Hugh and Colin joined Toucando at lunchtime on Wednesday 22nd August. We agreed on a westerly destination... possibly Lymington, possibly Poole. We set off down Southampton Water, raising the sails off Weston. The wind came and went. The forecast indicated reefing would be required, and this certainly proved to be the case when we came out of the lee of Calshot and turned into the "precautionary area" by the Bramble Bank. The wind got a lot stronger... we recorded over 30 knots, and the waves rolling up the Solent from the west were quite big. Unfortunately we let the staysail flog, and sustained a little damage. We decided to go to Cowes where we found a berth at the yacht haven. Fortunately it was very quiet (Cowes week having taken place the previous week). We ate steak and mixed vegetables on board before enjoying a pint at the Anchor.
Thursday was quite a contrast. Very light winds took us down the eastern Solent. We had contemplated going out to the Nab Tower, for no particular reason other than it was there, but we weren't going fast enough for that. Instead we went in to Chichester Harbour, Toucando's first visit, and anchored off East Head. I haven't done a lot of anchoring in Toucando, and was pleased with how well it worked. We had lunch below decks. We became aware of a lot of masts going past at close quarters, and looking out of the hatch found that there were hundreds of dinghies racing about. It was the week of the combined clubs' regatta in the harbour. We had clearly arrived while they were all ashore for lunch. Now they were all out again. It was crazily busy, particularly so at the junctions of the various channels of the harbour. While we were at anchor they all had to avoid us, but once our anchor was raised and we were under way we had the interesting challenge of avoiding myriads of small boats scooting around very fast, all of which had "right of way" over us. We managed to do so, without putting ourselves aground or impeding any of the races, which was quite a feat. We then sailed off to Haslar, where we moored near the lightship.
On Friday morning we were booked in to Sealift at 0900 for washing and replacement of specialist anodes. Unfortunately the bow thruster propeller was lost overboard by an enthusiastic member of staff.... fortunately Sealift immediately set about sourcing a replacement (at their expense). This meant that ist was midday befopre the job was finished and we were on our way back to Southampton. We had a good tri[p back to the Itchen and toucando's home pontoon.
Showing posts with label Hugh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hugh. Show all posts
Monday, 10 September 2012
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
English Summer (continued)
June was terrible... the wettest on record (since records began in 1902). Not only did this make sailing unappealing, it was not conducive to external maintenance either.
My parents, Donald and Audrey, visited at the beginning of July. Although we didn't sail anywhere we had a few evenings aboard Toucando. We also visited Cowes where we saw the classic yacht fleet in the Yacht Haven, and Southampton's new Sea City Museum, which focusses on the city's links with the Titanic... most importantly the 500 crew who lost their lives.
The jet stream which had been causing all the weather trouble moved north in time for the weekend of 21st/2nd July, which was just in time for some planned day sailing.
On Saturday we were joined by Colin, Michele and Steve P for the RYA's "Push the Boat Out Day" - an attempt to get as many people on the water as possible. We had a pleasant time tacking down Southampton Water, before getting out into the Solent, circumnavigating the Bramble Bank and returning under engine.
We particularly enjoyed seeing the Jubilee Sailing Trusts's "Tenacious" coming up Southampton Water under sail.
On Sunday the crew comprised Hugh, Jane, Michele and Steve P and the main event of the day was going down to the Solent to meet and greet the returning Round the World Clipper Race. Toucando had seen the fleet go out last summer (http://toucando.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/round-world-racing.html) so it seemed appropriate to see them come back. We motored down to the rallying point and joined the flotilla.
(More details on the Clipper Race: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18904550).
After a lunch under way we spent the afternoon sailing round Southampton Water and the Docks.
Three good days sailing in pleasant weather! This is what the summer is supposed to be like. Toucando is now getting ready for her cruise to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands, due to start on Friday. I plan to post a few brief blogs en route, and a longer account when we get back. I hope the jet stream stays where it belongs and we continue to enjoy a proper summer.
My parents, Donald and Audrey, visited at the beginning of July. Although we didn't sail anywhere we had a few evenings aboard Toucando. We also visited Cowes where we saw the classic yacht fleet in the Yacht Haven, and Southampton's new Sea City Museum, which focusses on the city's links with the Titanic... most importantly the 500 crew who lost their lives.
