Friday 6th and Saturday 7th of January 2017
Up at midnight Friday - all my warmest gear on - 5 layers ! + a hot water bottle inside my one piece suit !!
Set off before 1am - called the lock keeper - straight into the massive lock - nicely floodlit.
The routine for handing in the gate key fob was to put it into a box at one end of the floating pontoon - which end did I tie up to ? - the other end !!
I had to walk the full length of a frosty wooden pontoon without handrails as the lock emptied - tiny steps and slowly !!
I made it and set off in the pitch black night for Ramsgate.
The visibility was good - no traffic - just cold.
I set the genoa and we were doing well with the tide pushing us along nicely along a route well out to sea but about a mile outside the shipping lanes, which were busy - lots of shipping.
The reason for the big distance off is the Dungeness headland which can have rough seas close in - like last time I did this trip and a big wave broke my tiller pilot - but today - not bad.
Daylight crept in from 6 am and the tide still pushing - great - the daylight helped to sort out all the ferry's - going in and out of Dover - I had to change course to avoid one - no problem.
After Dover we headed for the Goodwin sands near Deal in Kent - a big sandbank that has claimed the lives of hundreds of sailors over the years - that's why I like having two navigation plotters plus a separate GPS plus paper charts and compasses - a belt and three pairs of braces !!
The route up inside the Goodwins is well buoyed which makes it easy.
We arrived in Ramsgate at 13.30 - twelve and a half hours not bad.
The visitors berths were empty apart from one other boat - no one in the office - I don't like Ramsgate !
I tidied up and then straight to bed.
I checked the weather and Saturday looked good with ideal wind and no rain - but Sunday was high winds - so I decided to set off on Saturday about 10 am to get sufficient depth of water over the sandbank that I cross to save a lot of miles.
Saturday - set off in misty weather with visibility of about one mile - the AIS working well.
Up past North Foreland and out across the Thames estuary.
My plotter showed us passing the UK's biggest wind farm - The London Array - but I never saw it in the mist.
After the wind farm we crossed a major shipping lane with traffic - the AIS saw it all including one heading straight for me about a mile away at 19 knots. !!!
I usually turn around when this happens but this time I grabbed the VHF radio and called him - the AIS gave the ships name.
I calmly asked if he had seen me and he said that they have me on radar but could not visually see me.
He must have then checked his AIS and seemed concerned that it showed a collision was indicated.
He said that we should both turn to starboard - which we did and he passed behind me - not even close!
After that, I negotiated an anchored Gas Transporter and headed for a passage through the sand banks called Fisherman's Gat and another wind farm - we were making good speed with the genoa set and I double checked the depth of water over my sand bank short cut - 2 metres plus the charted depth of 1.6 metres - plenty - Blazer only draws 1 metre.
We started crossing and the depth instrument showed the correct depths as we passed over - then as we were almost over the depth started dropping - 4 metres then 3 metres then 2 METRES !!!!!!!
The water surface changed to agitated as though it was very shallow - only 3 feet under the keels.!!!
Then gradually the depth increased and we were over - PHEW !! - very close.
The far side of the sandbank had changed since the chart was drawn - probably by a gale.
I will cross it at higher tide next time - WOW .
It gradually got dark but the mist had lifted and it was easy to see the buoys in the Whitaker Channel past yet another wind farm and into the river Crouch.
I turned into the river Roach and stopped in the Quay Reach anchorage - I set the anchor in 7 metres of water - I payed out 30 metres of chain and dug the anchor in well - lovely.
It is no good trying to navigate the river Crouch in the dark - the upper reaches has buoys that are not lit - better to do the last 10 miles in daylight.
I set the anchor ball to show other boats that I am anchored plus my LED anchor light all strung up half way up the mast at the bow.
I had a peaceful night and woke to a lovely calm morning- prepared a huge stew for lunch so that it could be slow cooking while we are sailing up to Fambridge - then spotted a seal bobbing around at the back of Blazer - lovely.
I raised the anchor and it came up with a big lump of mud stuck to it - it was well dug in - great.
