Home once more

We are now at home for a couple of weeks having spent a very enjoyable few nights in Lyme Regis on a sailing rally.

Lyme is one of our favourite ports of call and it did not disappoint. Having sailed round Portland Bill from Weymouth we arrived at Lyme about an hour before high water so could safely enter and tie up. Lyme harbour dries completely at low tide so is not accessible, in fact when they launch the lifeboat the trailer almost reaches the harbour entrance before launching is possible.

While we were there Lifeboat week started and we were kept entertained by the various activities arranged by them. In addition to this we also had a game of bowls and a game of pitch and putt.

Now we are home we can report that so far this year we have visited 28 different harbours/towns/anchorages in Half Time, spent 87 nights on board and covered just over 800 miles.

We hope to be back on the boat by mid August and be out exploring again.

Now we are in Weymouth

We arrived in Weymouth at about lunchtime on Sunday 18th July after a very early start from Yarmouth. We left our berth at 05.00 and headed out into the Solent, quickly being caught by the tide and swept towards the Needles Channel. Having seen the turbulence in the Solent there was no way we were going near to the Needles so headed west as soon as Hurst Castle had been passed through an inshore channel. . From then on the seas just mounted, getting bigger and bigger. We slogged on with a reef in the mainsail and no jib, motorsailing just to punch into the waves. Fortunately the tide was in our favour as we ticked off the headlands, very rough off Anvil point and quite docile off St Albans Head where we had expected the worst seas. Forty miles later the seas moderated as we entered between the two piers of Weymouth Harbour entrance Arriving at Weymouth the sun came out and we had a leisurely afternoon in the cockpit with fish and chips on board for dinner.
We hope that boat handling skills in Weymouth are an improvement on Yarmouth where they seemed to be appalling. Examples included the following. A sailing school boat came in to berth behind us. It hit a yacht moored beyond the spot he was coming into, quite a clout. Never mind, I’ll try again he must have thought and backed out for another go at berthing. Bang went his boat into the same moored boat again. I was pleased to see he did at least admit to the harbour staff what had happened. Another boat, when leaving his berth did not look at all before heading away from the pontoon. He swung out immediately in front of the boat coming in causing it to swerve to miss him then give full astern before hitting another boat moored in front. In turn the two boats following him in had to take evasive action also.....mayhem! Another boat, a Grand Soleil 47ft with just two on board (do they really need all that space) came in and tied up on a long section of vacant pontoon. Over the next 30 minutes or so they then moved the boat a couple of feet at a time along the pontoon towards the stern of a moored boat further along. Each time they moved all lines were secured and inspected by the skipper and adjustments made. I could not believe how long they took especially as other boats were waiting to tie up. All very entertaining though.
We hope to be in Weymouth for three of four nights before heading on to Lyme Regis for a sailing rally, weather permitting of course.

Now on Isle of Wight

On Sunday we headed back to the UK before some forecast stronger winds arrived later in the week. After a twelve and a half hour passage we passed The Needles and entered the Needles Channel, hurtling along at up to ten and a half knots due to the strong tide there. I would hate to get the timing wrong and try to go against it.
We tied up at Yarmouth before going ashore for a meal (Wheatsheaf Inn, good food) shortly to be followed by a good nights sleep.
We are to explore the Island for a few days but as always keep a watch on the weather heading our way.
Our first day back in the UK and we woke to rain!. We decided to go for a bus trip and visit the Needles Battery and on the way there on the bus we brought a tree down. Our driver was just pulling out to pass a parked car on the side of the road, doing about 2 mph and the top of the front of the bus caught the branch of a tree. A loud snap followed and the tree fell down across the road. As it was an open topped bus all (including us) on the top deck could see that the tree was rotten and from the many photos that were taken there was plenty of proof that the tree was rotten. We walked the last couple of miles to the battery along the Tennyson Way across the downs which we would never have done if the tree had not fallen and blocked the road. Later we visited Newport by bus to see the berthing arrangements if we decide to visit there as well later in the week.

Not every day you bring down a tree !

Now in Cherbourg

From Guernsey we decided to visit Sark which we had previously visited as day trippers two years ago when the weather was too bad to visit in our own boat. This time we would pick up a mooring on the eastern side of the island in a cove sheltered from the west winds that were forecast. We had a good sail across and went straight to the moorings. Unfortunately instead of the twenty moorings that all the pilot books mention there are now only six or seven and these were all taken. We picked up a private mooring and waited. When one became vacant we rushed to get it as another boat was doing the same as us. It was a race to see who could drop their existing mooring and get to the vacant visitors mooring first.....we beat them, hooray.
After a celebratory coffee we headed ashore and went for a good walk to the main harbour on the island. On returning to the boat we found that a considerable swell had built in our absence and she was rolling a lot. After not a good night’s sleep (for Sue anyway) we decided to leave as we could not face another night in those conditions. We had intended to stay a second night to explore the island more but that will have to be another time.
We headed off to Alderney once the tide turned in our favour and arrived mid afternoon after quite a slow passage. After our experience of the previous night we picked up a mooring rather than anchor as the anchorage looked a little rolly, we had a good night’s sleep.
Alderney is our favourite Channel Island and we were happy to spend a few days there, enjoying the tranquillity and beauty of the island which was enhanced by some glorious sunshine each day. Time on the beach (don’t ask Sue about my method of getting changed but the beach was quiet)we spent the time walking and exploring all adding up to a totally enjoyable visit.
Time marches on and we came to Cherbourg yesterday (Thursday) and are now in the main marina here catching up with chores such as washing, boat maintenance etc. Fresh croissants with coffee for breakfast today started the day off well.
We had a busy few days (shopping) and lazing around the boat and getting to know owners of other visiting boats before checking on the weather in the local yacht club before deciding that it might be a good time to head back across the channel to take advantage of what looks like could be the last of the south westerlies...................

The next few days

A couple of days was enjoyed in Granville where we were treated to continuing superb weather, blue skys, sunshine and very little wind. Granville is quite a pleasant town to wile away the time although Sue was devastated to find that the ice cream parlour that had been recommended had closed. A G & T back on board was the only way that I could console her.

After two days here we all headed off to St Helier on Jersey. No wind to speak of so on with the iron topsail again (engine). We arrived just as the marina opened and went straight in to our berths.

After a couple of days in Jersey at St Helier marina we decided to head to St Peter Port on Guernsey. Not only did this give us more choice as to where to head next but we actually prefer St Peter Port to St Helier. It has a more compact friendly feel to it, St Helier is a little too large and busy for us.

This passage gave us the opportunity again to play 'chicken' with the high speed catamarans who ply their trade in the area. Travelling at up to 40 knots (nearly fifty mph) they thunder their way across the water causing havoc with small boats in their way. We all survived !!

Eonmor being chased.......she missed

Once more we had flat calm seas for our passage of about six hours and reached the marina t Guernsey in ample time for the sill to cover and allow our entrance. Once tied up we headed for the local, excellent fish and chip shop and carried copious quantities back for the four boats crews to enjoy along with the compulsory drinks. We had expected to be left in St Peter Port by the other boats in the group on Friday but they changed their plans and now plan to depart at 02.00 on Saturday morning to ensure arrival back in Devon on daylight. We have the luxury of staying on and have decided (at the moment) to spend a few more days on Guernsey but watching the weather forecasts carefully.