21/05/2013, Wicor
Blue moon has been back in the water since April but we have had no chance to use her apart from a quick shakedown in the harbour. Bank holiday weekend is fast approaching so have decided to give Dartmouth a try. My trusted crew david and I will set off Thursday evening and the girls will drive down and meet us there as they don't fancy a 15 hr passage.
Weather forecast is a bit iffy and I will have to keep an eye on it. Looking like 20 mph NW and the forecast tends to understate it so will keep watching, at least it's offshore.
Need to check the tide gate at Hurst and I think we will go offshore passage at Portland
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12/08/2012, Wicor Marine Portsmouth
Well the Plan had been simple. Get an Early Dinner at the Marina then set off Back to Portsmouth at about 19:00 for an overnight Crossing. Weather Forecast was F4 F5 E Veering SW with F6 at first so we sould be able get get a good few Hours of Daylight before setting up to Cross the Shipping Lanes and the Wind should reduce during the Night (Perfect). Well the First Bad Omen was that the Marina Did not Serve food till 7:00 pm anyway we thought to ourselves thats not a problem we have plenty on board so we skipped Dinner and Set off.
In the Outer Harbour we raised sails and put a reef in wind was blowing 22 -25 kts and the swell was 2+ Mtrs.
For the First Couple of Hours we are makeing 6+ Kts as its blowing 25kts and gusting 28 to 30 with a building swell. The Boats in the Groove but the Autopilot keeps Tripping.
All of a sudden my Crew is not feeling well and looks very green, Not a Good Omen. The Wind if anything is Building so this has the makings of being Interesting the light is going so its decision time to either put another reef in or rely in the Weather forecast. The Deck is Pitching quite a lot amd with Only me feeling OK I decide the Old Gill is sailing well and does not feel over canvased so we will push on. David is Not good, He stays on deck as going below makes him feel worse but I am concerned that he will get cold. He assures me that he is OK but just feeling very Sick.
Darkness is apon us and we are making good progress no sign of any reduction in the Wind and the swell is 3+ Mtrs but rolling so the Boat does not feel to bad unless you fall in to a deep Trough. Autopilot is behaing its self so I dont feel overstreached. We cross the East Bound Shipping lane then the West Bound without incedent (AIS is Great) and I can see the Light at St Catherines Point. We are about 10 Miles off when suddenly I Spot the Red of a Tricolour less than 100 Ft from us (Where he came from I dont know) so have to do a Quick Jibe round to miss him as he passes my port side I see there is no one in the Cockpit. A close call, Weather is still a constant 25kts and we close on The Bembridge East Cardinal exactly as planned. Its just starting to get light and we enter the Solent. Its been a long night but the Planning was spot on. We enter Portsmouth and are tied up at Wicor by 7:30 am
Good sense of achievement
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11/08/2012, Tied up in Port Chantereyne
Got in to Main Harbour at 15:30 and all tied up in the Marina by 16:30 (BST)
Uneventful First trip accross the Channel. All worked according to plan
Plenty of Space in the Marina so now need to deside where we go for dinner
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11/08/2012, Approaching Cherbourg
Its been a long day !!!! (The Crew needs some rest)
Still cant see Cherbourg as its very hazy however the course plot has us right on track for the west Entrance and we should soon be able to see it
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11/08/2012, Past the East Bound Shipping
Making good Progress and faster than my planning time so will need to do a quick course adjustment. The Course plot is tracking to just about where I think we should be. Always good to see your plan actually working
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11/08/2012, West bound Shipping Lanes
Wind is lite so motor sailing, Just got to the westbound shipping lanes, AIS is a godsend so easy to get CPA, Some big Tankers about. Strange looking target on the Horizon that end up being a Tug towing two ships glad we pass in front of it
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