On the run up to Fambridge I saw lots of birds that you never see in France - Oyster catchers - Greebs - and a sky full of geese - wonderful.
I tied up on the visitors pontoon at 1 pm - TRIP OVER - Approx 300 miles in 12 days.
A big tidy up - pack - and then home to Derby by train on Tuesday.
Back to working on the workshop as funds allow - so - no blog for a week or so.
All for now - Mike.
Monday 9 January 2017
Thursday 5 January 2017
Preparation for the next leg
Thursday 5th of January 2017
Two nights here in Eastbourne due to strong winds and then Northerly wind but on Friday good sailing wind from the South.
Caught up on sleep and good food - this is a luxury marina - the best - which means expensive £ 27 per night !!
I studied the route to Ramsgate - 65 miles - about 13 hours if I set off at one am - that will give me seven hours of dark + six hours of daylight - if I set off later the trip will take much longer due to tides.
I marked up the paper chart with the route and course to steer - fuelled up to the brim + 6 gallons in reserve - fixed the nav light that went out on the last leg - topped up the engine and gearbox oil levels - we are ready.
I should be in Ramsgate by 2 pm - good - the high wind starts again at about 6 pm.
I checked wave heights - good - less than one meter - I checked for fog - the met office inshore waters said - visibility - good to moderate occasionally poor - might be mist !!
All set - now trying to sleep when I'm not tired !!
Mike.
Two nights here in Eastbourne due to strong winds and then Northerly wind but on Friday good sailing wind from the South.
Caught up on sleep and good food - this is a luxury marina - the best - which means expensive £ 27 per night !!
I studied the route to Ramsgate - 65 miles - about 13 hours if I set off at one am - that will give me seven hours of dark + six hours of daylight - if I set off later the trip will take much longer due to tides.
I marked up the paper chart with the route and course to steer - fuelled up to the brim + 6 gallons in reserve - fixed the nav light that went out on the last leg - topped up the engine and gearbox oil levels - we are ready.
I should be in Ramsgate by 2 pm - good - the high wind starts again at about 6 pm.
I checked wave heights - good - less than one meter - I checked for fog - the met office inshore waters said - visibility - good to moderate occasionally poor - might be mist !!
All set - now trying to sleep when I'm not tired !!
Mike.
Wednesday 4 January 2017
Yarmouth to Eastbourne
Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd of January 2017
I studied the tides, the weather and route and came to the conclusion that the best all round solution was to leave Yarmouth at 21.00 Monday - the wind was due to go down in strength and the tide would give me a fast passage - but if I stopped off at Chichester, to anchor for the night, then I would be stuck there, in strong Northerly winds in an open anchorage - not good - so I decided not to stop and to do the next two legs in one go.
It would be 80 miles - 16 hours - mainly at night - I have never done that before - WOW.
A concern was the first 2 metres !!
Someone had parked a £million + yacht right behind me - as I let go of the line the strong wind would blow me backwards onto him, even if I ran to the cockpit to hit the power.
Solution - To power forward before I let go, with enough power to overcome the wind and current in the marina. - I spent a long time arranging the lines ready for off.
I went into Yarmouth town - had a good lunch - then back to Blazer to get some sleep before the off - No Chance !! - I was too wound up - Ha Well !!
I was ready for 9 pm - let go - it worked - thank goodness !!
As soon as we left the marina the tide pushed us along at around 7 knots - heading for Cowes and traffic - lots of it - a massive bulk carrier - a car transporter - then a very garish cruise liner, lit up in multicoloured lights and flashing strobe lights - I managed to stay out of there way OK.
The wash from the car transporter was huge but luckily I saw it coming and held on tight - wham !! it knocked us over - things crashed about below but no damage.
It was forecast to be a clear night - no fog but bitterly cold - I was wearing my warmest gear - 4 layers plus a balaclava and ski gloves.
We turned East and plodded on through the main shipping area of the very busy Solent - numerous smaller ships all around - my AIS working well - showing me which way the ships were going and how close they would get to me and when - fabulous.
