Wednesday, 23rd June

Dartmouth Castle
Dartmouth Day Mark
Tanker, 'Alfa britannia'
Sailing to windward with the tiller lashed


Having dried my shirts in the Marina’s tumble dryer and done the shopping I put to sea. There was a very light wind from the SW. At first it was slow progress to Berry Head while passing an anchored tanker named ‘Alfa Britannia’, registered at Nassau, but gradually the wind increased to a force 4. I was surprised how well ‘Ladybird’ went to windward, easily out-sailing a Newbridge 22’. I had a splendid beat out to sea beyond Berry Head before heading on the port tack towards Scabbacombe Head; then another tack to miss Nimble Rock. When coming up to the E. Blackstone and the Mewstone the sea became pretty bumpy. To cope more easily with the conditions I turned on the engine, but the cap fell off the outboard when I refilled it, which meant improvising with a plastic bag and a piece of string. I was reminded of a similar happening when I cruised ‘Faith’, my Paradox sailboat. Soon, the wind was free enough for us to keep clear of the two south cardinal buoys guarding the Mewstone, and I turned the engine off.


On the approach to the River Dart I took down the mainsail and ran in under the foresail. Not until ‘Ladybird’ was off Darthaven Marina did I start the engine. An examination of the anchorage between number 3 and number 5 buoys confirmed all would be well for anchoring. The Harbourmaster also gave his consent. I have located where I can buy another cap for the outboard, and tomorrow I’ll find a way of getting there.

Tuesday, 22nd June

Thatcher Rock
Laundry drying
Jetski on floating ramp - not seen this elsewhere
'Freedom', yacht for the disabled


Crème de la crème, Torquay Marina, among the rich and famous, ‘Ladybird’ is tied to pontoon D20; she lies hidden between two large motor yachts.


The day started, as usual, at 0510, in time for a cup of tea before the early morning forecast which mentioned a W or SW wind, increasing to 4 at times. There was not a breath of wind as I cast off the buoy at Starcross. Long streaky bits of weed floated on the surface of the mirror-like water, and some fouled the rudder, which made me keep the revs of the engine higher than I wanted, in the hope that the prop would not become clogged. All went well, but on the sharp bend leading towards Exmouth Marina the sun dazzled my eyes so that I could not see the buoys. Neither could I see the chart GPS because my eyes could not adjust to the low light of the screen. I kept a course dictated by memory from when I used to have boats on the Exe. A faster, more powerful yacht overhauled ‘Ladybird’; therefore I took the opportunity of following her, while periodically checking the depth sounder.


Near the mouth of the River, I noticed the buoys were in different positions to those shown on my GPS chart, which meant that the sandbanks had changed their position in recent years. As soon as we were clear of the shallows, I shaped a course for Hope’s Nose and turned off the engine. The boat just drifted along at 0.3 knots and the sun blazed down. For the first time during the cruise I was able to sunbathe and out of boredom I shaved. Dawlish and Teignmouth seemed never to move. Eventually, I turned on the engine to make progress; then the wind filled in from the SW. From there on I had a great sail to Torquay and on the way I admired the islets of the Ore Stone, the Lead Stone and Thatcher Rock. In Torbay and beyond, I counted six ships at anchor, which spoke volumes of the Country’s fragile economy.


Getting into the Marina was pretty easy, because there the wind was not so strong. I used the afternoon for doing the laundry and having a shower, before being visited by a friend who lives at Paignton. He presented me with a piece of cake saved from his eightieth birthday party; then he took me to a yacht he skippers for the disabled. She is a Hanse 35, extremely well fitted out.


I should have a quiet night here at the Marina, providing no drunks return to their yachts and wake me up.

Monday, 21st June

Dutch Style Buildings by the Cathedral
This may be the Old Courthouse.
The Cathedral


My first objective has been achieved, i.e., to reach Exmouth and Starcross. If I can work the boat further to the SW, that will be a bonus. This morning there is hardly any wind and the sun is making it scorching hot. For the first time during the cruise I have had to remove my shirt to remain cool. There is very little I need in way off provisions, but I took the dinghy ashore this morning so that I could do a little shopping for food at the Starcross Spar. I also had an interesting episode while fetching drinking water from the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club’s slipway. Initially, I drew the dinghy up on the mud, but when I stepped into it my boots nearly disappeared in the ooze; with difficulty I managed to drag the dinghy to a sort of pebbly slip.


My aim today is to do what comes naturally; have a snooze, admire the scenery, watch the comings and goings of boats, and work out what next to do. The summer has come, and I’m really enjoying the holiday. I have no worries, no anxieties and I have time to relax, read, listen to the radio, or play with the computer. In modern jargon, I’m chilling out.


