After two days resupplying and meeting my mum, stepdad and uncle, I cast of from the marina late morning and made my slow way down the Solent. Winds were light to non existent but I had plenty of time so resisted the urge to turn on the engine. Tacking back and forth across a busy shipping channel is fun. A couple of times I turned off the wind to allow big ships to pass. I don’t think the rule power gives way to sail applies when the sail is a tiny boat and the power is a container ship.
I am anchored off Calshot for the night. The wind is forecast from the North so although its a bit bumpy as ships pass and currents are strong, I will be sheltered from the wind. I will be monitoring the anchor alarm a lot while here.
Queen Mary 2View from the anchorageCar transporter
Today I sailed to Southampton to resupply and pick up some deliveries. I will be at Town Quay Marina for two nights. The wind was very calm today which meant I had to motor some of the way. Some interesting sights on the way, including a tall ship at anchor.
No more waiting, conditions this morning were flat calm with no wind, so up went the main for the first time so I could check out everything. The third reefing line was missing and the two spares aboard are too short. I used one of the spares but terminated it at the first reef cleat. That will do for now, if I need the third reef, there will be enough free line to reach its proper cleat, its only when the sail is fully up that the reef line is fully extended.
By lunchtime the wind started to rise so we were off. I motored out of the harbour and tried to raise the main, it jammed about 2 foot from the top. It was fine earlier but there was no pressure on the sail then. I lowered it and reclipped to a second position at the head of the sail, up she went, no problem. A few minutes sailing with just the main and I felt ready to unfurl the genoa, I quickly found the sheets needed repositioning outside one of the stays, that done and we were off.
Lady Cindy was predictable and well behaved and although I made no effort to trim the sails, she sailed well. The tell tales were all over the place but I did not care, we were doing 6.5 knots in about 15 knots of wind varying from close hauled to beam reach and I was happy with that.
I should have stayed out longer but I came in with the tide going out at full race. I nearly turned around but decided to plough on, lets see if she can do this. I throttled up and although the speed through the water read 6 knots, I think we were actually doing 1 knot ground speed. The garmin GPS instrument was not showing speed over ground, I need to see if I can configure it to do so, it was ok when I was tracking a route so I know it can do it.
I had chance to practice my radio skills today, a yacht ran aground about 500m away from where I am anchored. I first heard about it on Channel 16 (emergency channel) from a conversation between a rib reporting the grounding and the coast guard. I followed them to channel 67 and after their conversation, I cut in reporting I could see the vessel and monitor it until it refloats on the incoming tide. The Coastguard have been calling me hourly to check on the situation.
Who put that sand bar there?
I decided not to raise the sails today, the winds were high this morning, the weather gods obviously had a different forecaster than me, more importantly the wind was from the north and freezing. I decided to stay put and do some odd jobs around the boat and have a chill out day reading in the warm cabin.
I think Dotty has hurt her hip again, probably while sliding around the deck yesterday, the rest will do her good as well.
I left Deacons marina at 10am and headed across the river to get some fuel at premier marinas… none left 😳 ok there is another one near the entrance to the hamble, I’ll phone them as they need an appointment. Booked in for 12.30 so off down the river I went. I arrived around 11.45 but was told they are taking a delivery and nobody allowed on the fuel pontoon while they transfer fuel, so come back in an hour. I tied up across the river and had a cup of tea. An hour later I returned, still delivering, be another hour 😳. Back across the river for a coffee this time. The marina phoned me to apologise and said they would call back when ready. It turns out they had a problem with a valve. £100 lighter, and 90 litres heavier in fuel, I was off.
I decided not to raise the sails today, 20knot winds with squalls gusting up to 40 knots were forecast, not the day for a solo sailor to raise the sails for the very first time on an unfamiliar boat. I decided to motor all the way and boy am i glad I did. Two squalls hit me, one just after Portsmouth that heeled the boat with bare poles, the second as I just entered Chichester Harbour. Luckily it had mostly blown through by the time I set the anchor.
A squall passing through near Portsmouth
Setting the anchor was not without problems but I did it, and so far it seems to be holding. Another squall has just blown through so I we passed that test. First the anchor chain jammed in the winch, it looks like a guide is bent so the chain can get under it, I will look tomorrow, it may need what is technically called a whack, with a precision instrument called a hammer. The second problem was the chain jammed in the pipe to the chain locker, simple fix but nerve wracking to go below when the anchor is half down.
So I think today was a success, all the instruments worked, including speed through the water. I ran most of the way using the autopilot which worked like a charm. Neither dotty nor I was seasick despite the conditions and I arrived safely. Tomorrow and the next few days look ideal for a novice sailer, sailing solo for the first time, on a new (to me) boat to practice sailing. Light winds and sunny conditions 😎
After several days of more work on the boat including fitting a new radio, dressing the new wiring, organising and cleaning cupboards, plus selling the car, I finally felt ready to take Lady Cindy out for a run down the river and back. All went well, the speed through water is not working but everything else worked great.
I got her up to 6.2 knots when I reached Southampton water, that was not full throttle but fast enough for me. She was comfortably doing about 4.5 to 5 knots at revs that felt about right (she has no rev counter). No pictures I’m afraid, I wanted to focus on the boat and it’s a narrow channel with lots of other boats moving about. I did misjudge docking though and touched the boat behind me, luckily no damage done but it was embarrassing.
Tomorrow I move the boat across the river to Deacons boat yard as its a bit cheaper. I need to be tied to the Dock another week and will hire a car on the 2nd to go back to Wales for my covid jab. Lockdown restrictions eased on Monday so I no longer need to rely on the goodwill of marina staff to sleep aboard.
