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Dover to Southampton - 21st/26th July
Although not a LADOS trip, we thought you might be interested in this rather eventful cruise from Dover back to Southampton!
The wind on the Saturday was easing back from a F8 but the sea state off Dover was too rough for the four man crew and so a return to Dover Marina was the order of the day. Sunday was a fair day with a much reduced wind strength and sea state.
By mid-day we were half way across the shipping lane under power as the wind had dropped to less than 10 knots.
Then we picked up a rope round the prop! Nothing could budge it so we raised the sails and sailed across the north east bound shipping lane - fortunately the wind had increased! An hour later the rope dropped off the prop and we were able to motor safely into Boulogne harbour.
An early departure was interrupted the next morning by a call for assistance from a French yacht in the outer harbour - their batteries were flat after a four day delivery trip from south Biscay. We attached them alongside us and motored back to the marina, dropping them onto a finger pontoon at the second attempt! We then re-started our voyage, ending up in the locked harbour at Eastbourne in the pouring rain at 5pm.
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Soveriegn Harbour, Eastbourne |
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Our departure on Tuesday was also an event. Due to a misunderstanding with mooring lines we executed a perfect 180 degree turn in the crowded lock without touching lock walls or any other vessel! That takes skill. We motored back out with two of our crew standing on the lock side and one member of the adjacent Dutch yacht as supernumerary crew! On the second attempt we got it right and proceeded to sea in a F3 and decent weather.
Our intended destination was Portsmouth but after seven hours, with an increasing wind, it was clear the crew were not too keen on another seven hour bash against the wind. So we locked into Shoreham whereupon we met up with our supernumerary crew member and his wife. They were at the start of a five year cruise round the world, having sold up everything! We entertained them to a fish and chip supper on board as a way of encouraging their departure!
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Haslar Marine in Portmouth Harbour |
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Wednesday dawned with a predicted strong wind warning. We decided to leave the shelter of Shoreham and motor our way to Portsmouth. The crew were quite surprised that the yacht was doing 2.5 knots flat out under motor with the F5/6 on the nose. We then hoisted the main with two reefs and the No 2 Genoa and the boat's speed increased to 5/6 knots. The lesson is - in strong winds use the sails!
We passed the Owers at a respectable distance and then bore away to enter the Solent via the forts. By this time it was raining hard and visibility had dropped significantly. We eventually made Hasler Marina at 6pm and found a spare visitor's berth in the strong wind!
Thursday morning saw a predicted F8 in the Solent so we left Portsmouth with a triple reefed main and no Genoa, and motor sailed out. Eventually we killed the motor and hoisted the No2 Genoa and had a splendid sail back to Ocean Quay.
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