Thursday 28 May 2009

Homeward bound

Breskens proves to have no fuel berth.

Now we aren't short of fuel to the point of panic.... but would very much like to be able to sail a while on the way back to be comfortable...

So, we are rather pleased at 06:30 to lock out into 20kts of wind.... albeit bang on the nose for the first 3 hours as we work our way back down the coast.... the promise of being able to sail once we reach the end of the channel is lifting.... which is good, as its still pretty lumpy from the previous days wind....

True to form however, as we turn NE, the wind starts to ease.... just enough to sail for a while though, so in 12kts, we plug away north, enjoying the quiet with the engine off.... Our friends, who are equally as concerned about fuel, carry one motoring at full chat.... a mistake it was later to be proved....

We take what seems to be an age in reaching the TSS... as the wind continues to drop, and out speed over the ground reduces to 2.3kts, we put the engine back on.... we've managed to sail for nearly 4 hours though... a good fuel saving....

The TSS is straightforward again... one little jink for a container ship, but only a minor jink.... and then the next waypooint is the cardinal marking the edge of Gallopers.... we might have gone straight across this notorious bank, but when we left, the sea was still running, and given that it shallows to less than 3m, it wouldn't have been nice... but with the engine on, its soon on us.... and then its Long Sand Head.... its just starting to get dusky, so on go the nav lights.... and fortunately, we just clear the new 'roundabout TSS' here before it gets truly dark, which makes Nav a lot easier....

Still motoring, and with the tide now in full flow, we are shot down towards Rough Towers....

Our friends call up.... they are sufficiently low on fuel, that they are now motoring at nearly idle... the price paid for shooting off too quickly earlier... They request that we inform Shotley that they'll be in for fuel in the middle of the night!

Soon Cork Sands Yacht Beacon is upon us... for once we pick it up at 0.5nm range... its usually a pig to spot until the last minute... and within 45mins, we are calling Shotley for a lock in....

As we lock in... we hear the other boat call the coastguard.... they've run out of fuel, and the wind has vanished... whoops!

I have a momentary pang of guilt... should we have waited for them?... but then we were also v low on fuel, so then the coastguard would have had two boats to deal with....

All tied up in our berth, and ready for bed by 12:30... not bad.. 18hrs for the crossing.... and we didn't break anything this time!

Miles logged 96nm
Miles this trip 213nm
Miles this season 284nm
Miles since this blog started 4,181nm

Wednesday 27 May 2009

decisions time

We'd promised the kids a run the the Veersemeer, but knowing that we needed to be back in the UK Friday night.. so we watch the weather forecasts closely....

FRiday is looking bad, with no wind forecast, and what little their is, to be on the nose for a crossing back.... so we opt to go Thursday instead.... this clearly mucks up plans for the Veersemeer, but the kids are magnanimous in defeat.

It also leaves one other conundrum... getting out of Holland...

Its a few miles up the coast before you can turn North East, and this isn't a bit of water in which you would chose to plug the tide.... so timing is everything.... however, the bridges don't start opening until 09:00 at this time of year, so we need to get out of the canal system....

So a decision is made to leave Wednesday, through the bridges, out of Vlissingen, and take the short hop across to Breskens... Its only just across the estuary

So, with at least 6 other boats, we muddle our way up the Walcheren canal, and into the lock at Vlissingen... this proves interesting, as its now pretty windy, and the lock keeper asks us all to use the 'big' lock.... its VERY big.... again, its bollards... and we tie up without too much drama, but one or two boats have a little more fun.... at least the lock is big enough to motor around in.... so no harm done...

We lock out to see (again) 35kts of wind.... its a lumpy bumpy run across to Breskens..... and we are grateful to be tied up...

Sadly, the main saloon hatch decided to leak, so we have a bit of water below.. nothing serious... but annoying...

On the way over, we are followed by a customs vessel.... M announces.... "look... he's taking photos of us!"

And sure enough.... once we are in a tied up, then along they come, and ask to see the paperwork.... nothing onerous... just Part 1 certificate, and passports.... and all over in 10 mins... very friendly. He asks if we have any contraband... at which point both SWMBO and I point at M, and say... "take him away".... smiles from everyone... except M!!!!!

Breskens proves to be completely unremarkable in every way.... a nice enough marina, but a complete absence of anything else... still its just an overnight staging post

Miles logged 7nm
Miles this trip 116nm
Miles this season 188nm
Miles since this blog started 4,085nm

Tuesday 26 May 2009

bicycles

So, we are tied up in Middelburg.... i've found a sailmaker, who will do their best to get the sail fixed.... but how to get it there?