I’ll leave you with a few more photos I took when I was at Exeter yesterday.

Sunday, 20th June

Tudor Buildings
Riddle Object
Year of the Pedestrian
Richard Hooker


Having an inflatable dinghy makes a lot of difference when at a place such as Starcross, because instead of being marooned on the boat, I can get ashore. After a very easy-going start I caught the 1023 bus to Exeter which passed through every little village en route. It took about 40 minutes before it arrived at the Bus Station. From there I ambled along the High Street which has been set aside for pedestrians - quite different to when I lived in Exeter in the late sixties; in fact, parts of the City are unrecognisable by me, the Bus Station being an example.


My camera came in handy for recording those things that interested me. Two pieces of what I would consider to be mediocre sculpture have been erected in the High Street. There’s a gleaming rocket-shaped mirror structure with reverse engraved lettering of riddles which can be read when seen in the adjacent mirrors. To me, this is complete nonsense which I could not understand. I felt it was not beautiful or ugly; nor was it a meaningful icon representative of time, place or theme. - a waste of money, resources and effort. No doubt others see the object differently. The second minor monument was a representation of figures that vaguely could be taken to be humans: two adult males and a younger female with two children, possibly one girl and an older boy. It was unveiled in 1998, to commemorate the Year of the Pedestrian. Again, I would classify the piece as being in the category of wasted resources, but who am I to judge?


In a different category at the Cathedral precinct there’s a sculpture of Richard Hooker, (1554 to 1600), who according to a plaque nearby was a prophet, son of Exeter, a lively Elizabethan priest, quick witted, urbane, intellectually acute, politically sophisticated, and passionately committed to the Church of England which he served.


If you are a visitor to Exeter you will not leave without being aware of the rich legacy of preserved Tudor buildings.


After my re-acquaintance with the City Centre, my brother-in-law took me in his car to his home. There we had a good chat, catching up on the news. He kindly brought me back to Starcross about mid-afternoon where I was relieved to find the dinghy exactly as I had left it at the head of the slipway that passes under the railway lines.


Soon it will be time to cook the evening meal. Afterwards I may take a stroll before turning in for the night. That will complete a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing day.

Saturday, 19th June

Exmouth Seafront
Starcross


The alarm went at 0150. There had been heavy rain, but by the time the boat was ready for casting off her lines, the rain had gone. While heading down the harbour towards the sea I hoisted full sail and turned on the navigation lights. The tide swished us around Portland Harbour. Now and again I consulted the chart and checked our route with the GPS. The lights of Portland and the dark silhouette of the familiar shape of the land that pointed to the Bill reassured me that we were on the right track. A trawler overhauled us and I was glad the navigation lights were in good order. She passed inshore of us when we were about a mile from the lighthouse. I closed the land to be in the best position for rounding the tip before heading west. Not once did I spot a crab pot float, but that was not surprising because the moon was completely hidden by the cloud.


We arrived exactly on time at the Bill to make the best use of the ebb which took us to the west at a rate of knots. No other boats could be seen in the brightening morn. Soon, a bright yellow sun rose above Portland and ‘Ladybird’ ran before the wind which came from the starboard quarter. She was rushing along at 5.6 knots. It was a lonely sea with no other boats for company. I kept glancing astern in the hope that a bigger yacht would overhaul ‘Ladybird’, as is generally the case, but this time there were none. The 35 mile crossing of Lyme Bay was a featureless trip, apart from the ever changing shapes of clouds.


About four miles from Straight Point at the entrance of the River Exe I turned on the VHF radio on channel 8 to monitor the Firing Range, but there was no activity, presumably because it was a Saturday. Several yachts were entering the River and small motor craft were whizzing along in the shallows close to the red sandstone cliffs. My impression was that the tide was ebbing, so I increased the revs of the engine, but when I noted the way a group of ribs were pointing I realised the current was still making. Memories of years ago when I kept boats at Starcriss flashed into my mind as I observed the beach and buildings of Exmouth’s seafront to starboard.


Where the River turns north by west I steered a course in the deeper water by keeping close to yachts at their moorings. Soon I could see the familiar jetty where the ferry berths from Exmouth and I prepared to pick up a mooring by having a rope and the boathook ready. My first attempt failed, but I saw a better buoy and successfully tied ’Ladybird’ to it. I just hope that the owner is away cruising and that perhaps he may be on my mooring while I am on his - not much chance of that, but the principle remains of cruising folk exchanging moorings.