On Saturday we were joined by Colin, Michele and Steve P for the RYA's "Push the Boat Out Day" - an attempt to get as many people on the water as possible. We had a pleasant time tacking down Southampton Water, before getting out into the Solent, circumnavigating the Bramble Bank and returning under engine.
After a lunch under way we spent the afternoon sailing round Southampton Water and the Docks.
On Monday Michele and Roger helped take Toucando over to Cowes for a lift, wash and change of anodes. I think she was going about a knot faster (maybe more) on the way home.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
English Summer 2012
I was just getting ready to set off for Southampton when I heard a rumble like a large trolley being wheeled down the road. The rumble continued, and was soon accompanied by a lot of banging and crashing. The lights flickered. One of the summer storms had arrived in Leicester. I opened the front door and stood looking out as the torrential rain beat down. Some of it was hail "as big as 50 pence pieces" they said on the news: more like the size of hazel nuts in their shells. It couldn't really rain any harder. Next, the drain right by my door decided to become a geyser... water from two directions. It lasted about half an hour. It seemed to make sense to be on a boat, so as soon as it subsided I was off. (I was just slightly concerned later on to see on the city council webside that the main road by my house was flooded, with a nice photograph to prove it.)
Fiftey miles south and th roads were dry. When I arrived at Toucando it was a pleasant afternoon. The bucket I leave in the cockpit only had a little water in it: so it hadn't been raining much in the South. I had a day to get ready for the weekend crew, which involved a few chores around the boat, and some victualling.
On Saturday Jackie and John arrived. I ferried them out to the pontoon. We discussed our plans. It was Round the Island weekend, so the Solent would be very busy and it was unlikely that there would be space in the Cowes or Hamble marinas. And the forecast was for fairly strong winds and rain... so we decided to stay local. We put a double reef in the main on the pontoon and had some fun springing off against the wind, leaving a rope behind in the process. Then we were off motoring down the Itchen. We sailed a bit on the staysail to begin with, at a very moderate pace. Having rolled it up we then raised the main off Weston and sailed on the reefed main and the full jib. We practised tacking with Jackie and John at the helm, sailing down to the Hamble oil terminal twice, and up to the docks once. We were pleased to see the Lord Nelson at her berth and her sister ship Tenacious come in under engine. There were a few liners and container ships around as well. The wind was pretty brisk... Force 6 and we took advantage of the wind shadow of the bigger ships to furl the staysail and jib and lower the main before returning to Shamrock Quay for the evening.
Getting off the pontoon at Shamrock in the morning was another challenge. A ferro-concrete yacht with a hole in her hull came and moored close behind us, and a motor super yacht with her wrapping still on moored opposite. The narrow gap that remained had to be navigated in reverse gear (not Toucando's strongest point). After several attempts we got through, attached T's stern line to the opposite pontoon, and warped round her bows so they were pointing the way we wanted.
When our path was clear we headed out towards Southampton water. We raised the main, unfurled the jib, and half the staysail and raced down Southampton Water. This time we continued into the Solent proper. It was a steady Force 6, gusting 7... with the wind exceeding 30 knots for some of the time. Jackie helmed across the Solent towards Osborne Bay, where the wind dropped a little in the lee of the Island (and the waves were smaller too). We waited for a small ship to pass and John took the helm on the way back. If anything the wind was even stronger. Toucando heeled over and we sped back over Ryde Middle towards Hillhead, before steering for Southampton Water. Again, we took advantage of a passing ship to furl the sails in relative calm, before heading up the Itchen back to Toucando's home berth. The rain which had been threatened by the forecast never really arrived. It was certainly Toucando's most lively sail of the year so far, and everything had gone well. Thanks to Jackie and John for picking up the basics of the gaff rig so quickly.
Jackie and John went home, Hugh arrived. We planned to go to Poole on Monday morning: then tides were near perfect. However in the morning it was wet, windy and very murky. We motored down to dockhead to have a look at Southampton Water and could see relatively little of it. The prospect of three and a half days sailing in unpleasant conditions with limited visibility didn't appeal, so we turned round and went back home, which was disappointing but prudent.
