40 miles. To work the tides I left Brighton at 04.00 and with a force 3 from behind, 'Sandpiper' skipped along, at times doing 5 knots.
By 06.00 Shoreham was to the north as we headed to the East Borough Head Buoy approximately 20 miles away. A stream of large yachts all under engine overtook 'Sandpiper' and showed the way ahead - useful markers for steering a course towards Boulder Buoy off Selsey Bill.
The flood tide turned against us well before the Looe Passsge, and at Boulder Buoy I had to put the engine on to make over the cascade of water shooting through the gap between Malt Owers to the north and Boulder Bank to the south. That was a hairy bit.
From there I had a fine reach to West Pole, the lattice marker for Chichester Harbour. By then the wind backed to come from the north, so I took in sail and motored to sandy East Head, a favourite anchorage of mine, where I stopped for a meal.
At 18.20 'Sandpiper' was firmly beached at Snowbill* Creek, in the lee of East Head. Len Wingfield, a veteran sailor of the Dinghy Cruising Association, had sailed by in his Bosun dinghy as I was anchored, and later walked along the beach to suggest I should join him.
When I arrived at the beach he was busy reefing the mainsail, and within a minute or so he was gone! I was left mystified on the beach, but I was grateful because I shall have a peaceful night until high water tomorrow.
* This should be 'Snowhill Creek'.
6 comments:
Bill looks like you might be in the solent while I'm away, I's off to Hong Kong on business Sunday evening back on Thursday Max
Thanks for letting me know. I hope it will not be all business while you are away.
Cheers,
Bill.
Welcome to Chi, Bill... you've done amazingly well the trek from Brighton is a long old haul.....
PS. I never knew it was called Snowbill Creek, and I've been sailing here for years!
That was a typo; the name is Snowhill Creek.
Cheers,
Bill.
Well to be fair Bill, I didn't know it was called Snowhill Creek either! :o)
Edit: Just had a look at my chart and noticed the name in small text at the bottom of that inlet... it's beautiful down there so I hope you had a good night..
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