Yes, I had arrived where I so much wanted to be - Starcross, a place of wonderful memories. The air is always so fresh there and for me it is an exciting place protected by the sand dunes of Dawlish Warren. The wind and sea call the tune for adventure. I hope I shall have a quiet night.

Friday, 18th June

Newsagents

Merry-go-round
Coat of Arms, Customs House
Sir HenryEdwards M.P. complete with pigeon
TS Pelican


Weymouth is a fascinating seaside resort. I love the architecture which is full of variety and the town has many interesting buildings. The beach is a golden stretch of sand. Today I used my camera freely, taking snaps of anything that caught my attention.


The photos above are typical of the objects that I felt were worthy of being captured for storage on my computer.


My hope is that I’ll be able to put to sea early tomorrow morning and make my way in the dark to Portland Bill to be there at the right time for taking the ebb across Lyme Bay, i.e., get underway at 0230 and be at the Bill by 0400 when it should just be getting light. One of the possible pitfalls of this strategy is becoming snarled on a the float of a crab pot. They are impossible to see in the dark, and even during daylight hours they can lurk just below the surface, since they are pulled under the water by the fast current.

Thursday, 17th June

Old Harry

Puffin

Al


Here at Weymouth the weather continues to be fine and I had an unexpected visit from Al, who owns a Paradox sailboat. He and I had two cruises together in our Paradoxes. This morning we had a really good reunion with much of our conversation being about boats.


Later, my nephew arrived to take me by car to see my brother.


There were a few interesting sailing boats in the harbour, but for me, the most attractive was a Victorian yacht, ’Puffin 11’. She had sailed from Poole where she is kept, and she left the harbour for the return sail this morning.


I’ll probably set off for Exmouth on Friday - that’s if the wind is OK.

Wednesday, 16th June

Digging for lugworms
Oil Rig
Crescent Moon Sunsdet
Golden Sunset
Wednesday, 16th June

Yes, you guessed right; ‘Ladybird’ is still at anchor this morning off Goathorn Head, Poole Harbour. It seems that for as long as the ridge of high pressure remains over England, strong NE winds will persist. They are in the right direction for Weymouth, and if I were in a bigger, more powerful yacht, I would up the anchor and be away. However, the Coastguard forecast a north-easterly occasionally reaching Force 8! I don’t like sailing in a Force 6, much preferring 3 or under, and a maximum of 4. Why should I move from this lovely spot?


You wouldn’t believe it, but Furzey Island, a half a mile away to the WNW, has an oil well gathering station for the largest onshore oil field in Western Europe. I can hear no noise from the Island or see any sign of such activity. A small ferry visits a slipway two or three times a day, and that’s it. Pine trees hide the structures from view, but to the SW, if I look carefully, I can see a rig sticking up above trees on the mainland. I believe this is the location of the Wytch Farm oil field in the Purbeck district of Dorset. The beleaguered BP Oil Company own and manage this field. Oil is pumped from there via Furzey Island to Fawley fifty miles away. Natural gas is also piped to Sopley. So, right in the midst of this area of special scientific interest and beauty, there lies hidden an industrial complex.


Life goes on around as if nothing has happened. An hour or so ago at low water, a fellow wearing Wellington boots and wielding a fork was digging for lugworms. A half-dozen windsurfers zoom by on a downwind course. A jaunty red trawler bobs along and the colours of the scene are fabulous with white caps breaking on olive green waves.


Addendum

The wind eased off; therefore I took advantage and sailed for Weymouth, where I am tonight.

Tuesday, 15th June

Tripper boat
Sloop, 'Merry May'
'Ageas', the Motor Yacht


The NE wind is too strong today for sailing to Weymouth. A gale force 8 is predicted for a period of time. However, the sun is shining and by evening there’s a forecast for cloud and a continuing strong wind. Maybe tomorrow the wind will ease?


The bonus to all this that I have plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying everything around me. To the north there’s Brownsea Island; to the northwest there’s Furzey Island; to the west there’s Green Island, and to the south there’s Goathorn Point. All of these places are wooded. Sadly, all of them are private, but at least they have a measure of protection for conserving the status quo, which includes the wildlife.


The channels between the islands are well buoyed, or they have starboard hand and port hand marker beacons.