The Met Office have announced that June 2012 was the wettest on record... and that the first half of July doesn't look a lot better. In other words this is the fifth poor summer in succession. Hopefully the jetstream (which is causing all the trouble) will return to its proper latitude before long. We've had enough rain and strong wind on land and sea for a bit.
Fiftey miles south and th roads were dry. When I arrived at Toucando it was a pleasant afternoon. The bucket I leave in the cockpit only had a little water in it: so it hadn't been raining much in the South. I had a day to get ready for the weekend crew, which involved a few chores around the boat, and some victualling.
On Saturday Jackie and John arrived. I ferried them out to the pontoon. We discussed our plans. It was Round the Island weekend, so the Solent would be very busy and it was unlikely that there would be space in the Cowes or Hamble marinas. And the forecast was for fairly strong winds and rain... so we decided to stay local. We put a double reef in the main on the pontoon and had some fun springing off against the wind, leaving a rope behind in the process. Then we were off motoring down the Itchen. We sailed a bit on the staysail to begin with, at a very moderate pace. Having rolled it up we then raised the main off Weston and sailed on the reefed main and the full jib. We practised tacking with Jackie and John at the helm, sailing down to the Hamble oil terminal twice, and up to the docks once. We were pleased to see the Lord Nelson at her berth and her sister ship Tenacious come in under engine. There were a few liners and container ships around as well. The wind was pretty brisk... Force 6 and we took advantage of the wind shadow of the bigger ships to furl the staysail and jib and lower the main before returning to Shamrock Quay for the evening.
Getting off the pontoon at Shamrock in the morning was another challenge. A ferro-concrete yacht with a hole in her hull came and moored close behind us, and a motor super yacht with her wrapping still on moored opposite. The narrow gap that remained had to be navigated in reverse gear (not Toucando's strongest point). After several attempts we got through, attached T's stern line to the opposite pontoon, and warped round her bows so they were pointing the way we wanted.
When our path was clear we headed out towards Southampton water. We raised the main, unfurled the jib, and half the staysail and raced down Southampton Water. This time we continued into the Solent proper. It was a steady Force 6, gusting 7... with the wind exceeding 30 knots for some of the time. Jackie helmed across the Solent towards Osborne Bay, where the wind dropped a little in the lee of the Island (and the waves were smaller too). We waited for a small ship to pass and John took the helm on the way back. If anything the wind was even stronger. Toucando heeled over and we sped back over Ryde Middle towards Hillhead, before steering for Southampton Water. Again, we took advantage of a passing ship to furl the sails in relative calm, before heading up the Itchen back to Toucando's home berth. The rain which had been threatened by the forecast never really arrived. It was certainly Toucando's most lively sail of the year so far, and everything had gone well. Thanks to Jackie and John for picking up the basics of the gaff rig so quickly.
Jackie and John went home, Hugh arrived. We planned to go to Poole on Monday morning: then tides were near perfect. However in the morning it was wet, windy and very murky. We motored down to dockhead to have a look at Southampton Water and could see relatively little of it. The prospect of three and a half days sailing in unpleasant conditions with limited visibility didn't appeal, so we turned round and went back home, which was disappointing but prudent.
The Met Office have announced that June 2012 was the wettest on record... and that the first half of July doesn't look a lot better. In other words this is the fifth poor summer in succession. Hopefully the jetstream (which is causing all the trouble) will return to its proper latitude before long. We've had enough rain and strong wind on land and sea for a bit.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Colour supplement
First of all: Happy New Year to all crew and followers. Thank you for making 2011 such a success. I am looking forward to the new sailing season with great enthusiasm. I hope we will be undertaking some longer passages. The first is likely to be over the Easter weekend, probably along the coast to Weymouth with stops in Poole and Yarmouth or Lymington. Meanwhile here are some pictures from the autumn. First the jib following "hurricane" damage. It is now expertly repaired and I can barely see how it was done.
