Wednesday 29 June - Hanging out in Holland

Sunset in Vlissingen

The Sun which had set so beautifully rose again, bright and warm, and found us well rested and relaxed in the scenic backwater of VVW Schelde, just yards away from the first major lifting bridge of the Walcheren canal. It was a slow morning - breakfast on board in the cockpit, coffees at the clubhouse, re-arranging the boat, sorting out internet, catching up on emails, and generally relaxing in the sunshine until an al-fresco lunch again on board.

Then after the obligatory short snooze, it was off on foot for the 30-minute stroll into town. We checked out the more central "Arsenaal" marina, to which we may return on the boat, and explored some of the sights, stopping for refreshments and some supplies before returning. More relaxing, dinner on board, cocktails at the bar, a couple of hands of cards, admiring another lovely sunset, and settle down for the night. Where would you get it?

Tuesday 28 June Dover to Vlissingen, 90nm

"Cruising in Company, as we haven't done it before"



A near neighbour in Dover



Leaving the white cliffs of Dover

 One of the good things about shipping lanes is that there is very little trouble with fishing pots to get tangled up in your propellers. However, as the day proved, there are other challenges, especially when the fog rolls in........

The morning started fine, as forecast, F1/2, sun, some showers, and good tides starting from around 1000 BST. After a leisurely breakfast we made for the fuel dock and took on another 202 litres of diesel (£222), and tried, unsuccessfully to pump out the waste - airlock, we think. Our passage plan was simple: East of Dover, cross the separation zone, Oost Dyck, Scheur channel, and  Vlissingen entrance.

We had plenty of company throughout the voyage, starting with a couple of ferries at the Dover entrance.

0940   Clear Dover on 090deg. Flat sea, bright, clear. 2800 17/17.
1005   Shipping lane. Alter course to 135, crossing at right-angle.
           Some swell on a rippled surface. Hot sun. Perfect!
1020   Out of sep. zone. Course to Oost Dyck (OD1) 39m-062deg.
1045   32m-062 to OD1.13 ships in view.Great conditions. Gill  reports that the newly-installed exhaust smoke baffle now makes sunbathing in the cockpit much more pleasant.
1115   23nm at 061 to OD1. Temp  90/90, oil 60/60, fuel 3/4-3/4.Excellent conditions.V.slight, sunny.
GPS signal sometimes drops out on PC, needing a re-start - main unit OK- stronger  antenna?
1145   15m-062 to OD1.  AOK.  2800 17.4/17.7.  Visibility 5m.
1200   Mist. Visibility less than 2m. Radar range set at 3m. No targets.
1215   AOK. No targets.   OD1 6m at 063 deg.
1235   At Oost Dyck. 1 ship at 3m off bearing 330. Set course for Vlissingen entrance (VE)
1245   11 ships on radar, none closing.
1300   AOK.  Flat calm.  Vis now back to 2m. 17/17.5.  VE 34m at 085deg.
1335   Mist lifting. (out of fog bank)  Vis 4m.  Busy shipping. At Scheur channel 1&2.
1400   17.5m to VE.  Very busy.  AOK. 15.4/17log. 1430   9m to VE.  Calm sea, but heavy wakes from 1400   nearby passing ships.
1500   Strong adverse current.  13.3sog/17log. At Weilingen no 9.
1530   Exiting Vlissingen lock - immediate entry, following local yacht. Easy chains, low fenders.
1545   Tied up on alongside pontoon, drinking tea!  Engines 850, fuel 5/16-3/8,  water 1/4.

A companion at sea

Boy racers?

  Thunder imminent, very warm and close. Sort out ropes and gear, relax.  Excellent early dinner at VVW Schelde Clubhouse ("best ever", says Gill), served by very  friendly young lady. First lessons in Dutch!  Sunset drinks and early to bed......

Monday 27 June, Brighton to Dover 65nm









5000 litres, please





The morning got off to a very early start (too much excitement?),



A lurid Dover sky



 and very nice weather. Al fresco breakfast, a visit to the very-well kept shower facilities, and then a leisurely stroll around the Marina boardwalk and nearby shops & supermarket. We found the REEBOK outlet store and snapped up a few bargains (Gill said if she had known, she wouldn't have packed so much). Scorchingly hot around noon.  Lunch on board, and then a quick dash to the fuel berth, as we heard that 2 Navy ships were heading in for fuel. Problems with the pumps required a 1-hour filling session!

Forecast F3 variable becoming westerly. 

1525   Clear Brighton

1545   Passing Newhaven lighthouse. 2800 16.2/15.6 log. Vis 10m, Slight, F2, AOK, clouding.

1615   Beachy Head. AOK.

1645   On course 22m to Dungenness(Dngs). 15.9/15, Beautiful! V.slight sea, Cloudy, AOK. Below, Gill is preparing dinner, doing boatwork and even a little laundry - so rare to be able to do this

at sea.

