July 21, 2012, The Cove, St Agnes
Yesterday was a fine day for the crossing to the Scillies; gentle breeze, flat seas, blue skies - although it meant quite a bit of engine of course.
Anchored in this pretty bay; the photo (if it sends in v limited broadband) is taken from the Bar joining St Agnes to Gugh at low water.
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July 19, 2012, Coverack, Lizard Peninsular
Anchored off the charming Cornish village of Coverack; in this light westerly perfect shelter for the night.
Forecast is for Summer to at last arrive here in UK - a nice big HIGH for a few days; so tomorrow we sail for the Scilly Isles. If any of the family are following this blog - be aware that we don't expect to have internet access in Scilly Isles.
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July 18, 2012, QAB Marina, Plymouth harbour
Yesterday afternoon Alderney was in 500m fog; Channel LV reported 200m; so when I hit the bunk PM I did not expect to sail that night. Amazing clearance in the evening and a forecast of SW winds saw us sailing from Braye Harbour at 2045, in sunshine and unlimited visibility.
One hour down the track, the chartplotter GPS lost its fix - minor crisis - have become used to the safety of AIS for taffic avoidance, especially in those Channel shipping lanes. An hour later, after many reboots we had a fix again - phew!
Great sailing on the Channel crossing - the promised southwesterly blew steadily at 15-18kts; Sunset romping along at 7-8kts sheets nicely eased, with reefed main and genoa.
Weather was fine until approaching Devon, when the vis dropped to < one mile in rain. Nice to find shelter in Plymouth's Queen Annes Battery Marina
Photo: Plymouth's Breakwater
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July 15, 2012, Braye Harbour
Sunset enjoyed a fast cross Channel passage from the Solent; with the wind steady at WNW 15kt, reefed main and full genoa and sheets nicely eased, we flew across the seas at 8 knots.
Shipping Lanes were as busy as ever; including a long tow that we had to avoid; the tug master made sure there was no doubting his business by lighting up the tug and huge barge like a Christmas Tree!
A lively sail; now very happy to be in the lee of Braye Harbour's splendid breakwater - probably until Wednesday.
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July 14, 2012, Hurst Castle anchorage
Dep Chichester harbour at 0635 on passage for Alderney; however with the wind at WSW 12-16kts it was prudent to make our westing in the sheltered Solent.
So five hours very close hauled saw us anchoring off Hurst Castle at 1200.
Perfectly sheltered anchorage for some serious ZZZZZs in the bunk, prior to an overnight cross channel tonight.
1730 Update: as forecast, the wind has veered NW - perfect - but will back again 'later'. So on my tried and trusted principle - if the wind is right USE IT!
we plan to sail on the tide this evening
Photo: Hurst Light
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July 2, 2012, Solent
Sunday July 1; Studland - Chichester Harbour
Left Studland Bay running well reefed 'wing & wing'.
The wind quickly increased to 28-30kts; furling the foresail, Sunset still ran at hull speed across Christchurch Bay. There were dozens of opposite direction yachts pounding westwards on the wind; no doubt the survivors of yesterday's 'Round The Island' yacht race (1600+ yachts). This old hand likes to keep the wind firmly 'abaft the beam'.
Running up the Western Solent we were the only yacht under sail; a perfect target for a 'beat up' - sure enough from dead astern, an RAF Typhoon fighter bomber roared very low & fast over us - aaaah, memories of 55 years ago when this young fighter pilot roamed the Solent in his RAF Hawker Hunter fighter.
those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end ....
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