Sarah and Michele on a trip which included a stop in Hamble:
Here we are in Cowes:
Jean and Roger on a very pleasant day in the eastern Solent:
Penny, Hugh and Stephen on an autumn trip to Yarmouth:
A view from the foredeck:
Jolie Brise - a very famous old boat:
Monday, 24 October 2011
Autumn sailing
We had some amazing weather in the middle of October... bright, almost windless days, and cold nights. On Friday I had booked a lift for Toucando at Sealift in Haslar to replace her anodes, and get a bit of a wash. Hugh volunteered to crew. Our start was slightly delayed by the reluctasnce of the engine to start, which can be put down to the cold weather and relatively long period without a charge. Anyhow we sorted that problem out and had a pleasant motor for three hours to Portsmouth Harbour: there was virtually no wind, and the little there was came from the east.
We were entertained en route by the navy, or perhaps the army, conducting an exercise which involved sending landing craft from a large vessel moored in the middle of the Solent to invade Hampshire at Browndown. Other than that the sea was pretty empty: a pleasant change from summer weekends.
We arrived early, but they were quite happy to bring forward the time of the lift. Although it was only two months since the last one, there was quite a lot of slime and a few crustacea on Toucando's hull, and her anodes had been significantly easten away. I put the slime down to the amount of fertilizer running off down the Itchen, and the erosion of the anodes to the intense industrialisation of the docks. Anyhow, some below waterline attention was definitely required. We got our money's worth as a thorough jetwash was applied and the relevant bits of sacrificial metal were bolted onto the appropriate places.
After lunch we headed for home, and sailed back under main and (newly repaired) jib. The wind had picked up and we made good progress. Instead of her usual mooring we took Toucando to Shamrock Quay so she could benefit from a good period of mains electricity to bring all the batteries up to full charge. In fact, the motoring had topped them up pretty well, but it seemed a wise precaution.
On Saturday Michele came and we had to decide where to go. The barometer had plummeted from 1030 in the middle of the week to barely abover 1010. The winds were much stronger. In the event we decided to go to the Hamble, and berthed in Swanwick: Toucando's first visit. For afternoon entertainment we took the tender and explored the upper reaches of the river, beyond where all the boats are moored. We got up to the point where the river branches... one way to Botley the other to Curbridge. The water was too shallow to get any further - it was some hours before high tide. We returned and repaired to the Jolly Sailor in Bursledon for some soft drinks.
On Sunday the wind was blowing from the south east... we had a good sail back up Southampton Water with the wind behind us. In fact we were able to sail all the way to St Mary's before we needed to make use of the engine for the last few hundred yards approach to the pontoon.
Toucando is now safely back on her home berth looking forward to a relaxing autumn. No more cruises are planned, although some day sailing is not ruled out. It's maintenance mode now. Next week I have booked on to a week long "Yacht Maintenance" course at Hamble School of Yachting, when I hope to discover how much I don't know.
Thanks to Hugh and Michele for their contribution.
We were entertained en route by the navy, or perhaps the army, conducting an exercise which involved sending landing craft from a large vessel moored in the middle of the Solent to invade Hampshire at Browndown. Other than that the sea was pretty empty: a pleasant change from summer weekends.
We arrived early, but they were quite happy to bring forward the time of the lift. Although it was only two months since the last one, there was quite a lot of slime and a few crustacea on Toucando's hull, and her anodes had been significantly easten away. I put the slime down to the amount of fertilizer running off down the Itchen, and the erosion of the anodes to the intense industrialisation of the docks. Anyhow, some below waterline attention was definitely required. We got our money's worth as a thorough jetwash was applied and the relevant bits of sacrificial metal were bolted onto the appropriate places.
After lunch we headed for home, and sailed back under main and (newly repaired) jib. The wind had picked up and we made good progress. Instead of her usual mooring we took Toucando to Shamrock Quay so she could benefit from a good period of mains electricity to bring all the batteries up to full charge. In fact, the motoring had topped them up pretty well, but it seemed a wise precaution.
On Saturday Michele came and we had to decide where to go. The barometer had plummeted from 1030 in the middle of the week to barely abover 1010. The winds were much stronger. In the event we decided to go to the Hamble, and berthed in Swanwick: Toucando's first visit. For afternoon entertainment we took the tender and explored the upper reaches of the river, beyond where all the boats are moored. We got up to the point where the river branches... one way to Botley the other to Curbridge. The water was too shallow to get any further - it was some hours before high tide. We returned and repaired to the Jolly Sailor in Bursledon for some soft drinks.
