SELENE - CAPTAINS LOG

January - May 2008

Malcolm’s 70^th Birthday Party 12 January 2008

We went with Keith and Lorna to Malcolm’s 70^th Birthday party and had a wonderful day out. There were three distinct crowds: the locals - mainly the Twinning crowd, family and sailing friends. What was great for Julia and I was that everyone knew who we were, so we’ve obviously been talked about!

Jon and Rhiannon played some music and I gave a “Best Man” type speech. It was a really good do, and a great time was had by one and all.

Lorna kindly drove, and we stayed overnight at theirs. I did the cooking with Lorna as my assistant.

Delivering Seagull to Hamble Point Marina 26 January 2008

I crewed Keith in Seagull for her final voyage from Haslar to Hamble Point Marina, where she is going on the hard to be sold. It blew a good 5-6 WNW  going W by Fawley and the sun shone - it was a wonderful day for sailing. Keith and I shared the helming and it was a great experience to sail a 41 footer for the first time. (Hansa 411)

Julia and Lorna went shopping and met us at Hamble Point just after we arrived.

RSYC Rally to Bucklers Hard 2/3 February 2008

Julia and I went down late Friday as the tides, although neaps required a reasonably early night. It was pretty cold, so Mr. Eberspacher was very busy all weekend.

It was a cold and lovely day Saturday morning and we had a really great beat over to Cowes, where we went to the Royal Corinthian and met APB for lunch. Good lunch - nice club - it was our first time there even though we have reciprocal membership through the RSYC.

We then motored over to the Beaulieu River entrance and up to Bucklers Hard. We learned that the lead boat had cancelled due to the forecast for gales on Sunday, but as well as us, there were Peter and Wendy in Ear to Eternity and later Moonfleet arrived as well.

We were treated to afternoon tea on Ear to Eternity (they had Graham and Sally with them) and after a shower, we went back for the drinks party. All the car arrivals found the drinks party, and we then went up to the Master Builder for dinner. A bit cramped and very slow service, but an enjoyable evening nonetheless.

The 1800 Inshore weather forecast was even worse than before, and the 0600 was no better suggesting 5-7 occasionally gale 8 or severe gale 9. I had thought to leave early and eat some tide to try and get ahead of the wind, but by 0700 it was strong anyway. So we waited till later and so we only had a small amount of foul tide to Cowes.

It felt very windy coming down the river, but I was expecting a reach from the entrance. However, on arrival the wind had gone SE, so we had to beat. At this point the wind was mainly F6 but with frequent gusts into F7/8, so we only put the jib up, but made good progress, coping with the gusts better than had we had any main out.

As we went past Cowes the tide was turning, and the wind and the sea really got up. It was then mainly F7 all the way to Portsmouth being mainly 31/32 knots - again we had to beat, and by now the sea was quite nasty - obviously being the Solent the waves weren’t big, but a short chop that kept stopping us. In any event, Selene sailed very well under jib and we were making 5/6 knots when we weren’t slammed. It was a fantastic sail despite the fury, and I had a huge grin on my face!

Approaching Gilkicker, I could see that there were amazing waves along the Haslar bank, and it was still just a reach. All you could see were clouds of spray where the water’s edge should have been and breaking waves about 400m off.

As I didn’t fancy running off along the Haslar bank to drop the jib, and coming up to weather wasn’t a nice option either, we dropped the jib ahead of Gilkicker by running off it came down easily  and then we motored in along the Haslar Bank.

Well I have never seen breaking waves along there, but that’s what we had. The wind was mainly 34/35 knots and coming straight at us from 90 degrees. About 400m from the Harbour entrance a huge one came right through the cockpit! It was very hard to steer, so we didn’t use the small boat channel, and came right through the middle!

Well we never saw F9, so that was good but berthing was hard, as the wind was just blowing the bow right off. It was a great sail, which we both thoroughly enjoyed, although it was a but tiring.

Gins Opening Party 9/10 February 2008

Saturday dawned cold and bright, and after a whizz around Gosport Market, waiting for the tide to turn, we set off downwind in the sun, and by now at 1145 it was quite warm.

