Derek Hathaway

A calm and eventually sunny & warm morning. Lots of circulating around waiting for enough water to leave the deeper channel and come alongside the Quay. The arrival time required by the boatyard was too early for the state of the tide. Lesson learned - do your own assessment! But it was a fun day on the water anyway!

Blustery start with up to 30knt gusts and 1m plus swell and waves. Throw in some rain and poor visibility at times and it was not always fun! But the wind and swell eased and became more manageable. All under sail, with partly furled Genoa much of the way to pace arrival at the Exe safe water mark, with enough depth, to motor up river to Topsham. A well managed passage in good company with the owner of a Westerly Ocean 33 ready for lift out to Topsham Quay.

….. well - not the best ending to my voyage east. I’d chosen the least worst day with a run of mostly west/ southwesterly winds predicted for over a week ahead and I needed to get home. Motor sailed from Studland round St Alban Head and to a waypoint 5NM off Portland Bill. As expected I then had a fair(?) wind with enough south in it to sail (sometimes quite fast!) and with mostly favourable currents all the way through the early night to make the Exe estuary with just a couple of tacks at the end to avoid the mussel farms. I was very close hauled all the way so not easy to cook dinner - just snacking. With 1 reef in main and variable amounts in the Genoa we were heeled over all the way. Future days were expected to be more NW to W so less good! Sailing meant less risk of getting snarled on a pot buoy. Brief burst of motor to bring the sails down and then dropped the anchor. Rolly second half of the night before entering the Exe and back on the mooring. Back home and safe and Thalmia and the autohelm (all the way!) were brilliant.

Oh that was a tough start to the passage! Strong wind over strong tide again. Passing the “Bridge” near the end of the Needles channel it was full on roller coaster with Thalmias nose buried deep into short big waves. Without my experience of her I would have been really scared - and the autohelm kept the steering all through - absolutely amazing piece of kit when you factor in the pitching and rolling and almost corkscrewing! The videos you see are when i wasn’t holding on with both(!) hands - yes there was worse! After the end of the channel I was determined to sail and give the motor and my ears a rest. Deep tack to make my destination but in 17-18 knts gusting 22 I had 2 reefs in main and equivalent of 3 in Genoa she made good speed - generally around 6-7 knts SOG and a manageable heel. I was clipped on of course! Now a calm evening in the really good shelter in Studland bay and assess what to do next!

Boisterous hardly describes it. The Solent at its worst? 20-25 knts of westerly wind over 2.6knts of easterly tide had Thalmia burying her nose into the steep short waves in disgust! Water over the deck but with my new chain locker drains in place hopefully none in the bilge - I’ll check later! Fortunately I’d set my fenders in Newtown river and they stayed stowed on deck (apart from one that was washed over but still attached) not a lot of space in Yarmouth harbour to set lines so hurriedly done with autohelm in use and then pushed by the harbour dory to raft up against a 38ft modern boat which fortunately was well crewed. Very tightly packed here with 2 rallies arrived from Southampton.

Decided on a lunch break in Newtown River. Started with gentle sail down tide - very strong then tough getting back uptide in a fresh westerly breeze. Mooring buoy in the west flank of the river for easy exit and better shelter from the brisk(?) wind! Lots of noisy birds and some seals - delightful!

An early start - again! However what a sunrise around Old Harry Rocks followed by a quick motor across Poole Bay to make the end of the tide around Hurst Point into the Solent. Very turbulent for short distance but quicker than using the Needles Channel. Worrying pan pan from a yacht caught on fishing gear - important to keep a watch out in these strong tides! They eventually freed themselves. Meeting up with brother and family in Lymington.

Left pm to arrive St Alban Hd after the current had turned. Trade off was that there was much less wind in the afternoon so after starting with a gentle sail the motor went on to go outside the firing range. However it’s a very calm evening and night in prospect moored on an eco mooring in Studland Bay. Only my second time here and I love it. May move on early tomorrow to make the tidal gate around Hurst Point into the Solent.

Early start before daybreak motoring down the main channel over some shallow bits! Falling tide but it was neaps. Predicted westerly wind didn’t kick in until approaching the Bill then it was gnarly close to the rocks in the inner passage with swell and waves breaking close by! Calm on the eastern flank and a calm Portland Marina now owned by Premier and loads of space! Couple of nights rest then see what the forecast allows.

That was a very lively sail. ENE close hauled at start and very bouncy then slowly veered to E and a beam reach from Berry Head but still big seas. Gusting to 18knts but SOG slowed by the short waves and swell. 2 reefs in Genoa and should probably have dropped to 2 reefs in main. On the edge of being uncomfortable but the Fulmar and Raymarine Evo100 coped well with the challenge. I’d had a good breakfast at the Anchorstone Cafe so managed with snacks and without lunch or hot tea! Clipped on in the cockpit! Eased a bit after the Orestone. Exhausted at the end!