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Cruise Report
Cornish Crabber Club - Solent Rally 2015
Wednesday 24th June - Portland- Dartmouth
After an early cup of tea aboard Summer Breeze, and tea and toast aboard Sally Lightfoot, we left our berths at Portland Marina at 0430hrs. This would give us an 0600hrs arrival at Portland Bill - perfect timing for a perfect rounding of the Inner Passage. We both motored down to the Bill, one other yacht emerged from Weymouth with the same plan in mind. The dawn was beautiful, the SW winds were light for a change, and the sea was calm, although the southbound flow to the Bill became quickly evident. One is warned of lobster pots aplenty on this track, and some even below the water, being dragged down by the strength of the current. The warnings were correct. We saw many, including just one under water. To have one of those foul our propeller would have been very inconvenient. At 0600hrs dead we rounded Portland Bill. We were close in, but could have been closer. We were perhaps 100 yards off the Bill. Sally Lightfoot followed shortly after us. We then turned slightly North to avoid being dragged into the remains of the race and then set course for Dartmouth. After a few hours we were joined by school of dolphins who swam with us for a while. Nimble fish they are too, as they weaved under and around Summer Breeze. We sailed and motor sailed across Lyme Bay making steady progress until around 1030 when we were suddenly enveloped in thick fog. I have sailed in fog before. It is a most disconcerting feeling. The lack of any horizon plays tricks on the eye. It makes for immense concentration, and therefore fatigue sets in more quickly than it otherwise might. Terry and I had adopted a watch system of one hour on, one hour off. We did not use the autohelm, preferring to sail ourselves. The fog lasted a considerable time. Sally Lightfoot and Summer Breeze maintained regular contact on VHF, to ensure that each was OK. We also spoke with other vessels nearby who were able to pass on useful information.
After an early cup of tea aboard Summer Breeze, and tea and toast aboard Sally Lightfoot, we left our berths at Portland Marina at 0430hrs. This would give us an 0600hrs arrival at Portland Bill - perfect timing for a perfect rounding of the Inner Passage. We both motored down to the Bill, one other yacht emerged from Weymouth with the same plan in mind. The dawn was beautiful, the SW winds were light for a change, and the sea was calm, although the southbound flow to the Bill became quickly evident. One is warned of lobster pots aplenty on this track, and some even below the water, being dragged down by the strength of the current. The warnings were correct. We saw many, including just one under water. To have one of those foul our propeller would have been very inconvenient. At 0600hrs dead we rounded Portland Bill. We were close in, but could have been closer. We were perhaps 100 yards off the Bill. Sally Lightfoot followed shortly after us. We then turned slightly North to avoid being dragged into the remains of the race and then set course for Dartmouth. After a few hours we were joined by school of dolphins who swam with us for a while. Nimble fish they are too, as they weaved under and around Summer Breeze. We sailed and motor sailed across Lyme Bay making steady progress until around 1030 when we were suddenly enveloped in thick fog. I have sailed in fog before. It is a most disconcerting feeling. The lack of any horizon plays tricks on the eye. It makes for immense concentration, and therefore fatigue sets in more quickly than it otherwise might. Terry and I had adopted a watch system of one hour on, one hour off. We did not use the autohelm, preferring to sail ourselves. The fog lasted a considerable time. Sally Lightfoot and Summer Breeze maintained regular contact on VHF, to ensure that each was OK. We also spoke with other vessels nearby who were able to pass on useful information.
Thursday 25th June - Saturday 27th June - Dartmouth.
Whilst the rally was now well and truly over, we decided to stay in Dartmouth for a few days before Graham and Pat would sail further West, and Terry and I would sail back to Chichester on Sunday 28th. By pure chance our arrival in Dartmouth coincided with the South West OGA’s annual Start Bay Race and Rally. Terry and I went to the briefing and opening supper at the Dartmouth Yacht Club, and whilst there we decided to enter the race planned for Saturday afternoon.
Whilst the rally was now well and truly over, we decided to stay in Dartmouth for a few days before Graham and Pat would sail further West, and Terry and I would sail back to Chichester on Sunday 28th. By pure chance our arrival in Dartmouth coincided with the South West OGA’s annual Start Bay Race and Rally. Terry and I went to the briefing and opening supper at the Dartmouth Yacht Club, and whilst there we decided to enter the race planned for Saturday afternoon.
As we neared the Mewstone off Dartmouth, our hopes were raised as the fog began to clear and we could actually see the famous rock. Our risen hopes did not last long - the fog returned, and we were left with no option but to enter Dartmouth Harbour using instruments only. Having earlier plotted all of our waypoints we were pleased that we had. As we entered the narrow gap between the two castles mid-afternoon, we could only just see one of them! We entered the Harbour and the skies cleared and we felt content that we were now within the confines of the River Dart. We berthed at Darthaven Marina on the Kingswear side of the river.
After a good rest and wash-up, we prepared for the originally planned supper at the Royal Dart Yacht Club, where we were hosted by local C26 owner Jayne Rawlins, who could not have been kinder to all of us, and made us feel very welcome in the West Country.
After a good rest and wash-up, we prepared for the originally planned supper at the Royal Dart Yacht Club, where we were hosted by local C26 owner Jayne Rawlins, who could not have been kinder to all of us, and made us feel very welcome in the West Country.