The chute went up off Gilkicker and we sailed downwind right into the entrance of the Beaulieu River. It was glorious. Although it was sailing well, some of the strings had got themselves in a muddle, so I took some time to sort them out. Unfortunately, on one re-hoist, the lines got stuck near the sheave. I heaved and heard a great crash right next to me where the radar reflector had come crashing down - very lucky it didn’t hit me! It obviously was very twisted up there and had somehow got itself around this.

Anyway, apart from an expensive bill to get a new one, as it’s well smashed, no harm done, and a very enjoyable sail. We had the upstream end of the pontoon to ourselves as the others booked in never showed, and we enjoyed a pleasant evening’s supper. We were sat with Lance and Kay, who are always great fun, and it was a good night out.

One of Robin’s guests was Paul Jackson, who is an Estate Agent and has an office on the cobbles at Lymington. He is a member at the Royal Lymington, and the Royal Thames, and it was very good to meet him. I look forward to looking him up when we are next in Lymington.

We left the Eberspacher on low all night as it was so cold and Sunday dawned just as sunny. There was a lovely gentle breeze - just enough to sail on, and as we were in no rush and had plenty of tide, we enjoyed the sail. Even beating down the Beaulieu River.

Once out into the Solent, it really was glorious. Not as warm as the Saturday, but lovely. The tide turned as we got close to Gilkicker so we motored in from there. Had a coffee with Steve and Liz who came round, and packed up and came home. What a contrast to the previous weekend!

Gins Murder Mystery Evening 15/16 March 2008

Saturday morning, we collected Selene from Gosport Boat Yard after the lift-out for anti-foul and a superb polish that makes the hull shine. We motored round to Haslar, and I loaded up and got ready while Julia did some shopping.

We then had a great sail downwind to Gins enjoying some nice gusts. We then changed into our outfits for the evening. It was a Murder Mystery Evening set in 1924, so I went as Bertie Wooster and Julia a “Flapper”. We had a great evening sat between the new Commodore Colin and his wife Julia on one side and Peter and Wendy on the other. (Peter and Wendy came to the Wylds for Sunday lunch and a stroll around the estate the Sunday before)

Julia looked superb, and we won the prize for the best couple in fancy dress! (Julia is holding the prize bottle of champagne)

The forecast wasn’t great in the morning so we left an hour earlier than planned and took a windy reach back before the winds really strengthened and the rain came in. We had a single reef in and were doing 7 knots and enjoying a little surfing too. We both really enjoyed the sail back, and I was quite tired from playing the main through the gusts.

Looking forward to Easter now.

Portsmouth & Lymington 21/22/23 March 2008 (Easter)

Neil joined us on Thursday night aboard Selene and I cooked us sausages. We were all exhausted from work and travelling. Cherbourg became impossible as the forecast gales came, so the Thursday night departure was canned.

I had thought we might go to Poole instead, but come Friday Morning, there were gusts in the 50+ knot region being recorded at Hurst, and so we cancelled sailing on the Friday (Good Friday) and went over to Gunwharf and Old Portsmouth for the day.  As a sop for not going to France, we booked into the Café Rouge for Dinner.

Next day was still very windy, but the gusts were in the late 30 knot range, so I thought we’d at least go to Yarmouth or Lymington. It was a fantastic sail, which Neil thoroughly enjoyed. It was too strong for the double reefed main and so we sailed on jib alone. It was a tightish reach to Cowes and then we sailed more freely. The gusts were mainly in the 33-35 knot range, although I had one on the helm of 39, and Neil recorded over 40 motoring into the Lymington River.

I spoke to Yarmouth, but all the walk-ashores were booked, and we decided with the weather, we wanted a pontoon. So having aimed for Yarmouth, we motored over to Lymington Yacht Haven, and they very kindly gave us a berth with 35 knots of wind blowing us off! I have to admit that Mr & Mrs Cock-up came to visit me, and the stem met the pontoon.