Nearly all the ships turn South on the Eastern side of the Isle of White past the Nab tower - heading for the Channel shipping lanes - I had to negotiate the ships and loads of channel marker buoys - all lit - no problem but I had to look out all the time.
After the South bound lane things settled down and tide slowed down - pushing us less and less - then it started against us - I knew it would and it can't be helped on such a long trip - but my fantastic computer program for sailing said that I was doing it at the most efficient time.
It got colder still so I filled a hot water bottle and shoved that inside my sailing suit and put on another hat on top of the balaclava - better.
A few small ships passed me going the other way and about 3am I saw a lot of lights approaching from the South - I couldn't work out what it was or how far away it was - I needed my radar for that and it's broken.
My AIS didn't pick it up either.
It got bigger and bigger heading straight for us, I thought, then it started to turn to go the opposite way to us. us - it was MASSIVE - a huge cruise ship all lit up with white lights - then my AIS woke up and said it was QUEEN ELIZABETH - the biggest liner in the world !!
We pressed on - a bit monotonous - I passed the time making hot drinks and eating snacks from my goodie coolbox lashed in the corner.
About 6am the sky started to lighten a tiny bit and the wind picked up from behind - I had the Genoa up nearly all night doing very little - but now it helped the push us along a bit plus the tide had turned again and it started to help us along again too.
As it came light I spotted a Wind farm under construction - not on the charts!! - Massive - I consulted the Internet and found it to be the Rampion wind farm - 116 turbines - 3 £ billion project.
I turned South to pass it on the seaward side at that point we were 17 miles off shore.
A bright, clear and sunny morning but still bitterly cold.
One or two big fishing boats around but not in our way.
We were off the South Downs heading for Beechy Head - our turning point for Eastbourne.
The wind picked up a lot more now and we started sailing proper - heading in towards Beechy Head - lovely !!
I planned to be tucked up in Sovereign Marina well before the forecast gale came in and the coast guard kept telling us it was due !!
We found the safe water buoy outside the marina no bother - called them on the radio and they gave me instructions for entry into the big lock.
Safely moored up on D pontoon at 2pm - 17 hours WOW !!
I sorted things out and crashed out in bed by 4pm and slept through to 7 am - I was tired.
The weather is not ideal for the next couple of days so it might be Friday for the next leg to Ramsgate.
All for now - Mike.
Sunday 1 January 2017
Blazer goes back to North Fambridge !!
Sunday 1st of January 2017
I decided not to renew the annual contract in Trebeurden due to the high cost and poor rate for Euros lately.
It is also expensive to travel there and 900 mile round trip to drive.
North Fambridge on the river Crouch is almost half the price and much easier to get to - there is also a station and cheap rail travel with a senior rail card.
Also - I haven't learned much French and not speaking the language is getting to be a pain,
So - we are on the way back !!
I checked the weather regularly and there seamed to be a window of a few days last week so when Fiona drove home to Cornwall on Wednesday, having had Christmas with us, I hitched a lift.
James very kindly drove me to Plymouth ferry terminal with my sack barrow and three holdalls.
I booked a cabin and slept really well - we docked in Roscoff on time and I took a taxi to Trebeurden marina - 140 Euros !
I quickly set Blazer up for the trip in warm sunshine - planned the first leg to Guernsey and set off the moment that the gate opened - 3 pm
Part of setting up was to be sure that the engine cooling system was clear of blockage and to test run the engine to prove all is OK - so I was shocked to find the temperature gauge right at the top straight away !!!
I used my infra red temperature tester to check the engine and it seemed fine so I pressed on.
It soon got dark - no moon - very dark - we passed the seven Isles then I set a course for Guernsey a total of 70 miles !
The wind picked up from nothing to 5 knots so I set the Genoa to help a bit.
Then the High temperature alarm started sounding - I tested again - Still OK - but I had to do something.
I left Blazer on autopilot and sail - switched off the engine and stripped the engine covers off and dismantled the cooling system - no problem found - so I fitted a brand new pump impellor - took out the thermostat and clamped the bypass hose to force all the cold sea water through the engine.
