Up Channel

25^th July 

AM

Me n ‘Talisker 1’ are in Studland Bay.  We arrived last night from Dartmouth, and I am quite bushed.  We sailed from Falmouth to Dartmouth the day before.

I am contemplating the Beaulieu River tonight.  Tidal streams will not be on our favour until later this afternoon.

I hated leaving Cornwall.

My beautiful daughter Hannah gave birth to a baby girl on the 25^th June.  Dominic and Hannah have named her Naia, a very nautical name for a girl born on the Cornish peninsula.  My stepson Jay and partner Ralu had a little girl on the 3^rd March.  They have called her Theia.  That makes eleven grand children.

Living on board on a swinging mooring at Mylor YH it has been lovely for seeing family.  As well as Hannah, my step daughters Alicia and Jessie also live in Cornwall.  I have been spending time with Alicia and Logan and their boys which has been an absolute delight.  I am Grandpa to the boys as well as being god father to the eldest.  Lots of school runs and the odd night on board for the boys.

Mylor YH were very good to me.  Mike Rollason, Nigel and the team could not have been more helpful.  The water taxi staff have been terrific although I did of course use my tender out of hours.  The taxi staff check moored boats every morning which was very reassuring as I have had to return to Suffolk for brother William.  Heads up to them.  Fingers crossed my new outboard continues to be as reliable as my 30 + year old Mariner 2.5 … was.  The new engine will use less fuel being a four stroke.

I mentioned Marine Engineer Nick in my previous post.  The engine issue turned out to be a failed Fresh Water Circulation Pump.  See my Aberdeen posts from June and July 2021.

Engine Repairs & Sailing South

Having restored the Circulation Pump in 2021 I could not believe it could be that again.  It was the first thing Nick mentioned when coming on board.  Nick played a blinder and could not have been more helpful and kind.

If anyone needs a Marine Engineer in the south west here are his details.  I always prefer the independents.

Nick Smith

Marine Engineer

07494 757133

nickjoshuasmith@gmail.com

A new Fresh Water Circulation Pump from Volvo Penta was going to take six weeks.  The cheapest deal, as always, was ordering one through

Key Part Ltd

01923 276000

www.keypart.com

I have always found them very helpful.

Eventually Peter Buchan refurbished the pump in Suffolk ordering a repair kit from

Parts4Engines Ltd

www.parts4engines.com

A fraction of the cost of the repair kit from Volvo Penta.

The engine was finally back together on the 16^th July.  Due to the engine problems and having to go home, I have not been able to explore the glorious South West!  Scilly was so close … another time perhaps.

In the meantime, with my confidence in the engine at a low ebb, I was almost ready to order a new engine.

I received terrific advice directly from Beta who put me in touch with

Marine Engineer Nick Beard

07770 600083

nick@fhme.co.uk

Nick has installed more new Beta Engines than most of us have had hot dinners.  Including, to my astonishment, three Typhoons.  Nick sent me installation pictures from the Typhoons and recommended I have a Beta 35.

That caused questions at Bruntons Propellers with regard to the 25 mm shaft.  I would have to change the blades on my Bruntons Varifold anyway but the shaft as well?  I was confused and so was Nick Beard.

Nick Beard put me in touch with

Nick Gifford, the Technical Sales Engineer at

Darglow Engineering Ltd who produce

FeatherStream Propellers and HydroAxe Rope Cutters

Nick was brilliantly helpful and was quite prepared to share knowledge even though I could not commit to buying a new prop.  One for the future!  Nick had no issue with the 25 mm shaft.

The propeller confusion stopped me from going ahead!

Although I was quoted very good prices Nick Smith felt my engine still had plenty of life left.  If I was a rich man …

Massive thanks to Nick Smith, Nick Beard, Nick Gifford, David Sheppard and my Suffolk chums Peter Norris and particularly Peter Buchan.

Confidence in the equipment is very important.  Am I nervous about my old engine … perhaps I am.

2230

We opted for a shorter sail today which was a complete delight.

