Since I last updated, quite a lot has happened!
We never quite made it to Chichester Harbour, what with the weather and other deciding factors. The biggest one was the news that we had to bring the exam forward! Which sent a few ripples of nreves through the crew!
As a result we decided to stay well withtin the Solent, concentrating on the skills and drills we needed for the exam.
Lots of MOB drills, close quarters sailing onto buoys and pontoons, blind navigation (simulating fog) and finding waypoints withough the use of GPS.
The exam was on 14th & 15th September, and by the time we'd played around, the guys were ready. It was a hard week, with very little rest, until the day before when we had a relaxing day getting ready for the exam.
We couldn't have asked for better weather during the exam, good winds and visibility and being on a monday and Tuesday, there wasn't that much traffic around.
After 3 months of hard work and preparation, the guys got the decision on Tuesaday afternoon, much to the relief of all on board. We had the all clear nice and early, so we had tie to head down to Lymington for a celebratory drink in perhaps the nicest harbour in the Solent. Turned out to be slightly more than one drink though!
I left the Guys to it after that, travelling up to Cumbria by train while they were left witht hte task of getting Parhelion back to maryport.
So far they've been along the south coast, and have arrived in Milford Haven, via Dartmouth, Weymouth, Poole and Fowey. Unfortunately, the Channel Islands had to be put off until another time.
We're expecting them back here in Maryport on Friday or Saturday, when they complete the round Britain sail. A huge achievement by them all. Especially when you consider they'd hardly sailed before they joined us back in June.
I'm looking forward to hearing how they've got on without me, hopefully they haven't had too many problems. Maybe they have.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Friday, 4 September 2009
gales, gails & more gales
Here we are sat in Haslar Marina, portsmouth, watching a private (ish) show by the red arrows. We've come to the conclusion they're completely nuts.
We were out in our first gale yesterday, running downwind with just the jib out and really quite enjoying it. Unlike the night before, beating into it on our way to Cowes. Haven't been quite so wet for a long time. We certainly earned a beer for that trip!
Reading out to play on the mooring buoys this afternoon, then heading over to Chichester Harbor, via Langstone, to pick up a mooring for tonight.
Hopefully the wind will start to moderate in the next couple of days so we can head over to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands for a few days.
We've been pretty much everywhere on the Solent, another day or so and we will have been everywhere that's worth the visit. Tome for some more milebuilding before we get back to skills and drills.
Only 3 weeks kept begpre the exam, and I think there are a few nerves beginning to show! Time to start working them hard.
We were out in our first gale yesterday, running downwind with just the jib out and really quite enjoying it. Unlike the night before, beating into it on our way to Cowes. Haven't been quite so wet for a long time. We certainly earned a beer for that trip!
Reading out to play on the mooring buoys this afternoon, then heading over to Chichester Harbor, via Langstone, to pick up a mooring for tonight.
Hopefully the wind will start to moderate in the next couple of days so we can head over to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands for a few days.
We've been pretty much everywhere on the Solent, another day or so and we will have been everywhere that's worth the visit. Tome for some more milebuilding before we get back to skills and drills.
Only 3 weeks kept begpre the exam, and I think there are a few nerves beginning to show! Time to start working them hard.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
welcome to the solent…
Position: Lymington, Hampshire.
Well, we've made it to the Solent, after an horrendous trio from Eastbourne. Wind on the nose all the way, lumpy water and a fresh breeze. Just what we wanted.
So far we've been to Portsmouth (twice), Cowes, Warsash, Beaulieu and Lymington.
The aim is for the guys to get to know the area their exams going to be. Plenty of skills and drills etc.
I think the amount of shipping came as a surprise to them, especially bank holiday Monday. Yachts everywhere!
At least their collision regulations are being put to good use!
Off for more of the same thing for the next couple of days, with long days and lots of deck work. They're going to hate me.
There are more gales forecast for the next day or so, so well certainly be put through the mill. Its about time too, we were getting too used to light winds!
Well, we've made it to the Solent, after an horrendous trio from Eastbourne. Wind on the nose all the way, lumpy water and a fresh breeze. Just what we wanted.
So far we've been to Portsmouth (twice), Cowes, Warsash, Beaulieu and Lymington.
The aim is for the guys to get to know the area their exams going to be. Plenty of skills and drills etc.