On Sunday the wind was blowing from the south east... we had a good sail back up Southampton Water with the wind behind us. In fact we were able to sail all the way to St Mary's before we needed to make use of the engine for the last few hundred yards approach to the pontoon.
Toucando is now safely back on her home berth looking forward to a relaxing autumn. No more cruises are planned, although some day sailing is not ruled out. It's maintenance mode now. Next week I have booked on to a week long "Yacht Maintenance" course at Hamble School of Yachting, when I hope to discover how much I don't know.
Thanks to Hugh and Michele for their contribution.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Can you believe the weather forecast?
The first weekend in October enjoyed some of the best weather we have had for months... unfortunately I had to spend it ashore. In the following days the wind and the rain came back. Thursday night was particularly wild... the wind was howling in ther rigging and every so often Toucando made a small lurch to leeward in response to the gusts. I had plans to go out at the weekend and kept a close watch on the five day forecast: it looked as though things would settle down by then.
On Saturday morning Steve and Penny arrived first, followed shortly after by Hugh. We checked the inshore forecast for Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis: "northwest backing west 4 or 5.... occasional rain or drizzle," that didn't sound too bad. The outlook for the following 24 hours was a little more ominous: "west or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7... occasional rain or drizzle." (A force 7 is a "near gale"). We decided that a trip to Yarmouth was in order... if it turned out to be very windy on Sunday then at least the wind would be behind us when we came back.
We set off down the Itchen, got the sails up off Weston and sailed down Southampton Water on a reach. We then tacked down the western Solent making good progress with a fair tide. The crew soon got the hang of dealing with the backstays. Conditions were almost perfect. The wind was as predicted, but with no rain or drizzle. We had some soup for lunch on the way. Just off Yarmouth Green we got the sails down and prepared to enter the harbour, which had spaces for once (hooray!). We successfully moored on the green pontoon. Hugh and Steve kindly helped with some DIY jobs aboard, while I made the spaghetti bolognese and Penny shelled the peas. After dinner we rowed ashore to avail ourselves of the showers and then strolled to the Royal Solent Yacht Club to enjoy some soft drinks.
We got up some time after 0700 and had our first breakfast of cereals with mugs of coffee. We set off at 0825 to get the benefit of the rising tide back to Southampton... the forecast remained unchanged. We sprang off the pontoon brilliantly, did a U turn in the narrow channel and headed out to sea. The sails went up near black rock and we turned the boat for home. We did a training run, gybing every 10 to 15 minutes... all well executed. Then at 0930 we hove to for our second breakfast which Hugh had cooked. Toucando was almost motionless with her staysail backed on starboard tack as we sat in the cockpit enjoying our bacon and egg. At 1000 we were on our way again. The winds were moderate, and the sky was increasingly blue. We continued our run up towards Calshot, and turned into Southampton Water.
Just after the oil refinery we did some man overboard drills, under mainsail and engine. I am pleased to report that all the "men" (fenders and rope) were satisfactorily retrieved in reasonable time. Congratulations to all concerned. We then had a late lunch. Hugh said he would like to try to sail onto a mooring buoy, so we headed up to Marchwood. You will have noticed that everything has gone perfectly up to this point, every manouevre executed with skill and precision. It was time for something to go wrong.
Even though we had checked the charts and we knew there was a shallow patch near the Marchwood moorings we didn't know it was that shallow. As we approached our target buoy slowly we suddenly realised we had stopped moving, and try as we might, the engine would not shift us one way or the other. The anchors were brought out of the lockers and we waited. It was just before low tide, so we knew we would be lifted off, but weren't sure how long it would take. In the event just over an hour after getting stuck we detected signs of movement and found we could reverse off. We pulled up the anchors and turned back for the Itchen. Sailing onto a mooring buoy will have to wait for another day. It was good to have solved the problem without external help.
We got back to the pontoon in the hours of daylight and did the necessary tidying up before the crew went ashore. Thanks to Hugh, Penny and Steve for their help in making successful passages to Yarmouth and back.