1715   14m to Dngns. Temp 87/85,oil 60/60,fuel 3/4-13/16. Cloudy. 2800 17/18.

1745   6m to Dngns. Warm, calm, 15/15. Wind indicator not reading, even at speed?

1810   Dungenness.  Dover 17nm. AOK.

1830   Adverse tide - 14.5/16.5log. Lots of pots. 12nm to Dover entrance (DE)

1920   Arrive Dover offong. Permission granted ch 74. 

1930   Tied up in Granville dock, Dover marina -£20.70 per night.

2000 Already! 2-course dinner served on board ("one I prepared earlier")

Clear up, wash off some salt from windows, and off to an early bunk. Tomorrow, with such a good forecast,the plan is now reverted to the original "plan A", to go straight to Holland, instead

Dungenness power station

of breaking the journey by diverting to Dunquerke.  (Maybe with a bit more time, I will learn how to format the page in Blog properly)

Sunday 26 June...Yarmouth to Brighton 60nm



"When someone hands you a lemon, add sugar and make lemonade".....  This little bon mot was good advice when, after all our waiting, we woke on Sunday morning to thick fog. So, we postponed our planned departure until mid-afternoon, and spent the morning on the boat, with lots of visits, calls and texts from well-wishers, followed by a super Sunday roast at the Westbay Country Club.

A murky Portsmouth to Port

No Mans Land Fort in the mist

Forecast: Fog clearing, F3/4 SW, tides ok until arrival around 7pm(bst).

1515   Clear Yarmouth

1520   Windscreen wiper adrift, lodged in frame! refit & resume. 2600rpm,15sog, sun, light, AOK

1545   Off Gurnard. Passing the Dutch boat we spoke to kast week, now returning from Weymouth.

1600   At Ryde Middle. Like Piccadilly Circus-on-sea!

1645   Dean Tail. Moderate sea, 2700rpm, 14.6sog. AOK (all ok). Fine but fog bank to South.

1705   Looe gate.  2700 14.4sog/14.8log. fuel 3/4-7/8.

1730   On course 22nm to B'ton. Sea building up.

1800   15nm to B'ton. Slight to moderate, good vis, fine, AOK, increase revs to 2900, 17k sog.

1900    Arrive Brighton entrance.

1915   Tied up, rafted one out (returning boats from IOW race). Greetings from LSC member.

Marina fee £26 inc. Nice dinner at "Memories of India". Check out wi-fi dongle. Crash out.

   

20 June - Where's the Weather?

Tim and Liz show us how

 

It's Monday, June 20th, and we are still in port at Yarmouth! The wind has been unceasing for weeks, it seems, and by the way things are looking we will remain "blown-in" until Saturday. However, life is anything but dull. Normally, we head off immediately after the Gaffers Festival, but this year, our friends Liz & Tim were married on June17, so we were happy to delay our departure to share in their big day. And a lovely day it was, in spite of relentless rain, which lasted from morning to night. This may have dampened the tour of their garden, and the planned open-air hog roast, but the atmosphere in the marquee was terrific. A great day!

At the Marina Opening Event

The day after the wedding, we attended the"Official" opening of the new harbour development (some locals don't like to call it a "Marina")
This was a pleasant affair attended mainly by the walk-ashore residents, senior Harbour staff, and some of the main players from the development team. Afterwards, we had coffees on the boat, and I talked to the skipper of a large Dutch motor-cruiser (blown in, like ourselves). They were 2 weeks into a 6-week outing towards the West Country, and we were able to exchange some "local knowledge" - he had not been sure about the Needles Channel, and he was able to give us some insight into the charts we would need in Holland, plus some facts about Amsterdam approaches.

In passing, I should record also that, in between Gaffers and the wedding, we had gone off on a 4-day Bridge course at the Womens' Institute (!) college near Oxford , where we had an enjoyable and stimulating time. (Gill had won a bursary at  the local W.I, so it seemed a good way to fill in "the gap")

Old Gaffers Festival, 2011

Middlewatch from opposite  (note the "floating beer cooler")

Party Time!

The harbour is full of old gaff-riggers, flags and bunting fluttering from every shroud and spar. The town is alight with music and entertainers, either in the huge marquee on the quay, or all over the town square. "Officially", Gaffers is the first port of the Summer Cruise, and this year we were joined by daughters Hayley & Nuala and Brother Ray with his wife Eilis and two friends John & Sue from Portsmouth. Much partying, a few (!) beers and sing-songs late into the night. A great weekend!

Family group with local friends Sue & John

Drinks at the Yacht Club

Thursday, we had an evening at Westward,  Friday a table at "On the Rocks" (always a great favourite), and on Saturday night, while Ray & party dined at "The George" we were joined on MiddleWatch by our friends Sue & John. The weather which had been very poor in the run-up, was excellent, although it did start to act up a bit on the Sunday. However, all the visitors left early, except for Hayley, who stayed for lunch.