We had picked up a mooring in Studland Bay as anchoring, although not prohibited, is not encouraged.

I was exhausted after two long days.  Falmouth to Dartmouth and Dartmouth to Studland Bay.  We did sail, but the fluky winds meant a fair amount of motoring.  The engine behaved very well.

The anchorage in Dartmouth was relatively empty this time.  It would be lovely to explore one day!

Today we hoisted the main on the mooring in South Westerly F4s, dropped the mooring and sailed to the Beaulieu River under main only in a consistent breeze.  The only work for the engine today was taking us in to the Beaulieu river.

Having anchored in the Beaulieu River I did not like the predicted wind shift tomorrow morning, so weighed anchor and picked up a V mooring off Needs Ore Pt.

I should sail tomorrow but Sally feels I must not rush.  I’ll sleep until I wake and then decide.

My stamina for long days of sailing is very low.  My balance not quite as sharp.  I’m going to have to do something about that if I want to stay out on the water.  As much as anything a single hander cannot drop their guard for a moment when sailing close to land and traffic.

27^th July 2240

Brighton Marina!  I quite liked it earlier this year.  I’d forgotten the eastern end from my time here in 2018.  Sadly, there is still dredging taking place and some of the visitor’s berths are occupied by a multitude of jet skis.  And it’s £50 a night!  Anchoring is possible from Chichester and beyond … heading west.  The stretch from Chichester to North Foreland is not quite so blessed.  All the marinas are expensive.

We had another good days sail in northerlies that backed north westerly F2-5.  I had planned to sail to Eastbourne but opted for a shorter day.  Just 50 NM over the ground today.

And it meant I was able to watch the second half and extra time as the England Women won the European Championship for the second time in a row.  I still think of the disgraceful behavior of the FA who banned women from playing soccer for so many years.  There are some genuine household names in the women’s game now.  And this will get better and better.  I’m also a fan of the England Cricket and Rugger Teams.  Any sport that gets all youngsters away from their phones and tablets.

Tomorrow perhaps Beachy Head!  Do I push on further east.  I ought to try the new marina in Dover.

28^th July 2330

We did try Dover and took advantage of the strong, what seems to be always a double tidal stream heading up Channel.  The tide was just turning against us as we passed through the western entrance of Dover Harbour at 1930.  We’d had the tidal stream with us all the way.  64 NM over the ground.

We departed Brighton at 1045 on a beam reach for the 15 NM to Beachy Head.  The winds were predominantly SW veering WSW F 4-6 and for a large part of the afternoon it was a 6.  We were goose winged under full main on a preventer and a poled out full genoa having rounded Beachy Head.  Later we had to reef the main and take in a few turns on the genoa.

Having passed Dungeness I furled the genoa and stowed the pole.

Thereafter it was a comfortable sail under a reefed main with the wind off the port quarter.  Engine on and main down on the approaches to Dover.

We are in a spacious generous berth.  And it’s cheaper, by £9, and better than Brighton.  Every little counts.

I might sail to Ramsgate tomorrow before taking on the Thames Estuary.  It will allow a restful morning.

29^th July

We sailed the 15 nautical miles to Ramsgate from Dover in two hours and docked first at the Ramsgate fuel pontoon to fill up with diesel.  It will be a thorough engine check tomorrow morning and a top up of fresh water.  We will probably cross the estuary tomorrow afternoon.  Light winds are expected.

Dover has been a mystery to me over the years!  My memories as a small boy are of the Castle and countless ferry crossing to Calais or Boulogne.  As a teenager I accompanied my Dad, driving through France in deep December to retrieve the family speed boat from the South of France.  On our return and my father exhausted from the drive, we stayed one night in a Dover Hotel, on the front, and I watched mystified in the early hours of the morning as a very elderly man walked down the beach in a towel dressing gown and swimming hat.  Off came the towel dressing gown and in he went … calmly walking in up to his neck … whereupon he turned and walked straight back out of the water, put his dressing gown back on and walked back, crossed the road and on up the steps and through the front door of his house.  It was icey!  What madness is this I thought?  The gentleman was ahead of his time.