Can you believe the weather forecast? In my opinion, you can, and should. The wind came from the forecast direction and the windspeed was pretty much within the range indicated, sometimes a little less. The rain and drizzle never arrived, but I am not complaining about that. We all had our wet weather gear ready for the eventuality. In fact it was an almost perfect October weekend: we didn't have to use the motor to make progress, and we were never over pressed. Let's hope there are some more like that.
On Saturday morning Steve and Penny arrived first, followed shortly after by Hugh. We checked the inshore forecast for Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis: "northwest backing west 4 or 5.... occasional rain or drizzle," that didn't sound too bad. The outlook for the following 24 hours was a little more ominous: "west or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7... occasional rain or drizzle." (A force 7 is a "near gale"). We decided that a trip to Yarmouth was in order... if it turned out to be very windy on Sunday then at least the wind would be behind us when we came back.
We set off down the Itchen, got the sails up off Weston and sailed down Southampton Water on a reach. We then tacked down the western Solent making good progress with a fair tide. The crew soon got the hang of dealing with the backstays. Conditions were almost perfect. The wind was as predicted, but with no rain or drizzle. We had some soup for lunch on the way. Just off Yarmouth Green we got the sails down and prepared to enter the harbour, which had spaces for once (hooray!). We successfully moored on the green pontoon. Hugh and Steve kindly helped with some DIY jobs aboard, while I made the spaghetti bolognese and Penny shelled the peas. After dinner we rowed ashore to avail ourselves of the showers and then strolled to the Royal Solent Yacht Club to enjoy some soft drinks.
We got up some time after 0700 and had our first breakfast of cereals with mugs of coffee. We set off at 0825 to get the benefit of the rising tide back to Southampton... the forecast remained unchanged. We sprang off the pontoon brilliantly, did a U turn in the narrow channel and headed out to sea. The sails went up near black rock and we turned the boat for home. We did a training run, gybing every 10 to 15 minutes... all well executed. Then at 0930 we hove to for our second breakfast which Hugh had cooked. Toucando was almost motionless with her staysail backed on starboard tack as we sat in the cockpit enjoying our bacon and egg. At 1000 we were on our way again. The winds were moderate, and the sky was increasingly blue. We continued our run up towards Calshot, and turned into Southampton Water.
Just after the oil refinery we did some man overboard drills, under mainsail and engine. I am pleased to report that all the "men" (fenders and rope) were satisfactorily retrieved in reasonable time. Congratulations to all concerned. We then had a late lunch. Hugh said he would like to try to sail onto a mooring buoy, so we headed up to Marchwood. You will have noticed that everything has gone perfectly up to this point, every manouevre executed with skill and precision. It was time for something to go wrong.
Even though we had checked the charts and we knew there was a shallow patch near the Marchwood moorings we didn't know it was that shallow. As we approached our target buoy slowly we suddenly realised we had stopped moving, and try as we might, the engine would not shift us one way or the other. The anchors were brought out of the lockers and we waited. It was just before low tide, so we knew we would be lifted off, but weren't sure how long it would take. In the event just over an hour after getting stuck we detected signs of movement and found we could reverse off. We pulled up the anchors and turned back for the Itchen. Sailing onto a mooring buoy will have to wait for another day. It was good to have solved the problem without external help.
We got back to the pontoon in the hours of daylight and did the necessary tidying up before the crew went ashore. Thanks to Hugh, Penny and Steve for their help in making successful passages to Yarmouth and back.
Can you believe the weather forecast? In my opinion, you can, and should. The wind came from the forecast direction and the windspeed was pretty much within the range indicated, sometimes a little less. The rain and drizzle never arrived, but I am not complaining about that. We all had our wet weather gear ready for the eventuality. In fact it was an almost perfect October weekend: we didn't have to use the motor to make progress, and we were never over pressed. Let's hope there are some more like that.
Monday, 25 July 2011
The Far Side of the Island
It was to have been Cherbourg weekend... sailing overnight on Friday, a day of recovering, shopping and dining, then back on Sunday, however Toucando found herself shorthanded at the last minute, and the skipper and crew decided instead to stay local.
Andrew and Hugh sailed down to Lymington quite slowly in light winds. We berthed on the Dan Bran pontoon, ate and drank aboard. Instead of crossing the channel we decided to sail to Gosport, but rather than going through the Solent, we thought we would sail round the Far Side of the Island.