In typical Dutch fashion, the sailmaker has cycled to work......

So, I decide to carry the sail......

A quarter of a mile later, I realise how heavy a main sail is.... and a further quarter of a mile later, i'm struggling.... only 2.5miles to go.... and then.... an angel appears....

A car drives by, laden with sails, and an optimist on the roof..... and pulls over.... "you going to Scaldis Sails?".... "yep".... "well hop in... i'll give you a lift"

Thank you thank you thank you.....!

4 hours later, the sailmaker has sorted the sail.... but i've got to get it back....

Well... I think it through.... if the sailmaker can cycle to work, then why can't I cycle to the sailmaker?

So out comes a folding bike.... and off I toddle...

The sail is bagged up, strapped to my back, and I wobble my way back to the boat in a highly dangerous manner.... but successfully..... SWMBO says that I look like i've had a few pints.... i'm red faced, sweaty, and my legs feel like they've been removed.... but the sail is back.....

Its quite clear that its been a few years since I cycled regularly!

Monday 25 May 2009

Bang!

After a couple of great days in Oostende, boats were leaving, and we were doing the same.

The forecast looked a lot like we'd be motoroing the whole way up the coast towards our next planned destination of either Middelburg or through into the Veersemeer, with 6kts max forecast, and right on the nose.

So, at 10:30, we slipped our lines and set off...

The engine noises of the previous trip had proved to be nothing too serious... it was low on oil, and needed a good top up... it does however, seem to be smoking quite a lot, so I need to keep a careful eye on it, as the smoke is most definitely oil smoke, and not unburnt fuel or vapour... perhaps the rings are getting tired.

We exited Oostende, just in time... 1 minute after we left, the traffic lights came on to indicate shipping movements, and the boats following shortly behind us had to wait 20 minutes...

Leaving the piers behind, I was some what surprised to find 12 to 15kts of wind.... quite tight on the bow, but just off enough that we could sail close hauled.... so up went everything, and off we shot... the sun was shining, and things were looking up!

And the wind built..... and it built.... and it built.... I don't know where the 6kt forecast had gone, but we now had 35kts over the deck!

With a good number of reefs in, we plugged on, until, just off Zeebrugge, there was an almighty bang, and the clew exploded....

The three webbing tapes that hold the pulley on the sail, are all exposed to the sun and rain 365 days a year, and it had taken its toll..... SWMBO grabbed the helm, and I started to furl it in..... taking great care not to over do it, and furl the whole sail in to the mast!!!!

A large wave washed over the boat, soaking SWMBO at the helm, and she looked distinctly unamused!!!!

It wasn't, in the end, that big a drama.... in mast made it easy, and with the engine back on, we motored the remaining 15nm, getting into the lock at Vlissingen without any major incident.. its not an easy lock, as there are bollards to tie off too.... and they are set for larger vessels than us, so they are a long way apart.... but we got there....

And then we had a tense (ish) motor through the bridges up to Middelburg... only tense, as they stop opening at 19:00, and it was getting quite tight on time... so it was with relief that we passed through the 5th and final bridge at 18:45, and tied up quickly on the holding pontoon.... where we stayed the night....

The final act of vengance by the weather gods, was to leave me just enough time to nip to the yacht club with the crew of another boat for a quick drink, while SWMBO got herself sorted to join us in a few mins, when the heavens opened.... the sky went black as coal, and we had hailstones the size of marbles for 10 mins.... and then rain so heavy it was unreal..... it was accompained by intense lightning, and by the time it had abated, i'd been in the yacht club for half an hour.....

SWMBO, yet again, wasn't amused!

But all OK in the end... other than the lightning continued sporadically throughout the night.... long pauses, and then 10 minutes of really intense storms.... so sleep was a little disturbed.... glad we stopped in Middelburg though rather than head for the Veersemeer..... reports of 40 to 50kt gusts came in afterwards!

Miles logged 33nm
Miles this trip 109nm
Miles this season 181nm
Miles since this blog started 4,078nm

Saturday 23 May 2009

Quiet crossing

A quiet crossing is a good crossing!