This morning, not long before lunch, a motor yacht by the name of ‘Ageas’ arrived on the scene and let go her anchor to windward of ‘Merry May’, a smart modern sloop. ‘Ageas’s’ skipper had not given himself room for letting out plenty of chain and as a consequence his vessel drifted towards the anchored yacht. ‘Merry May’s’ captain persuaded the owner of the motor yacht to anchor elsewhere, so he promptly moved to a spot near ‘Ladybird’! The motor yacht’s skipper had not realized that my yacht could swing over the spot where he had set his anchor. When he twigged on to this fact, I could see that he was concerned, but I think he didn’t want to ask his wife to set the anchor for a third time. This meant the two boats were only yards apart, but to my relief, the motor yacht moved away after her crew had eaten their lunch.


Later in the afternoon, a brightly painted yellow tripper boat with the name ’Maid of Poole’ twice cruised around the Islands for her passengers to see them, and to hear a running commentary of the history of Poole Harbour.


I wonder how long I shall be port-bound? Not that I’m bored, but I shall have to put into a marina so that I can get ashore to shop for food. This is not desperate, because I only require things like: bananas, apples, cakes etc. Marinas are not my favourite places, but at them I can have a shower, get rid of rubbish, replenish the fresh water and when it’s time to do the laundering, I can make use of the facility.


This part of Poole Harbour is very beautiful, particularly the effect of the sunlight on the waves and the clouds. There is little incentive to leave the tranquillity.

Monday, 14th June

Low water
At the Quay
Hurst Point Lighthouse


I thought the boat would dry out at Keyhaven Quay, but there were a few inches of water under the keels. ‘Ladybird’ lay beside the Quay until this morning when I set off at 1045. The Quay was becoming a hive of activity. A crab boat arrived with a catch and a large yacht was about to be launched with the aid of a mobile crane. On the way out of the Harbour my chart GPS confirmed the course within the confines of the channel marked with starboard and port hand buoys. There was nothing to it really; my fears of Keyhaven were all in the mind. The practical working of the event was commonsense.


When the boat was clear of the Harbour I made full sail to combat the incoming tide around Hurst Point. I took a course fairly close to the Lighthouse where the water was astonishingly deep, but a bit further along the depth was only four meters. It was a reach along the shore before heading for the North Head Buoy from where I took the departure on a heading of 261 degrees for Poole Bar Buoy No. 1 sixteen miles away. I needed the engine as far as the Buoy, but from there on the tide eased and the wind backed to give us a run with the jib poled out.


Several yachts were all taking the same route. The sun was shining and the air was warm. The Autohelm managed to steer the course while I had lunch which consisted of a Cornish pasty I had bought at Milton earlier in the morning. As the afternoon wore on the wind petered out and it became an engine job. Getting into Poole required a three-quarter throttle and I only just manage to be clear of the chain ferry which continued remorselessly for the western jetty. At this point a cloudburst made everything soaking. South Deep seemed the best option for an anchorage which I found near other yachts at Goathorn Point. In the event this was not the best spot because the evening forecast predicted a Force 7 from the NE. I was reminded of my experience in Chichester of East Head.


I just think I’m going to have a rough night.

Sunday, 13th June

My Crew and Keyhaven Pilot
Me at Keyhaven


The morning turned out to be brilliant with sunshine and a light wind from the SW. My friend who knows Keyhaven because he has sailed scows there for many years, joined me at Lymington. We cast off ’Ladybird’s’ lines at 0910 and kept to the channel leading to the Solent where hundreds of yachts were everywhere to be seen. A large fleet of Optimist dinghies were engaged in a racing championships.


My volunteer crew was at the helm trying to get the best out of the boat as we sailed towards Keyhaven. He took the yacht over the shallows to avoid the incoming tide. Unaccustomed to having a crew, it was a delight to have his company. A Hawk Day Boat overtook us and when she arrived to a point near the entrance to Keyhaven she ran back towards Lymington.


At the entrance of the harbour the narrow deep water channel is identified by starboard and port hand buoys: which are almost due north of Hurst Point. I had been fearful of entering Keyaven because of the narrow channel leading to the Old Quay by the Sailing Club, but my friend put me at ease. It was simply a matter of following the starboard hand buoys all the way.


Scows and other dinghies were out racing and the Club was alive with people. Youngsters were at the Quay fishing for crabs. At precisely 1200 ‘Ladybird’ was alongside the Quay and the dues were paid for one night. After having a cup of tea, my friend departed to do a good turn for a friend of his wife. Two good deeds on a Sunday, will not go un-noted. In fact, I expressed my gratitude to my crew for giving me the confidence to take ’Ladybird’ into Keyhaven. If the opportunity arises again to visit the place, I’ll certainly call in.