I think the amount of shipping came as a surprise to them, especially bank holiday Monday. Yachts everywhere!
At least their collision regulations are being put to good use!
Off for more of the same thing for the next couple of days, with long days and lots of deck work. They're going to hate me.
There are more gales forecast for the next day or so, so well certainly be put through the mill. Its about time too, we were getting too used to light winds!
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Its been a while…
Position: Sovereign Harbor, Eastbourne.
Well, we've made it to the south coast, after a few stops along the way (Amble, Newcastle, Lowestoft, Harwich, Ramsgate & Boulogne).
Lots of long passages, mostly with what wind there's been on the nose of course! It seemed that we were always fighting the tide too, as a result of all the head winds which slowed us down, so there was plenty of frustrating times on board, not least the crossing from Boulogne, which tipped Iain over the edge!
We had time in Ramsgate to get the new switch panel and the radar fitted, in time for crossing the busy Dover Strait, the busiest shipping lane in the world, though again we didn't have much of a problem with ships. the only occasion being a collision course with a cross channel ferry. Hardly exciting.
We've been holed up in Eastbourne for a couple of days trying to fix a minor issue with thep engine, which we think we haven't sorted, but should be manageable until we find the cause of it.
Were off to the Solent later today, aiming to arrive in the morning, to give the guys a taste of busy waters. And being a bank holiday weekend it'll certainly be busy.
Well be there for a few days, concentrating on skills and drills, getting the guys used to what's expected of the in the exam.
The unfortunate bit is the wind, W/SW 5-7 ovvasionally 8, which could mean a long beat in family rough conditions. Oh well.
Eastbourne's a nice place, typical waterfront developments around a large marina, but I'm not sure why they have boat trips around the marina. Its only a marina after all.
It'll be nice to get back to some scenery, the east coast (and much of the south too) doesn't really offer much to look at. Unless you count powerstations among your favorite things to look at.
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Well, we've made it to the south coast, after a few stops along the way (Amble, Newcastle, Lowestoft, Harwich, Ramsgate & Boulogne).
Lots of long passages, mostly with what wind there's been on the nose of course! It seemed that we were always fighting the tide too, as a result of all the head winds which slowed us down, so there was plenty of frustrating times on board, not least the crossing from Boulogne, which tipped Iain over the edge!
We had time in Ramsgate to get the new switch panel and the radar fitted, in time for crossing the busy Dover Strait, the busiest shipping lane in the world, though again we didn't have much of a problem with ships. the only occasion being a collision course with a cross channel ferry. Hardly exciting.
We've been holed up in Eastbourne for a couple of days trying to fix a minor issue with thep engine, which we think we haven't sorted, but should be manageable until we find the cause of it.
Were off to the Solent later today, aiming to arrive in the morning, to give the guys a taste of busy waters. And being a bank holiday weekend it'll certainly be busy.
Well be there for a few days, concentrating on skills and drills, getting the guys used to what's expected of the in the exam.
The unfortunate bit is the wind, W/SW 5-7 ovvasionally 8, which could mean a long beat in family rough conditions. Oh well.
Eastbourne's a nice place, typical waterfront developments around a large marina, but I'm not sure why they have boat trips around the marina. Its only a marina after all.
It'll be nice to get back to some scenery, the east coast (and much of the south too) doesn't really offer much to look at. Unless you count powerstations among your favorite things to look at.
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Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Favorable winds at last!
It was a great run down from Wick, with the wind behind us all the way, even managed to get the spinnaker up for the first time. Getting it down when the wind picked up to F5was fun!
Last night was incredibly clear, almost no cloud cover, so we got an excellent view of the build up to the Persidic meteor shower, which peaks over the next few nights. Forecast says rain, so we may not see any more, typically.
Stocked up on food and fuel and we're off to Amble next, an overnight passage of 130M. With favorable winds forecast again, we should make excellent time (could be very wet though!).
That will leave us with a short sail on Thursday, to get to Newcastle for a long weekend not sailing!
Oh, and the other picture is how not to moor a boat! You've got tp feel sorry for them.
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Monday, 10 August 2009
And south we go...
Position: 55•26.39N 003•05'.05W, Wick, Highland.
Dylan brought us down to Wick yesterday, our first leg of the southward journey. Very light winds as we kept Whitehall, which died away completely by the time we'd got clear of the islands. Typical.