The previous evening, we'd arrived at Shotley in plenty of time to get ourselves sorted properly.... a few jobs to do, including removing the davits so that we could go in stern too at Oostende, all completed, with time to relax.... we moved Morgana to the fuel pontoon so that we could fill up, and spent the night there..... and at 01:30 the alarm went off.... an evil time to be awoken!

We locked out quietly, along with two other boats, Duncan in his Sadler, and Alan in his First..... he'd dragged a rather large crew along, so we were looking good in terms of space on board!

We motored out into a windless night....

As ever, Harwich is a bit of a minefield at night with regards to bouy lighting.... they are there... well lit, but impossible to see against the mass of sodium lighting from the contrainer docks.... not a problem for us, as we know the water well, but every time I enter or exit Harwich at night, I wonder about how first time visitors cope!

We motored on to Cork Sands Yacht Beacon, and then to Rough Towers.... buy this time, there is enough daylight to be able to see quite well, and so we continued...

In fact, we continued under engine the whole of the rest of the way.... the TSS was painless, and we didn't need to take any avoiding action at all, and by 13:00, we were entering Oostende....

We'd set up lines ready for the med style arrangement in the Montgomery dock, and as we entered, Robert, the harbourmaster directed us to a berth that made my heart sink!.... it was right in a corner, with boats already on both sides.... so one and a half times our beam as a gap to get through, and then try to grab the pick up bouy....

Theline to the bouy was now set up on the wrong side.... so I asked SWMBO to move it.... a bit of a communications error on my part, as she though we were going in bows to now, and so relocated the line to the other end of the boat!

As I stuck Morgana into reverse, the engine made a funny noise, which distracted me.... and gulp... it was looking like a bit of a cockup was in the making....

But we recovered manfully... A little carefull use of the engine, and in we reversed.... Robert grabbed the line in his rib... and threaded the bouy for us... and phew... we were in!

A cold beer followed shortly after, and then we waited.... and we waited.... and we waited.... It appeared that the other two boats had decided to try and sail.... even though the wind was light to non existant.... and they finally arrived at around 19:00...... along with a couple of hours of pouring rain.....glad we motored!

We did however feel somewhat sorry for them, and produced a rather splendid Chili con Carne for 14......

A pontoon party followed, with much merriment, and a substantial amount of alcolhol consumed, and we retired to bed, exhausted, but happy at just after midnight...

Miles logged 76nm
Miles this trip 76nm
Miles this season 148nm
Miles since this blog started 4,045nm

Friday 22 May 2009

community

Events of the last few days have brought be round to thinking about the community that is 'sailing'...

A young lad, Nathan, has bought himself a Corribee, which at 21' has a fabulous reputation as a seaworthy boat, but isn't massive for living aboard... only thats exactly what he is doing...

After 9 months moored up on the Thames in London, getting some cash together, he's now set off on a round the UK adventure.

He's done all the right things, including getting himself up to speed on navigation....

and asked a few questions on the ybw East Coast Forum.... where he has received a truly magnificent response... I am very proud to be part of this community.... a community that has recognised a young lad who is getting off his backside, and doing something... they have rallied to his aid, with spare bits of kit to make his voyage safer and more comfortable, they have ferried him to chandleries and supermarkets, they have offered moral support, they have found him free moorings... they have even managed to convince him to come along on the Oostende trip this weekend as crew aboard one of the boats...

I can't help but think that here is a young man, who will look back on going round the UK as a high point.... and the East Coast as a place where he found many new friends... long may it stay that way.

Thursday 21 May 2009

Weekend plans

Off to Oostende on Saturday, really early....

We've got the week off, so hoping to leave Oostende and head north towards Vlissingen...

For once, the weather is looking very decent.... apart from a possible lack of wind on Saturday.... but i'd rather there was a lack of wind than an excess....

And it even looks like it might be quite warm!

Thursday 14 May 2009

weather still looking dicky

Its looking like we'll be going to the Crouch by car....

Not the end of the world, as we've been offered berths for the night...

Its looking much more promising for the following weekend, for our trip to Oostende... if it remains pleasant, we may well head for Holland afterwards (we've got the week of), and ourt particular favourite, Baastian de Langeplaat

Tuesday 12 May 2009

weather or knot...

A friend has a baby naming ceremony at the weekend in the Crouch... plan is to sail down.... but at present, forecast isn't looking great..... will be by car otherwise... shame be good to get another decent sail in before the annual Oostende trip the week after...