Saturday, 12 June

Autohelm at work


The wind was stronger than forecast at force 5 from the NW. Getting out of Cowes against the wind and the incoming tide was possible with the engine running at three-quarters throttle. I kept an eye open for the car ferries and the fast catamaran. When ‘Ladybird’ was clear of the number one starboard hand buoy I shaped a course towards the entrance of the Beaulieu River. Almost fully reefed, the boat was very comfortable. The easiest way of finding Lymington is to follow the six metre line which will bring you to the entrance where the ferries use the dredged channel. This I did without difficulty.


The eight mile trip was mostly on the wind to allow for the ebb. Two miles from the Lymington Fairway I took in sail, prepared the lines and tied fenders on either side. The engine needed fairly high revs to make over the ebb and against the wind. The ferry was leaving just as I arrived at Lymington Yacht Haven; therefore if steered a course through the moorings to keep clear of the vessel. I was given permission to berth at Oscar Nine, but finding it was not easy, because the sign for the Oscar pontoons was missing! An exchange of information via the VHF on Channel 80 eventually helped me to find the pontoon which was right at the end of a cul-de-sac. I was pleased that the wind eased as I manoeuvred ‘Ladybird’ into the slot.


When I had tidied the boat I phoned a friend who sails at Keyhaven. He generously offered to show me the way in to the harbour tomorrow, if all goes to plan. I’ve always avoided Keyhaven because the tides are not regular and the channel is narrow. Unless a boat is kept to the channel she will dry out. Therefore it is essential to know where the to let the boat settle.


This afternoon I took a stroll through the centre of Lymington and along the river front. A street market was taking place and there were many holiday makers. On the way to the town centre I noticed that Francis Chichester’s old yacht, ‘Gypsy Moth 1V’ was for sale at the Berthon Boat Company’s boat park.

Friday, 11th June

Frigate
Freighter


Well, we made it to Cowes, at the Isle of Wight. Getting out of Chichester was a bit slow because of the incoming tide were it accelerates through the narrows at Eastoke Beacon. With a light wind from astern and the engine running at over half throttle our speed was 1.4 knots. Once clear by the seaward mark of West Pole, the tide was in our favour for heading to the Horse Sand Fort which marks the southern point of the approach to Portsmouth. At the Fort a huge freighter came by at enormous speed, causing a horrendous wash that forced me to turn the yacht directly into it to avoid being swamped.


There was a lot of activity between Ryde and Portsmouth. In addition to a Frigate there were two car ferries, a hovercraft and a high speed catamaran, plus a fleet of racing yachts. On the approach to Cowes things quieted down and I was able to prepare 'Ladybird’ for entering the Marina. I normally make two bow lines ready and keep a stern line to hand; I also tie fenders on either side. The procedure is to come alongside the pontoon and take the bow and stern lines with me. If the wind is from astern I cleat the stern line first and visa versa.


There was bags of space at the Yacht Haven, but next Saturday the Around the Island Race will take place; then the pontoons will be full.


As I’m likely to be moving on tomorrow, I want to have a look at the town this evening, so I’ll sign off now.

Thursday, 10th June

Looking NE up the Chichester Cannel


‘Ladybird’ and I arrived at East Head, Chichester Harbour on Tuesday, 8th June at 1440. We have been here ever since. This will be our second full day. I had hoped to sail today for another anchorage or marina in the Solent, but the wind is rather too strong for comfortable sailing. The Solent Coastguard on VHF channel 23 mentioned the NE wind of 3 to 4 was to increase to 5 or 7. When a forecast of 7 is mentioned, my policy is to remain where I am. Even if there is a forecast of Force 6 I prefer not to sail. Both the boat and I can manage under those conditions, but there is always a possibility that the forecasters could have underestimated the wind strength.


Where I am is probably not the best of places to be, as the Chichester Channel runs in a north-easterly direction and the boat is a little exposed. On the other hand the holding ground is good and there’s only a mile or so for the waves to build up. I have the full range of chain out and my bower anchor is ready for immediate deployment. I have fully reefed the mainsail, for action if need be. In fact, I feel quite comfortable, especially as the tide is ebbing, which has flattened the waves. (See photo.)


What do I do when confined to the cabin? Well, I have plenty of reading matter, the radio for local and national programmes, and of course, the laptop which has 24 hour access to the Internet, thanks to T-mobile. There are always those things to attend to in connection with the boat like checking the anchor, to make sure she is not dragging, doing the housework, cooking a meal, preparing a passage plan for the next day. I could do with some more sleep, as I was up twice in the night for routine matters.

Wednesday, 9th June

I’ve realised I’m on holiday, not on a marathon! ‘Ladybird’ is still at anchor off East Head, because I have set aside today for doing a few jobs and for trying the inflatable. I was expecting showers, but they did not materialize. Mostly it’s been sunny, and as I had no intention of putting to sea, I did not bother with applying sun cream, which was a mistake. Fortunately, my face and my nose did not get too badly burnt.


