Windy Brighton

Tuesday 12 July

The crew decided it was still too windy to continue the journey East, but the owners were expected back to the berth we’d borrowed (attracted by the pontoon padding), so the Marina staff asked us to move along one – not as easy as it sounds in a tricky crosswind and tidal eddies.  This took up a large chunk of the bright sunny morning, and gave me a few more scuffs on my hull – cursed skipper.  After lunch the Mate’s bike was set up so she could head into town, in a local monsoon, in search of a Waitrose to provision the galley to my usual standard.  Judging by the luggage lifted out of the panniers on her return, a bit of retail therapy snuck in there as well.  She made up for it though by giving my heads a good clean – ooohh that feels better.

Delightful visitors

Monday 11 July

Today I realised the new cushions were not for me at all, but souvenirs for two delightful young visitors who loved having the full guided tour around me inside and out, and were excited to hear of the crew’s lifestyle as liveaboards, and their plans to sail around the world.

Hitch hikers

The crew were up very early to a grey and damp morning, stowed and sorted me out for a day’s sailing, and were ready to weigh my anchor at 0630…except the engine refused to start again.  Skipper applied his usual tickle and we were off, over the infamous Bar that I now realise is just as lumpy in the wrong conditions as the crew had been warned about, and East towards Brighton.  Well, that’s what my compass was showing; visibility was about six boat lengths for most of the day – I couldn’t have told you if we were coastal cruising or crossing the Channel, but they seem to be able to navigate without any reference points.  They took me far enough offshore that the water was a bit deeper and the waves less steep, but the Mate still suffered a little of the old mal-de-mer, which gave her an excuse for an extended nap.

P1000102

A couple of racing pigeons hitch-hiked on my boom; one fell off soon after they arrived and returned to its usual method of passage, but the other remained almost all the way to Brighton – tenacious creature.

 

Need of another jump start of my engine resulted in us overshooting the entrance to the Marina, the lookout still hampered by poor visibility, and by the time the crew had the iron sail running and the white ones down, we had to motor 1.5M back in pretty big waves, the wind blowing straight onto the shoreline. Mate, on the helm, glanced back to see a wave the height of her shoulder bearing down on us, but of course I merely let it lift us up, slid over the top and on we went.  She brought us very smoothly into the sheltered waters of the entrance channel, and as it turns out this is the easier way into Brighton Marina, from the East, as the Western Breakwater extends further into the sea to provide shelter from the prevailing wind, making the opening much easier to see.  The visitors’ area was disguised by dredging vessels, so by chance we took a berth at the far end, away from the building work and the hubbub of entertainments.

After a little rest and a quick ‘happy hour’ tidy up I received two lovely ladies for a brief tour and visit, who then took the crew off along the Undercliff walk for fish and chips in Rottingdean.  Sadly the chippy was closed, so after a refreshing thirst quencher and quick bus ride back, they were treated to an excellent Italian supper in Zizzi on the marina instead.

…or old haunts?

Saturday 9 July

image2The Mate got the sewing machine out this morning, and used up some of the vast quantity of sewing and haberdashery she seems to have managed to smuggle aboard to make a couple of very cute cushions…as if I don’t have enough already.  The crew manoeuvred me safely out of the berth and we set off back to Chichester on a lovely broad reach: I do love to flick up my petticoatimage1s and romp along at seven knots or more.  I settled happily on my anchor for the night in my usual spot in Chichester Harbour, snoozing to the chorus of the late night water birds.

New horizons…

Friday 8 July

Mate disappeared again for the morning with a bag of laundry, while Skipper continued his quest for safe storage and stowage in my Tech Room.  After a lunch of homemade croque monsieur/madame with salad at the cockpit table, they went off on their bikes again, took the chain ferry across the River Medina and came back with a shiny new boat hook and two new sets of charts – looks like we’re finally going somewhere new and interesting!

East Cowes for fresh supplies all round

Thursday 7 July

So much for the summer weather – today I felt showers on my deck.  Skipper jumpstarted my engine, which seems to be necessary more frequently than it should be, and Mate steered me expertly out into the Solent in only two metres of water.  With very little wind I felt the pull of the tide and took us comfortably to the fuel dock in Cowes, and then across the river into East Cowes Marina.  I have a few bruises from a previous visit here, but this time Skipper took no chances and the crew tied me up safely in time to enjoy a delicious Spanish omelette with the last of the leftovers.  They wiggled the folding bikes out of my innards – the Technical Room Store, built them on the pontoon, and rode off to Waitrose for fresh supplies, returning for supper of fresh trout and cherry tart.  They took advantage of the excellent Marina facilities to freshen up me, and themselves, for a good night’s sleep.

Unwind at last

Wednesday 6 July

P1000097Another quiet day in Newtown Creek for the crew to begin to relax into their new lifestyle.  However, too little activity led to stiff and creaky bodies, so the yoga mat came out onto the foredeck and some stretching and exercises were performed in the sunset.  It’s good to anchor where possible to keep berthing costs down, but the crew does have to accept (for now) limitations to power and access to WiFi.

The morning after

Tuesday 5 July

The weather’s definitely warming up, and it actually feels like July.  All visitors dispatched, we left Yarmouth with only minor stress for my crew as they just managed to stop me bumping where I shouldn’t when the wind didn’t cooperate, and we motored East to Newtown Creek, still on the Isle of Wight, where they dropped my anchor on a sandbank, as revealed by the new chart plotter.  After a little shuffling when the water depth allowed, they let me settle to bask in beautiful sunshine and just a light breeze to keep me cool, while they came to realise that now they were really on their own with me, and our adventures are just beginning.  It’s very peaceful here, especially once the day boats have left, and I enjoyed the company of a pair of seals on the near shore.

Who’s half a century?

Monday 4 July

P1000093Seems like today was the second special day in a week in my world: Mate disappeared to the launderette while Skipper and Second Mate dressed me in a set of signal flags reading ‘Happy 50’ which made me look suitably festive.  Not sure if the pegged out washing improved my overall standing in the Harbour, but needs must when your crew live aboard.  A birthday picnic was packed and they all left me for a bus ride to the Needles for the view: shame it was thick low cloud and visibility up there of about five metres, but it sounded like it was a success anyway.  In the afternoon Second Mate’s younger brother arrived from the North Island by ferry, more presents were opened, cards read, texts shared and champagne drunk before the whole birthday party disappeared off for a wonderful celebratory meal at On The Rocks in Yarmouth, where I hear you cook your choice of steak or seafood on red hot volcanic stones.  A great time was had by all, who returned for birthday cake and MORE champagne, as I suppose you do when you’re half expecting a telegram from the Queen.

To Yarmouth across the Solent

Sunday 3 July

No sooner had I settled back in than it was time to set off again.  Second Mate was more alert this morning after a good rest yesterday, and helmed me very competently (after all, she has had OYT South training aboard John Laing, you know) down the Inner Swashway and West.  First Mate raised my lovely big mainsail into a grey and overcast sky, Skipper added the genoa for balance and off we romped into a sunny Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.  My crew were reminiscing about the wealth of experience they have gained sailing the lovely waters of the Solent over the last four years.  I’ve got some of the grazes to prove that, but some interesting miles under my keel too (a well-known nautical expression, not meant to be taken literally for this boat – see technical page: Ed).  The Mate’s mother had travelled from North Wales to join us aboard for supper, cooked by the Mate who seems to enjoy my galley facilities.  Tonight’s menu was fresh salmon pasta bake with cavolo nero stir fried in olive oil with garlic and cherry tomatoes, a lemon meringue roulade (thanks Waitrose) and a bottle of good Gavi.  Feels like the holidays are here!