We timed the tides perfectly for leaving and heading south, but that meant we'd be passing close to the Pentland Firth as it was building up to it's strongest tidal flow (10-12kn) which could have sucked us in and cause some serious problems!
Dylans courses to street came good though, as we managed to stay out of danger.
Everyone was quite amazed at long the trip was, but its always the same when you have ro motor.
Iain's taking us down to Peterhead today, about 75M, with a W-NW wind forecast we should have a cracking sail.
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Dylan brought us down to Wick yesterday, our first leg of the southward journey. Very light winds as we kept Whitehall, which died away completely by the time we'd got clear of the islands. Typical.
We timed the tides perfectly for leaving and heading south, but that meant we'd be passing close to the Pentland Firth as it was building up to it's strongest tidal flow (10-12kn) which could have sucked us in and cause some serious problems!
Dylans courses to street came good though, as we managed to stay out of danger.
Everyone was quite amazed at long the trip was, but its always the same when you have ro motor.
Iain's taking us down to Peterhead today, about 75M, with a W-NW wind forecast we should have a cracking sail.
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And a little further north...
Position: 59•08'.55N 002•36'.04W, Whitehall, Stronsay, Orkney.
Quite a picturesque little place, with about 10 houses, a small shop and a pub. What more could you want.
Nice little sail up between the islands, managing around 8kn for most of it, though the fog bank was threatening to close in on us, which would've been interesting!
Casey used los of back bearings and clearing bearings to get us through the rocks, which it would appear worked, seeing as were still alive!
We've got southerly winds forecast, so it looks like a visit to Wick is in order. At least that'll only be a beat for 50M.
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Quite a picturesque little place, with about 10 houses, a small shop and a pub. What more could you want.
Nice little sail up between the islands, managing around 8kn for most of it, though the fog bank was threatening to close in on us, which would've been interesting!
Casey used los of back bearings and clearing bearings to get us through the rocks, which it would appear worked, seeing as were still alive!
We've got southerly winds forecast, so it looks like a visit to Wick is in order. At least that'll only be a beat for 50M.
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To the capital...
Position: 58•59'.20N 002•57'.46W, Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney.
Phil brought us through some fairly tricky pilotage, en route to Kirkwall, on the other side of Mainland. I think he was a little surprised by the tides as we left How Sound, where we had a good 6kn tide behind us, which was causing some fairly serious standing waves, even in a very gentle W wind.
With that in mind for the next section, phil decided to take us by (what he thought was) an easier and more open route. Wrong!
How we managed not to hit the rocks is beyond me! Good job we didn't though I guess!
Stopping here for the night, with a view to heading a little further north tomorrow, before the big push south.
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Phil brought us through some fairly tricky pilotage, en route to Kirkwall, on the other side of Mainland. I think he was a little surprised by the tides as we left How Sound, where we had a good 6kn tide behind us, which was causing some fairly serious standing waves, even in a very gentle W wind.
With that in mind for the next section, phil decided to take us by (what he thought was) an easier and more open route. Wrong!
How we managed not to hit the rocks is beyond me! Good job we didn't though I guess!
Stopping here for the night, with a view to heading a little further north tomorrow, before the big push south.
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Thursday, 6 August 2009
and a little further north...
Position: 58•57'.86N 003•17'.66W Stromness, Mainland,Orkney.
Iain had what I thought was a fantastic passage last night.
130M, withought using any electronic instruments, and we arrived on time with the Ornery Islands appearing bang on the nose, just where we left them!
Pods of Dolphin came to play with us yesterday, such amazing animals.
As we approached the Orkney Islands we had a little detour to see the old man.
The Old Man of Hoy is an incredible piece of rock, why it hasn't fallen over is beyond me.
Think we may be having a relaxing day(not necessarily in the pub), doing the odd job on the boat.
Iain had what I thought was a fantastic passage last night.
130M, withought using any electronic instruments, and we arrived on time with the Ornery Islands appearing bang on the nose, just where we left them!
Pods of Dolphin came to play with us yesterday, such amazing animals.
As we approached the Orkney Islands we had a little detour to see the old man.
The Old Man of Hoy is an incredible piece of rock, why it hasn't fallen over is beyond me.
Think we may be having a relaxing day(not necessarily in the pub), doing the odd job on the boat.
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