After breakfast I inflated the dinghy and found it could be done with ease on the cabin top. The plan had been to hoist her up the mast where she would be out of the way, but that was not necessary. In practice getting ashore went well. The WavEco is so small she can be carried without any great effort.


I took my time to observe all manner of things while walking around the perimeter of East Head. The sand dunes, which are covered with scrub grass, are an animal habitat. Most noticeable were the skylarks and the black-headed terns. I loved watching the latter dive into the clear water for fish, but I was not keen on their constant harsh warning calls. One tern in particular was most aggressive, defending his territory. I noted that the sandy beach is very popular with dog owners. A road leads to the seaward side of East Head; hence the dog walkers can gain access to the area for exercising their dogs.


As I arrived back at the yacht, six dinghies from the CYE Activities Centre anchored their Wayfarers nearby. The children were obviously enjoying their time on the water and later they had fun and games on the beach before having picnic lunches. The experiences these youngsters have while being involved in such outdoor pursuits will always be remembered by them, and the lessons learned will be useful in later life.

Tuesday, 8th June

Typical Dinner cooked in a pressure cooker.



Today I had the best sail of the cruise so far. ‘Ladybird’ left Brighton Marina at 0600. The wind was from the SE at about Force 1; therefore I kept the engine running until the wind increased to force 3 within the hour. The boat could hold a direct course of 225 for the E Borough Head buoy, just over 19 miles away. Dark clouds brought the first rain, and from there on intermittent showers persisted as the wind backed to the south, causing ‘Ladybird’ to be on the wind. The barometer continued to fall throughout the day and the wind increased to a Force 4 or 5.


Half way to the E Borough Head buoy I set about making a coffee. At that moment the selfsteering gear played up. It could not cope with the waves and wind. I reduced sail, but that made no difference. The event was insignificant, because I mostly steered the boat to spare the Autohelm which was working overtime. I turned the gear off and switched it back on again, to no effect. I then took the gear off its mount and pressed the auto button. This did the trick, so that it worked perfectly well. I only used the Autohelm when plotting the ship’s position and when preparing hot drinks.


As usual, ‘Ladybird’ was overhauled by bigger yachts, but this was advantageous to me, because they became pointers, showing me the way. Gradually the sea built up with breaking crests and I shortened sail to less than a working rig with the equivalent of one reef in the rolled mainsail. By the time we arrived at West Pole Beacon, marking the entrance to Chichester Harbour, the wind was a good Force 5 from the south and the last of the ebb was flowing out to sea, causing the waves to increase in height.


East Head Anchorage, Chichester Harbour

A rather fine gaff ketch with tan sails was leaving the Harbour as we were entering. She was followed by a large white plastic yacht. Running northwards past Hayling Island Yacht Club to port, required my utmost attention to prevent the yacht from gybing. Before reaching East Head where I intended anchoring I turned on the engine and took in all sail. I also prepared the anchor and chain in readiness for anchoring. Three other yachts were anchored; one of them was a just a little bit bigger than mine. I therefore chose a spot in about the same depth of water at 2 metres a cable distance away from the smaller boat. The time was 1440, and having sailed a distance of 37 miles, ‘Ladybird’s’ average speed was a tad over 4 knots.


My intention is to remain here for the night, and if the wind continues from the South I should have a peaceful sleep.

Monday, 7th June

Ferry going into Newhaven


The time is1350 and ‘Ladybird’ remains at Brighton Marina. During my walk along the seafront this morning I only observed one yacht heading to the SW, and the reason for this was obvious, because the Force 2 to 3 wind was from that direction. Furthermore, rain was forecast for late afternoon. The distance to Chichester via the shortest distance is 35 nautical miles; that is at least a 12 hour trip, but more likely to be 15 hours, which is very similar to the time it takes to get from Dover to Brighton.


For the above reasons I’m pleased I did not put to sea at the usual time after the early Shipping Forecast, and as things worked out, I had a very enjoyable morning. I have walked the promenade many times before on previous visits, but this time I was determined to have a fresh look for the things I had missed. At the start of my walk, somehow I became ‘trapped’ in a maze of multi-storey car parks and emerged into the light of day to find myself wandering along a narrow walled path that led towards the Naturalist Beach. Some sort of high boarding on the left-hand side was covered with highly coloured graffiti done by skilled street artists. I’m sure I couldn’t do nearly as well with spray paint.