Now the Solent is full of boats, especially at the weekend. Hundreds and thousands of them - from kayaks to container ships, fishing boats to gin palaces. But the Far Side of the Island is a very different place. Once you are past the Needles and turn hard to port you enter a deserted sea, sailing under a sequence of cliffs of chalk and clay. The random choppiness of the Solent is replaced by the regular predictable swell of the channel. The wind is cleaner, less influenced by land.
We came out of the Lymington River and raised the mainsail. While we were doing that it was quite windy... however as soon as it was up the wind dropped. We drifted slowly down to the Needles.
When we turned, the sea was glassy smooth and we had no choice but to motorsail - to make life really simple we put on the autohelm.
However as the morning progressed a sea breeze picked up. We agreed to have an early lunch whilst still motorsailing. Once that was finished somewhere west of St Catherine's Point, we turned off the engine, pulled out the staysail, and sailed 120 degrees off the wind on starboard tack. We maintained a decent speed as we ploughed through the overfalls.
Once south of Ventnor we gybed round to port tack, and were able to stay like that all the way to Bembridge Ledge, passing Shanklin, Sandown and Culver Cliff on the way. Ok, we did see one yacht, and perhaps a fishing vessel or two, but it was pretty sparse. There were a lot of ships anchored between Bembridge and the Nab, waiting for their berth to become available in Southampton or Portsmouth.
When we turned round the Bembridge Ledge buoy Toucando was at the most easterly point of her sailing career to date. We were able to stay on a port tack as we sailed between Lord Palmersone's Solent forts towards Portsmouth harbour entrance.
We rolled up the staysail and put the motor on enter the harbour as the harbourmaster prefers, and we dropped the main once inside. We were given a comfortable berth on a leeward pontoon by the ever helpful Haslar Marina staff. It was a pleasant wartm summer's evening. We were entertained by the sailing school boats all around us and a party of drunken motorboaters.
We left Haslar at 0925. Hugh raised the main. We turned and sailed out of the Harbour, noticing HMS Victory and an aircraft carrier with no aircraft as we went.
Now, the one part of the passage which did not work from a tidal point of view was that between Portsmouth and the central Solent on Sunday morning. The tide was running from west to east, and the wind was going the same way: never a good arrangement for a gaffer. So although we had some fantastic sailing, wqe weren't realy going the right way (or not fast enough), so we motored from Gilkicker to Lee, before we started to catch the tide flowing northwest up Suthampton Water. We then had some excellent sailing, although slightly nerveracking as we had to pick our way through several races. The water was really crowded as it is every summer Sunday morning. We were back on Toucando's berth by ten to five... in good enough time for Hugh to catch the 1730 train back home.
Whilst a couple off long channel passages would have been good, not to mention the shopping opportunities in Carrefour and an evening meal in a French restaurant, it was very pleasant to be able to sail in local waters, including the much neglected Far Side of the Island. Thanks to Hugh for all his help.
Postscript: the engine worked fine.
Andrew and Hugh sailed down to Lymington quite slowly in light winds. We berthed on the Dan Bran pontoon, ate and drank aboard. Instead of crossing the channel we decided to sail to Gosport, but rather than going through the Solent, we thought we would sail round the Far Side of the Island.
Now the Solent is full of boats, especially at the weekend. Hundreds and thousands of them - from kayaks to container ships, fishing boats to gin palaces. But the Far Side of the Island is a very different place. Once you are past the Needles and turn hard to port you enter a deserted sea, sailing under a sequence of cliffs of chalk and clay. The random choppiness of the Solent is replaced by the regular predictable swell of the channel. The wind is cleaner, less influenced by land.
We came out of the Lymington River and raised the mainsail. While we were doing that it was quite windy... however as soon as it was up the wind dropped. We drifted slowly down to the Needles.
The Needles
When we turned, the sea was glassy smooth and we had no choice but to motorsail - to make life really simple we put on the autohelm.
Tennyson Down: You can just make out the Celtic style cross which is T's memorial on the top
However as the morning progressed a sea breeze picked up. We agreed to have an early lunch whilst still motorsailing. Once that was finished somewhere west of St Catherine's Point, we turned off the engine, pulled out the staysail, and sailed 120 degrees off the wind on starboard tack. We maintained a decent speed as we ploughed through the overfalls.
