Marica goes clockwise

Vessel Name: Marica
16 December 2017 | Slipper Sailing Club
08 November 2017 | South coast
07 November 2017 | Newhaven
06 November 2017 | Beachy Head
05 November 2017 | Rye
04 November 2017 | Rye
03 November 2017 | Rye
02 November 2017 | South Coast
01 November 2017 | Thames Estuary
31 October 2017 | Harwich
30 October 2017 | Southwold
27 October 2017 | North Sea
25 October 2017 | Lincolnshire Coast
18 October 2017 | Yorkshire Coast
17 October 2017 | Bridlington
16 October 2017 | Flamborough Head
15 October 2017 | Whitby
12 October 2017 | Yorkshire coast
10 October 2017 | Geordieland
09 October 2017 | England!
Recent Blog Posts
16 December 2017 | Slipper Sailing Club

Epiblog

I met fellow Westerly Centaur owner Tom Bedford in Milford Haven. As it turns out we also share a fondness for real ale and the band Steely Dan. Tom is a freelance journalist and when I got back to Emsworth he suggested writing an article about my trip. I agreed without too much reticence and he sent [...]

08 November 2017 | South coast

From Shoreham

I checked the live wind at Chichester Bar this morning on the Chimet web site. Force 4 northerly. Hey! we could go somewhere, Little Hampton (LA) or even further. I might just make it for the 9 o'clock lock out. I called them and they said I would be going out of the smaller Prince George lock. I had [...]

07 November 2017 | Newhaven

From Newhaven

On Tuesday morning we wake to a southerly force 6. The sea state was expected to be 'moderate' and waves were crashing over the harbour breakwater. George and I had porridge and reviewed the situation. He decided caution was the better part of valour and I walked him to the train station.

06 November 2017 | Beachy Head

From Rye

My dad joined me on a frosty Monday morning for our leg from Rye. His name is George so he is the original George according to my sister, or he is George V for this trip. I thought Eastbourne would be a suitable port to make for, and could be completed in daylight hours. Dad had suggested Newhaven so [...]

05 November 2017 | Rye

More water problems

I started the engine this morning, whilst Marica was afloat, to check the repair on the throttle linkage. It was fine but there was no cooling water flowing through the engine. I assumed that mud was stuck in the inlet pipe. All the boats settle in this soft smelly stuff to the top of their keels. So [...]

04 November 2017 | Rye

Bailing Out

This morning (Saturday) I found the cutlery drawer full of water. It's just underneath the cooker. I was wondering where the water had come in last night. The boat had obviously been heeled over at a bigger angle at the top of the tide. There had been water in the washing up bowl, that I had not tested [...]

Really from Wexford

19 July 2017 | Saint George's Channel
Showery
A number of people and weather forecasts warned of strong winds on Wednesday. I studied XC weather and Windguru carefully and it looked like the front would not arrive until about 7 in the evening. If I could get away soon after low water there should be time to make Arklow before then. Marica had grounded in the soft mud by the quay on Tuesday night, about two hours before low water. So I needed to move her along the quay, either after 10pm or about 6:30 in the morning.
I was up at 6, moved the boat and walked to the petrol station for a couple of cans of fuel. I cast off just after low water at 9 and followed the channel out to the Safe Water Mark. With just the Honka driving us, apart from a bit of extra grunt from the Volvo at the harbour mouth, it took about 90 minutes at a steady 4 knots.
The wind was lightish North West, rain arriving just as I was getting the mainsail up. During the day the wind backed West, then South West, South and eventually South Easterly. The tidal streams were against until around 2 pm. The boat speed varied from about 3.5 to 6 knots over the ground, and was bowling along at times.
The Irish coast guard issued a strong weather warning of East or South East winds of Force 6 at 11 am. I kept the Honka running slowly and took the inside Rusk Channel as a short cut to try and outrun the weather. The Reeds guide states that strong Easterly winds make the entrance to Arklow unsafe. The two minor harbours to the South, Courtown and Polduff Pier also appeared unfavourable.
I got to Arklow about 5:30 just as the winds were starting to build and swinging South East. I could see the front approaching. Sails down and motored slowly into the Avoca River through the narrow entrance. I went past the Marina entrance and headed for the yacht club. Reeds (the bible) advises they have one visitor alongside mooring. I could not spot it and there were private signs and no obvious vacancies. I pulled in on the long pontoon in the river outside the marina. Soon a man (Ian) turned up with a receipt book and request for 30 Euros. Kilmore quay was only 25, with good facilities and a central location. Wexford don't charge for the use of their quay and the Harbour Master's facilities! Anyhow Ian said he would do me a deal if I stayed more than one night. He gave lots of information on the town and advised Christie's as a good place to eat, drink and use their wifi.
The local sailing club have yacht racing on a Wednesday night. About 10 boats with large crews aboard set off from the pontoon or moorings in the river. They headed out into the strong winds I had avoided. I wandered down to the sailing club about nine. It was all shut up so headed over the bridge into town. I could see the racing boats heading in. I went to the pub and caught up on emails, facebrag and news. There was a fantastic photo of the Spinnaker tower in Portsmouth being hit by lightning, as well as other places and some flooding.
I called in at the Yacht club on the way back to the boat. It was emptying out but there were some great tales of the race in the strong winds. I chatted to Murph and Noleen for a couple of hours. Noleen had come to open the bar just after 8 but as no one was around had headed back home again. Murph had to be hauled up the mast during the race to free a halyard and there was a fair bit of banter about it. Back to the boat a little after two and prepared for a lie in as the forecast is not great for Thursday.
Today's picture is a screenshot of the Windguru forecast.


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