By the Volks Electric Railway which runs parallel with the beach, I noticed a fenced-off area where there was a man whose skin resembled the appearance of nutmeg. He was attending to a small fibreglass beach boat. This warranted a chat, so I asked him if he would like me to give him a hand to launch his boat. He replied that he was painting the vessel. A closer inspection revealed Egyptian style paintings all over the interior. He was about to add another figure. I mentioned that years ago this part of the pebbly beach was covered with similar netted enclosures where beach fishermen stored their boats and equipment. He had been fishing off the beach for 15 years and over that time all the other fisherman had given up or had taken their boats to the Marina.


The Pier is an amazing place. This morning a good number of people were enjoying the entertainments: I noticed the Horror Hotel, the Dodgems, the Flume, the Turbo Coaster and the Booster. The Turbo Coaster resembles a two-bladed aeroplane propeller, but at the tips there are seats equipped with restrainers to prevent the occupants from being flung into outer space! All sorts of snacks and confectionary can be bought from kiosks which are either side of two arcades, things like hotdogs, waffles, shellfish, candy floss, and ice creams. I noticed two shops selling Brighton rock. You wouldn’t expect to find a water flume at the end of the pier, but there’s one there with warning signs reminding people not to wear any kind of hat, presumably because they could be blown off a person’s head into the moving water.


Observing people is half the fun when visiting places like the Pier. There were several groups of young people, who were trying their luck at the slot machines. Not one of them won any money while I looked on. A girl risked walking on the wooden slatted floor with extraordinarily high heeled shoes. Somehow she managed not to get the heels caught between the slats. Variety Club Assistants were looking after disabled children who seemed unable to have any response to what was going on around them. Pushed in wheelchairs they were stationary beings like inanimate objects, but that was only the outward appearance. Inside, I expect their hearts were pounding, and they were joyful to be out in the fresh air and sunshine. Observations such as that make me realize how fortunate I have been with my health for the last seventy plus years.


I didn’t try the talking telescope, taste a waffle, down a hotdog or risk dipping my toes into the sea. On my way back to the Marina I kept clear of the skateboarders, the blade-skaters, the runners, and the cyclists. A lifeguard with his surfboard was trying to keep warm by repositioning his windbreak. The sound of pebbles as the breakers moved them, made rhythmic, almost soporific pulses, causing me to yawn and I realised I had on average had less than six hours sleep for the past five days. The temptation was to return to the yacht for an afternoon snooze. Instead I found the energy and inspiration to type this, but now I‘m going to lay down for a while.

Sunday 6th June

'Ladybird' at the start of the cruise
I’m taking a break in port today here at Brighton Marina, which is just as well, because this afternoon the wind is gusting up to Force 6. This morning there was a huge amount of activity, with boats of every kind in and out of the Marina. This a base for all sorts of aquatic activites including sailing and motorboat instruction, diving and sport fishing, yacht and dinghy racing, and of course fisherman who earn their living from the sea.


I arrived here at 2230 yesterday after a 16 ½ hour motoring stint in calm conditions. Many yachts made to the West while taking advantage of the favourable tide around Dungeness and later Beachy Head. There was very little excitement on the way down, except for several visits by bees. The plug on the Autohelm played up, but a bit of jigging got it back working again. I enjoyed looking at the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head which are quite stunning.

.Beachy Head



Today I’ve been doing a few maintenance jobs such as scrubbing the bottom of the boat from the pontoon with a long handled brush and fitting a new plug and socket to the Autohelm. I also shopped for food. I was mainly looking for snack type food, because this is what is needed for coastal hopping; things like cakes, biscuits, crisps, Mars etc.


One of the more interesting aspects of this sport is meeting fellow sailors, who usually have something to say about the things they have done, or are doing. At Dover I met Bart and his partner who are on their way from Holland to Greece. They have a very substantial Colin Archer style yacht. They are looking forward to the crossing of the Bay of Biscay from Falmouth to La Corunna. At Brighton Nick introduced himself. He and his crew are working up the Channel before crossing the North Sea, with the aim of cruising the Baltic.


As I type, the gusts are thrusting ‘Ladybird’ against the pontoon and I am wondering if the wind will die by nightfall; if not, getting to sleep will not be easy. What I do tomorrow will depend on the forecast.

Saturday, 5th June

Hi people, this is just a brief note to let you know that I arrived safely at Brighton Marina at 2230 today, after 16 ½ hours with Ladybird under power. There was just a short spell of downwind sailing off Beachy Head. I will try to fill you in with a few details tomorrow.