We were doing OK with the genoa and tide helping a bit - 2 knots in the right direction.
I restarted the engine and the alarm went off again !!
I retested the engine temperature - cold !!
It must be an electrical fault - I took the wire off the temperature sensor and the other alarm stopped sounding ?
It was then that I noticed the lights flickering just a tiny bit - I must have a bad connection somewhere but this was not the place to look for it !!
We pressed on - and on - I kept busy checking the two plotters - they both agreed and I kept adjusting the autopilot to stay bang on course.
It was strange not seeing anything outside the cockpit - lit up by the glow of the plotters - even with night setting switched on. The wake from our bow making a regular noise -rippling.
Then at about 2 am there was a big SPLASH !!
Then another - I couldn't see what it was but it kept doing it - then I heard it - a Dolphin breathing !!
They were on both sides - probably attracted by the stern light.
They stayed about 5 minutes then it all went quiet again - I never saw one - just the splashes - a bit scary!!
At 4am I lined up with the Little Rusell channel - crept up to St Peter Port - called control and he gave directions to get into Victoria marina - I was moored up by 5am - tired out !! 14 hours !!!
I crashed out and slept until 1pm - a lovely sunny and hot day - amazing.
I walked into town bought an almanac for next year - then planned the next leg to Alderney via the notorious Alderney race - the strongest tidal current in the Northern hemisphere especially at spring tides like today !!
We left as soon as there was enough water over the sill and it got dark straight away - the North going current built up slowly then faster and faster - we were doing 10 knots over the ground at one point.
Then I spotted an AIS target on the plotter - half a mile away doing 37 knots !! - I hope they have seen me!
I do have an electronic radar enhancer to make Blazer stand out on their radar - but they have to be looking.
They hurtled past about half a mile away and shot off into the dark night - amazing.
It must have been the fast cat from Cherbourg to Poole - Quite scary !!
I plodded on past Alderney then turned West towards Bray Harbour - our speed dropped from 10 knots to ZERO !!
I put the engine to full power - nothing - then we started moving slowly - BACKWARDS !!!!
I turned a bit towards North and we started to move forward slowly and then our speed built up bit by bit.
I had turned too soon - into the full force of the race - as we moved further from the corner we picked up more speed and I was able to reduce engine power - WOW !!
It was very lumpy as we moved towards Bray Harbour - I had to hand steer - then I lined up with the leading lights for the run into the harbour - they guide you in - clear of the submerged breakwater on your right and rocks on your left !! - we quickly got to smooth water inside - then I had to find one of the 90 mooring bouys in the pitch dark !! - I found no. 45 grabbed the strop first go walked it forward and dropped it onto the cleat - Another WOW !!
Straight to bed - crashed out again - woke at 3 am - felt OK - got a weather report on my phone - good - so we got ready - made a big flask of boiling water - checked the engine - dropped the mooring strop and set off for Yarmouth Isle of Wight - 70 miles away.
I used the leading lights and both plotters to follow the tight line out tidied up a bit - looked around in the pitch black and saw it - a green light with a white light in front of it - off to our left - quickly worked out that it was a big ship going across our path soon - I was trying to decide what action to take when I saw rapid flashes from the bridge - it is not in the book but it means get out of our way NOW.
I grabbed the helm hard over and turned round back into the approach channel for 5 minutes then I spun round back onto our proper course he had gone !!
Just a feint stern light in the distance - that was close !
We settled down to normal and the current built up pushing us towards the shipping lane - no fog again - so lucky - no moon - clear night - I could see the lights of Alderney for hours.
I had hoped that it would start to get light as we approached the shipping lanes but no - we were making fast progress.
My radar is defunct and my AIS is working but does not pick up distant targets - not easy - I peered into the night and saw a glow in the distance and decided to run parrallel to the lane - just outside.
The glow turned out to be a group of 4 ships that were soon passing us - good move !
After them I turned back to cross and the sky started to lighten up a bit - it made a massive difference.