St Catherine's Point Lighthouse - at the southerly corner of the IOW
Once south of Ventnor we gybed round to port tack, and were able to stay like that all the way to Bembridge Ledge, passing Shanklin, Sandown and Culver Cliff on the way. Ok, we did see one yacht, and perhaps a fishing vessel or two, but it was pretty sparse. There were a lot of ships anchored between Bembridge and the Nab, waiting for their berth to become available in Southampton or Portsmouth.
Anchored ships east of the IOW
When we turned round the Bembridge Ledge buoy Toucando was at the most easterly point of her sailing career to date. We were able to stay on a port tack as we sailed between Lord Palmersone's Solent forts towards Portsmouth harbour entrance.
A prospect of Portsmouth
We rolled up the staysail and put the motor on enter the harbour as the harbourmaster prefers, and we dropped the main once inside. We were given a comfortable berth on a leeward pontoon by the ever helpful Haslar Marina staff. It was a pleasant wartm summer's evening. We were entertained by the sailing school boats all around us and a party of drunken motorboaters.
Toucando at sunset in Haslar Marina, Gosport
We left Haslar at 0925. Hugh raised the main. We turned and sailed out of the Harbour, noticing HMS Victory and an aircraft carrier with no aircraft as we went.
The Royal Navy: An out of service aircraft carrier and Nelson's flagship
Now, the one part of the passage which did not work from a tidal point of view was that between Portsmouth and the central Solent on Sunday morning. The tide was running from west to east, and the wind was going the same way: never a good arrangement for a gaffer. So although we had some fantastic sailing, wqe weren't realy going the right way (or not fast enough), so we motored from Gilkicker to Lee, before we started to catch the tide flowing northwest up Suthampton Water. We then had some excellent sailing, although slightly nerveracking as we had to pick our way through several races. The water was really crowded as it is every summer Sunday morning. We were back on Toucando's berth by ten to five... in good enough time for Hugh to catch the 1730 train back home.
Whilst a couple off long channel passages would have been good, not to mention the shopping opportunities in Carrefour and an evening meal in a French restaurant, it was very pleasant to be able to sail in local waters, including the much neglected Far Side of the Island. Thanks to Hugh for all his help.
Postscript: the engine worked fine.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
A blustery sail to Cowes and back
Ava and Alexander joined Andrew on Saturday morning. We set off down Southampton Water, with two reefs in the mainsail and crossed the Solent in a Force 6 with some biggish waves rolling up from the west. We berthed at Shepard's Wharf on the third attempt as the wind kept trying to blow us off. On Sunday morning Ron and Beth of "Nightingale" came aboard for a cup of tea. They remembered seeing Toucando at Brest in Brittany a few years ago. On Sunday we returned to Southampton. It was just as windy, although the waves seemed smaller.
Alexander, Ava, Hugh and Andrew - photographer: Sara
On Monday we were joined by Sara and Hugh. It was a grey, damp day... more wet mist than rain. After a tour of the docks we motored down to Fawley and then practised tacking back up Southampton Water. We gradually improved our technique after getting a few tangles. The crew were very enthusiastic and resourceful: we all had a good sail. Back on the Itchen we had some high tea before everyone went on their way (except Andrew). After a typical "Bank Holiday Weekend" it is now a bright, calm morning on the Itchen. Toucando is now looking forward to a trip to Yarmouth IOW later in the week having logged another 44 miles.
Alexander, Ava, Hugh and Andrew - photographer: Sara
On Monday we were joined by Sara and Hugh. It was a grey, damp day... more wet mist than rain. After a tour of the docks we motored down to Fawley and then practised tacking back up Southampton Water. We gradually improved our technique after getting a few tangles. The crew were very enthusiastic and resourceful: we all had a good sail. Back on the Itchen we had some high tea before everyone went on their way (except Andrew). After a typical "Bank Holiday Weekend" it is now a bright, calm morning on the Itchen. Toucando is now looking forward to a trip to Yarmouth IOW later in the week having logged another 44 miles.
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