Another map – but you may need it!

Not the best photo – but here’s what things look like after a few weeks of sailing and getting back across the English Channel safely – a little red for a man with a beard! Pip pip,

N

In record time – 19 hours in total – leaving Honfluer at 19.00 hrs and arriving her at 14.00 hrs – sounds like a long time – but we just came right across the channel to Southampton. At fist there was no wind which was a bummer – but about 3.30am the other watch got the Genoa up and switched off the engine! We’d had a mishap trying to raise the main up outside of Le Havre when the main halyard got stuck in the mast light (that’s the line we use to raise the main sail). Needless to say with some ingenuity we managed to overcome this (my Father would have been very happy) and all was well. We also managed to get into trouble reefing the main just ahead of a squal – but once again we overcame adversity and all was well. We were able to speed along at 7.0 kts SOG (8.05 miles per hour Speed Over Ground) until we were forced to lower sail in the Solent between IOW and the Main Land. We’re now resting up at anchor in Osborn Bay ahead of creeping up into Ocean Village marina in Southampton.

I’ll post a wee photo later when I get proper connectivity!

I think 40 winks are in order! 

Pip pip,

N

So after a short 24 hrs in Honfluer – a seriously pretty place – rather touristy, but what am I – we will set out on this evening’s high water to cross back to the UK (it’s about 6 miles through the lock and down the Seine out to Le Havre) – heading to Southampton (may be via Chichester). We’re a bit short handed for this – only 4 of us – so the watches will be a little longer and the rest a little shorter! Winds seem a little light for the journey – but hopefully enough to sail with a full sail plan and get 6 plus knots out of her. Only about 6 hours of darkness – so a short night! More later.Pip pip, N

After a night in Fecamp (recommend you don’t make any effort to visit this one) – we just tied up in Honfluer up the Seine from Le Havre (and this looks like a real recommendation from what I can see from the docks). What a day’s sailing – we had it all! We started in rough seas and with winds Force 6 gusting force 7. For some strange reason we didn’t see any other boats this morning! With the seas calming and with the winds lightening we sailed beautifully. As we neared Le Havre (France’s busiest port) a squal came through and we had wind, rain and hail – with visability reducing to very poor and we got a right soaking – a proper wetting! Probably the worst visability I’ve ever skippered in. However – we made it through and now we’re inside and drying out. The boat sailed very nicely through the rough weather (so even if is it taking in some water – she seems to eat up the bigger seas and coped well  – with a second reef in the main and with 1/3 of the Genoa out -I know – enough sailing talk).

More tomorrow on what is going through my mind (and of course the much promised observations of Ramsagate), but now it’s off for a well earned beer before dinner!

Pip pip!

N

After a day of strong winds and quite some rain we eventual docked at 11.00pm local time here in Dieppe. Haven’t been here since we took the ferry from Newhaven with Ian and Debbie almost 30 years ago! Well who would have thought it! Heading on to Fecamp tomorrow – shorter day with strong winds forecast  – so time to sale leaving at 6.00am! Pip pip, N

Sails out and sailing at 8kts – life is good! Here comes the rain though!

Bonjour mes amis – greeting from Boulogne! My first entry into a French Port and after crossing the busiest shipping channel in the World! I thought the ferry business was dead (between England and the North French Coast – but apparently not).. As we brushed past Dover, about to start our transit over the Shipping Motorway (properly called – TSS – Traffic Separation Scheme) we encountered a gaggle of ferries (no idea what the collective noun is) coming out of or going into the port of Dover. I had confidently predicted things would be quiet until we turned to cross the channel – wrong! Anyway – we dealt with is and then crossed over the channel and over to La Belle France! We only had one ship call us up to let us know that he intended to “maintain HIS speed and course” (so stay out of his way) and we had a Coaster make a dramatic gesture of turning hard to go behind (or astern of) us (he didn’t need to or have to – but he did).

I have to say we did the journey from Chatham to Boulogne in record time – but without single puff of wind and so we had the motor the entire way. Not what we planned or wanted – but it was either that or we sat in Chatham for a couple of extra days – not a serious option – not in Chatham.

So here we are on Sunday morning after a night in the visitors Marina in Boulogne and a dinner of home made meat balls in a spicy Pesto and Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti – made by my own hand and all washed down with a couple of bottles of – Spanish Red (yes I know – but it was what we had and no-one felt like heading out to find a shop to buy local).

Now – a word about the boat we’re sailing. She’s what one might called gently aged! She is also what one might call – WET! While I cooked last night, our training skipper for this leg, Steve Ellis, emptied 10 full buckets out of the various bilges. Some of that was there when we got on and some came on board to join us as we came over. It’s not unusual for older boats to have water lying in their bilges and that’s what you have pumps for – but this seemed a little excessive and we don’t know whether most of it came from the last trip where they encounter significant rain and arrived into the Marina at 2.00 in the morning exhausted – but she had been there for the whole of last week and no-one thought to dry her out properly.. Steve isn’t pleased! Neither am I – because everything felt damp – but after the grand emptying last night and a night with all of the hatches open – she fells like a completely different boat. If you’re interested – she is an older Bavaria (hence the Bavaria Logo’s at the top of this page), built when Bavaria were less of a production builder.. She was built in 1999 and she raced the Fastnet that year. She is 46 feet in length (LOA) and just over 15 feet in breadth (beam).. I am told she sails very swell especially in strong winds! Hopefully we will see later this week and especially as we recross the channel on Thursday night bound for Southampton.

That’s it from me and Boulogne for now – I still intend to share some thoughts on the Port of Ramsgate at some point – it’s folks seem quite “interesting” – but that will have to come a little later!

Pip pip,
N

These two photos are of pretty much the same view. I took the second one this morning while moored up in Queenborough having breakfast after a very early start from Harty Ferry (3.45am)! Now let’s say you were drawn into coming here if you just saw the first one – and then how would you feel if you arrived during the day and found the second one! It’s a thought!

We overnighted in Ramsgate Harbor – more to come on Ramsgate a little later on a seperate page. As long as we don’t do anything stupid today – tomorrow we will emerge as an RYA qualified Coastal Skipper – and then we will be off to sea properly. The Theory Exams are done (and passed – quite well actually). Below is a photo (if it will upload – if not go on Google and find one for yourself – Wolverstone Marina!) from our anchorage the night before last. While only a few miles down from Ipswich – it was a beautiful River (The Orwell) and the area was outstandingly rural and beautiful. We ate at a “splendid” riverside inn (what a Joly place this!) called the But and Oyster. Pip pip!