I negociated 5 big ships - no problem then nothing for about 2 hours when we got into the west bound lane - again no bother - the ships were well spaced out easy in the sunshine - lovely.
The tide pushed us along right up about 15 miles off the needles - no wind so I set course to do the Needles channel.
It took forever to get there against the tide and it was just getting dark as I started to hand steer on high power through the very lumpy water and tight pilotage of the channel - hard work - but much better than last time in 30 knots of wind - massive swell !!
We were soon in calm water for the run up to Yarmouth - we turned in and found the marina full of mega yachts - here for a big firework display at midnight - NEW YEARS EVE !!
I was invited onto the 50 foot yacht next door - got cleaned up - walked into town - bought very - very nice bottle of champagne - had a bite to eat on Blazer - fell asleep - missed it all !!!
The weather is too windy for the next few days so I'm stuck here - no bother - I will catch up with my sleep and find that bad connection - its a great place to get stuck - the town is right here - next to the harbour.
No post for a few days until we reach Eastbourne.
The plan - Chichester - Eastbourne - Ramsgate - North Fambridge - with a stop in the River Roach on anchor - if I get to the river in the dark.
I am about half way on the 300 mile trip - doing really well.
Mike.
I decided not to renew the annual contract in Trebeurden due to the high cost and poor rate for Euros lately.
It is also expensive to travel there and 900 mile round trip to drive.
North Fambridge on the river Crouch is almost half the price and much easier to get to - there is also a station and cheap rail travel with a senior rail card.
Also - I haven't learned much French and not speaking the language is getting to be a pain,
So - we are on the way back !!
I checked the weather regularly and there seamed to be a window of a few days last week so when Fiona drove home to Cornwall on Wednesday, having had Christmas with us, I hitched a lift.
James very kindly drove me to Plymouth ferry terminal with my sack barrow and three holdalls.
I booked a cabin and slept really well - we docked in Roscoff on time and I took a taxi to Trebeurden marina - 140 Euros !
I quickly set Blazer up for the trip in warm sunshine - planned the first leg to Guernsey and set off the moment that the gate opened - 3 pm
Part of setting up was to be sure that the engine cooling system was clear of blockage and to test run the engine to prove all is OK - so I was shocked to find the temperature gauge right at the top straight away !!!
I used my infra red temperature tester to check the engine and it seemed fine so I pressed on.
It soon got dark - no moon - very dark - we passed the seven Isles then I set a course for Guernsey a total of 70 miles !
The wind picked up from nothing to 5 knots so I set the Genoa to help a bit.
Then the High temperature alarm started sounding - I tested again - Still OK - but I had to do something.
I left Blazer on autopilot and sail - switched off the engine and stripped the engine covers off and dismantled the cooling system - no problem found - so I fitted a brand new pump impellor - took out the thermostat and clamped the bypass hose to force all the cold sea water through the engine.
We were doing OK with the genoa and tide helping a bit - 2 knots in the right direction.
I restarted the engine and the alarm went off again !!
I retested the engine temperature - cold !!
It must be an electrical fault - I took the wire off the temperature sensor and the other alarm stopped sounding ?
It was then that I noticed the lights flickering just a tiny bit - I must have a bad connection somewhere but this was not the place to look for it !!
We pressed on - and on - I kept busy checking the two plotters - they both agreed and I kept adjusting the autopilot to stay bang on course.
It was strange not seeing anything outside the cockpit - lit up by the glow of the plotters - even with night setting switched on. The wake from our bow making a regular noise -rippling.
Then at about 2 am there was a big SPLASH !!
Then another - I couldn't see what it was but it kept doing it - then I heard it - a Dolphin breathing !!
They were on both sides - probably attracted by the stern light.
They stayed about 5 minutes then it all went quiet again - I never saw one - just the splashes - a bit scary!!
At 4am I lined up with the Little Rusell channel - crept up to St Peter Port - called control and he gave directions to get into Victoria marina - I was moored up by 5am - tired out !! 14 hours !!!