Friday 4th June

I woke up to another lovely morning and got underway at 0550. There was hardly a whisper of wind. By 0900 ‘Ladybird’ was abeam of the Hook Spit buoy at the entrance to the Gore Channel en route for Margate. Apart from looking into the sun, visibility was good which meant I could easily pick out the landmarks such as the water tower, south of SE Margate buoy. From there I counted 5 ships at anchor in Margate Road.


The tide was in my favour all day; first with the ebb along the north Kent coast, then the flood going south from North Foreland. I originally planned to put into Ramsgate, but as the flood was on the move towards Dover I took advantage of it by going close inshore along Kent east coast.


On the approach to the eastern entrance of Dover Harbour I observed two ferries going in and one coming out. Two yachts arrived before me; then I was slightly held up when a ferry had to enter the Harbour. By using the VHF I was able to arrange a berth in the Tidal Harbour, but it worked out at £20 for the night!


After having a marvellous shower in the Marina facilities, I felt like a new man. Then I took a short walk to the BP garage where I bought 10 litres of unleaded petrol which will give ‘Ladybird’ a range of 30 miles in calm conditions.


I’m not sure whether to press on tomorrow, because the tide is not great for an early start, which means the beginning would be slow going. That decision will be left until I wake on Saturday. Bye for now.

Thursday 3rd June

After a sleepless night at the Rice and Cole pontoon I made breakfast at 0510 and listened to the forecast at 0520 which was for E or NE 3 or 4, occasionally 5. I left the pontoon with the engine running at 0550. To make the best use of the ebb I motor-sailed to a point NE of the Whitaker Beacon, then ran before the wind as far as the SW Barrow cardinal buoy. From there I brought boat onto wind for the Shivering Sand Towers, then skirted around the wind farm at S Girdler Beacon. There a watch ship monitored my progress. By that time the tide was making. A course from there was downwind towards the Whitstable Street red can buoy. My chart was out of date, showing the Buoy as a N cardinal. This buoy is the waypoint for the River Swale, which at first runs in SW direction - fortunately downwind. My map GPS was very useful for following the deepwater channel, of which there’s a good 5 nautical miles to the first of the moorings at Harty Ferry, where I’m intending to spend the night. It’s a little bumpy with the ebb against wind, but hopefully at nightfall the wind will ease.


The forecast for tomorrow is E or NE, becoming variable 3 to 5, which means I could have a testing time to make it to Ramsgate. We’ll see.

Forecast

Grandchildren

Yesterday’s forecast for rain was accurate. For most of the afternoon and into the evening the drizzle came down. Somehow that fine misty rain gets into everything. I’m glad I did not go to the boat, because there would have been little to do, other than rest below, whereas at home I was put to good use by looking after my grandchildren.


The forecast for today, Thursday and Friday looks promising, with increasing sunshine as the week progresses. The Met Office surface pressure chart shows a 1020 millibar high pressure area slap over the UK at mid-day and it starts moving away to the northeast on Friday. The winds are likely to be light, being mainly generated by diurnal convection; in other words, sea breezes during daylight hours, and possibly the reverse at night.


After stowing the remaining gear and provisions, I’ll need to make a decision whether to set sail today. Bye for now.


Links

BBC Weather Forecast

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10209

Surface Pressure Chart

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/surface_pressure.html

Wind Observation Charts

http://www.xcweather.co.uk/

Delayed Start and Taking Care

Rain

Monday was a day of catching up on things that needed doing such as cutting the lawns and buying provisions for the cruise. The forecast for today, Tuesday, 1st June, looks lousy with buckets of rain. As I am sailing for pleasure, I’ll give it a miss. Maybe Wednesday will be better? There is no hurry. I’m not in a race; I can go at my pace! The tides are not brilliant for timing. High water at Burnham for Wednesday, 2nd June is at 0434 BST and 1646 BST which means low water will be approximately 1040. Therefore after that time the tide will be flooding. Unless there is a reasonably good wind from the west, southwest or northwest, ‘Ladybird’ will find it slow going.


I shall have to act according to circumstances, but that’s the fun of cruising. Situations change; locations differ, and the winds and tides vary. Each situation requires appropriate decisions and actions. I just hope I shall make the right decisions and stay out of trouble. Getting stuck in a swatchway on a falling tide can be an unpleasant business. They are seldom soft and sandy; more often they are composed of small boulders, stones and gravel which are not good for a boat such as ‘Ladybird’ with fibreglass bilge keels. Such keels are OK for taking the mud or sand, but gravel, stones and boulders can leave their mark. Playing it safe and taking care is the nature of the game. Fair winds and fair weather can make all the difference to a cruise being successful. We’ll see.