We've got that week off, so hoping that the weather is kind so that we can get some decent sailing in... not sure where we'll head yet after Oostende.... amybe north to Veersermeer, or maybe back across Nth sea towards Wells or similar....

Wednesday 6 May 2009

nothing like planning ahead

Its not that we're getting carried away with ourselves, but both SWMBO and I have managed to arrange a 4 week break from work next year.... (thats assuming the economy doesn't keep plumetting, and we get a much longer, but unplanned break!)

If we can coordinate this with the August Bank Holiday weekend, then it means that we've got all of August off work...

Thoughts are that we'll do a 'delivery style' run down to either the Channel Islands or to Brittany, and then spend 2 or 3 weeks exploring a coastline that isn't so familiar to us East Coasters.....

Sounds like fun huh?

Tuesday 5 May 2009

life is grand.....

We'd planned to sail, and sail we most certainly did..... yes it was only our second proper sail of the year, but it was so spectacularly good that it is one of the best bank holiday weekends we've had in several years!

The plan was to head for the Ore for some beach time with the kids.... we'd also planned on meeting up with James for a sundowner, and Bernie and crew were planning on being in the area too...

Tides suggested a late entry into the Ore, so we finally roused ourselves out of bed and cast off at around 11:00..... that usual 'first sail of the season' nervous moment.... a combination of 'will the engine splutter and die 10 yds off the berth' and 'will I remember how to park her in the lock or will I end up sideways' resolved itself in a positive way, with no dramas, and so we set out to sea....

The weather was warm, sunny, and the wind at about 12 to 15kts.... as we were several hours early for a safe entry into the Ore we decided to go the long way round Cork Sands, with a vague plan to head out towards Rough Towers.... it was bloody marvellous... just the right amount of wind for her to be heeled yet not overly so, and making 6 or 7 kts through the water..... I was having a great time, as were the crew, when James called on the VHF..... "sorry not going to make the Ore.... being dragged off to Oman with work in the morning"..... so we had hot weather, but I suspect he'll be having hotter!

A quic crew conflab suggested that as we'd just tacked to clear the final corner of Cork Sands, and were now by utter coincidence heading straight into the Wallet, and were enjoying it so much that we'd just carry on.... and head towards Bradwell or West Mersea and Osea Island or some such.... and what a great sail.... one short dink in the Wallet to clear Clacton, and we flew....

In the meantime, M had been in strategic text message contact with The similarly aged crew of 'Mr Tinkles', who are based at Bradwell, and all was arranged.... arriving a tad early to get into the Bradwell Creek, the wind magically vanished to leave a georgous warm and sunny afternoon.... so we enjoyed a gentle potter at just 1,000rpm up the Blackwater and back for a safe and easy entrance....

I wandered over to Mr T, and was immediately offered a glass of wine.... well I say a glass.... more like a bucket actually.... and that was the evening written off.... a brilliant evening... full of laughter and great company, while the kids, enjoying some company of their own age entertained themselves admirably...

Sunday was a little quiet... a combination of a hangover, plus tidal constrained until mid afternoon (well we could have left at 08:00, but that wasn't feeling like a good idea at the time), saw us napping in the cockpit!

Eventually, we agreed to leave, heading towards Brightlingsea... along the way, Roger had arrived in the marina to go for a sail on his Moody, Sabre... he was just prevaricating when we told him that he had no choice and forced him to join us and Mr T for the trip....

So we had a quick and pleasant run down to Brightlingsea in about 20kts of wind.... it was a tad shallow in places as I cut the corner a tiny bit more than I should... but no problems....

Brightlingsea is really lovely... its quiet, cheap and pretty.... its only failing being that everywhere shuts at 18:00!

So we were forced to get takeaway fish and chips and take them back to Morgana where everyone congregated for a good chin wag... excellent evening...

Monday saw us casting off at 09:00 for the run back to Shotley.... the wind had swung a bit, but only a little.... so we had a reach out of the river Colne, and then a run all the way back down the Wallet... we actually tacked backed down.... well sort of... we did one Gybe half way and just stayed a few degrees off deaddownwnd, so that there wasn't even an accidental gybe risk..... and with about 15kts of true wind, and therefore 10kts apparent, it was easy and relaxing.....

We were in an tied up by 14:00... not the fastest of trips, but not too slow either....

All in all, a really great weekend, that everyone agreed had been one of the better ones in a long while.... made by excellent company and great weather....

Miles logged 60nm
Miles this season 72nm
Miles since this blog started 3,969nm