I crashed out and slept until 1pm - a lovely sunny and hot day - amazing.
I walked into town bought an almanac for next year - then planned the next leg to Alderney via the notorious Alderney race - the strongest tidal current in the Northern hemisphere especially at spring tides like today !!
We left as soon as there was enough water over the sill and it got dark straight away - the North going current built up slowly then faster and faster - we were doing 10 knots over the ground at one point.
Then I spotted an AIS target on the plotter - half a mile away doing 37 knots !! - I hope they have seen me!
I do have an electronic radar enhancer to make Blazer stand out on their radar - but they have to be looking.
They hurtled past about half a mile away and shot off into the dark night - amazing.
It must have been the fast cat from Cherbourg to Poole - Quite scary !!
I plodded on past Alderney then turned West towards Bray Harbour - our speed dropped from 10 knots to ZERO !!
I put the engine to full power - nothing - then we started moving slowly - BACKWARDS !!!!
I turned a bit towards North and we started to move forward slowly and then our speed built up bit by bit.
I had turned too soon - into the full force of the race - as we moved further from the corner we picked up more speed and I was able to reduce engine power - WOW !!
It was very lumpy as we moved towards Bray Harbour - I had to hand steer - then I lined up with the leading lights for the run into the harbour - they guide you in - clear of the submerged breakwater on your right and rocks on your left !! - we quickly got to smooth water inside - then I had to find one of the 90 mooring bouys in the pitch dark !! - I found no. 45 grabbed the strop first go walked it forward and dropped it onto the cleat - Another WOW !!
Straight to bed - crashed out again - woke at 3 am - felt OK - got a weather report on my phone - good - so we got ready - made a big flask of boiling water - checked the engine - dropped the mooring strop and set off for Yarmouth Isle of Wight - 70 miles away.
I used the leading lights and both plotters to follow the tight line out tidied up a bit - looked around in the pitch black and saw it - a green light with a white light in front of it - off to our left - quickly worked out that it was a big ship going across our path soon - I was trying to decide what action to take when I saw rapid flashes from the bridge - it is not in the book but it means get out of our way NOW.
I grabbed the helm hard over and turned round back into the approach channel for 5 minutes then I spun round back onto our proper course he had gone !!
Just a feint stern light in the distance - that was close !
We settled down to normal and the current built up pushing us towards the shipping lane - no fog again - so lucky - no moon - clear night - I could see the lights of Alderney for hours.
I had hoped that it would start to get light as we approached the shipping lanes but no - we were making fast progress.
My radar is defunct and my AIS is working but does not pick up distant targets - not easy - I peered into the night and saw a glow in the distance and decided to run parrallel to the lane - just outside.
The glow turned out to be a group of 4 ships that were soon passing us - good move !
After them I turned back to cross and the sky started to lighten up a bit - it made a massive difference.
I negociated 5 big ships - no problem then nothing for about 2 hours when we got into the west bound lane - again no bother - the ships were well spaced out easy in the sunshine - lovely.
The tide pushed us along right up about 15 miles off the needles - no wind so I set course to do the Needles channel.
It took forever to get there against the tide and it was just getting dark as I started to hand steer on high power through the very lumpy water and tight pilotage of the channel - hard work - but much better than last time in 30 knots of wind - massive swell !!
We were soon in calm water for the run up to Yarmouth - we turned in and found the marina full of mega yachts - here for a big firework display at midnight - NEW YEARS EVE !!
I was invited onto the 50 foot yacht next door - got cleaned up - walked into town - bought very - very nice bottle of champagne - had a bite to eat on Blazer - fell asleep - missed it all !!!
The weather is too windy for the next few days so I'm stuck here - no bother - I will catch up with my sleep and find that bad connection - its a great place to get stuck - the town is right here - next to the harbour.
No post for a few days until we reach Eastbourne.
The plan - Chichester - Eastbourne - Ramsgate - North Fambridge - with a stop in the River Roach on anchor - if I get to the river in the dark.
I am about half way on the 300 mile trip - doing really well.
Mike.
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