In more recent times Dover has become a gauntlet to pass either sailing up or down Channel.  I’d always followed the rules.  Call Dover VTS when your 2 NM away and tell them your intentions.  Stay a mile off the breakwater and watch for movement.  Listening watch on Dover VTS.  The ferries come and go like bees.  Wind conditions can make it a tad more exciting.  Timing was crucial.

I’d heard in the past that there was a time you could anchor in the outer harbour.  The extremely polite harbour launch would meet visiting yachts and escort them in and out.  I’d always been nervous of Dover and nervous of passing and so always used Ramsgate as my port of shelter.

Yesterday and today Dover was stress free for the first time.  By visiting the harbour you were in their care. VTS were terrific and by following the instructions in the almanac and then following the VTS instructions to the letter it was simple.

Today heading east, I was asked to leave from the busy eastern entrance.  We were in the company of two other east bound departing yachts.  We were asked to hold inside the breakwater by the Knuckle LH while a ferry arrived and then another departed.  We were then swiftly given permission to leave and in a matter of minutes we all three were clear and to the east of the eastern entrance.

No running the gauntlet.

Ramsgate is calm this evening and full of Dutch.  Many a voyage has started for me from here.

30^th July

We are at anchor just inside Orwell PH tucked into the bank.

The ebb began off Ramsgate just after 1400 and we were underway calling Port Control at 1345.

The light winds swung from east and slowly veered round to west northwest and although sails were set we motor sailed all the way.  I don’t think I have ever motored all the way across the Estuary.

Passing Shotley Spit the wind died completely.

It will blow lightly from the west northwest overnight.  The perfect spot.

News of baby Naia is marvellous.  There was a worry she was deaf!  She can hear perfectly, her little ears just had fluid in them.  Mum and Dad hid their anxiety remarkably well.  Onwards and upwards.

I thought I might have some breeze tomorrow but it looks like a motor to the Ore and our home port.  The good news is it is a late afternoon HW.  I don’t have to get up early … thank goodness!

31^st July 1000

There is light rain and no wind.  Hurrying up and down Channel is not the best thing for the Solo Sailor.

I’ve been thinking about the skill factors to be alone on a boat.  I’m less skilled as a sailor than many of my sailing chums (who don’t sail alone) in so far as sailing is concerned.  I’m confident in my seamanship though, and if push came to shove, in my ability to improvise … if I had to.  But that would have been my not nipping a problem in the bud before it got worse.  Deal with the problem before it happens.  It’s something we all need to be able to do.  And experience counts!

To be a watch officer full time and without a break is a something a single hander needs to learn.  Close to land and traffic you can not drop your guard.  You need to rest and the only way this can be done is to find a safe haven and sleep.  Long day sails are tough!  And get a little tougher with age.  As a crew member you can switch off and lie down when not on duty.

My daily sails have been Falmouth Dartmouth, Dartmouth Studland Bay, Studland Bay to the Beaulieu River where I allowed myself and the ship and extra night off.  Beaulieu River to Eastbourne was well underway but I shortened it to Brighton instead.  Then Brighton Dover and then a short hop the following day from Dover to Ramsgate before finally crossing the estuary yesterday.  So from the Isle of Wight, I have tried to shorten the days.

Off shore and away from land and traffic it is easier for the solo sailor.

I like sailing alone.  It is a cop out as I don’t have to be responsible for anybody else.  It’s almost the easy option.  You must be happy in your own company.  At sea I prefer to be alone.  The ability to concentrate is paramount.  The boat must be reasonably easily handled.

1^st August

Yesterday we returned to the Ore and our mooring.  Doc had checked my strop and actually held it up from his tender on our arrival.  Brave man!

There is a busy week end at Orford Sailing Club.  Today the Orford SC Junior Regatta and on Saturday and Sunday our first open Junior Regatta.  I hope to be home on Monday!