We were soon tucked up in the Kings Head and it promptly started to snow! Based on the very cold weather and the long walk into town we had dinner at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and it was excellent. Many thanks to Mark Fishwick and his staff and Neil and I especially enjoyed being served by young Misty!

It was very cold Sunday morning and the tide dictated an 0830 start. Any thoughts of lunch in Cowes evaporated as the weather was so miserable, cold and wet, we decided that we would just run to Haslar. The wind was in the mid twenties, but gybing downwind, it didn’t feel too bad, although the gybes were big ones.

I made bacon butties for everyone on the gybe from Gurnard to Bramble, and there was enough water to sail over right over Bramble Bank, which I always enjoy - thus avoiding the menacing racing fleet that I wanted to avoid!

We carried sail all the way in, and dropped in Haslar Lake, and mooring was nice and easy as we were much more sheltered and the wind wasn’t in the thirties.

We stopped at the Square Brewery for a snack and a pint on the way back and met Richard and Helen there. Later, Aly and Graham came round and the five of us talked about sailng all night as Graham has now bought Green Rival. We had planned to meet them in Cowes for lunch but the weather had put paid to that, so dinner at ours was the next best thing.

Haslar!  29/30 March 2008

The bad weather continued into Saturday, and as the Legends had already cancelled the Bembridge Rally, we decided against sailing and finally started to tackle the saloon table, which has been patiently waiting to be stripped down, and stained and varnished properly.

I sanded it right back to the wood, and let the expert (Julia) apply the stain. The weather was brilliant on the Sunday, but as the boat was upside down we carried on with jobs rather than sail, and felt a sense of satisfaction that we did.

ECA Rally Cowes, and Gins for Sunday Lunch  5/6 April 2008

The weather on Saturday was better than expected with lots of sunshine, but it was cold in the North Westerly F4/5. Cracking sail over enjoyed by us all. We were first into Shepards Wharf, followed by APB, Colin Huggins, Jez and Nicky (Rally Leaders) and Richard and Helen in Kotka. By the time they had all arrived, we had polished off a couple of bottles of champagne, so declined further drinks invitations and went for a walk into Cowes.

Sad to see so many shops closed down - the Credit Crunch is biting into Cowes it seems. We saw the Grand National in Pier View over the odd pint, and returned in time to shower ready for the evening. There was the traditional drinks party aboard Ransom at 1800, and as the instructions the previous weekend from the Rally Leader were to make our own dinner arrangements, we had booked into the Royal Corinthian, where Julia and I are reciprocal members and were suitably attired.

Well, what a welcome - we were treated like royalty. As there was a “do” on in the main seating area, we were given the Captains room to ourselves and waited on hand and foot. It was splendid, and the food and service were just excellent. Many thanks to the Royal Corinthian for helping to make our evening.

By morning, the snow that was forecast was down and around 0730, there was a real blizzard going on. However, as forecast as the morning settled down, the weather improved, and as we motored over to Gins for Sunday lunch, the sun came out and everything calmed down. Robert and Michael were splendid hosts as ever, and because of the weather, we unusually had the whole pontoon to ourselves.

With the wind still from the North, and no other boats around,  we sailed off the Gins Pontoon and we had another splendid sail back reaching across the Solent very quickly back to Haslar.

It was the very bottom of a particularly low spring tide, and as I was “having a look” at the Inner Swashway just round from Gilkicker, we touched bottom just as I said, “I’ll just see what the depth is here and then decide….”  At this point I could feel a touch and immediately bore away to sail into the normal Swashway for the first time since we’ve been at Haslar. As we came in you could almost walk across the Hamilton Bank it was so low, and I have never seen the beach along the small boat passage before!  Being a Northerly, I left the drop until the Swashway, and whilst dropping we got a friendly hoot from a Wight Link ferry as I wasn’t going to allow us to drift too far left when you could paddle on the Hamilton bank just to the Port side!

Anyway, no problems and a safe berth was soon found back on A20. Despite the snow, and cold wind, it was one of those splendid sailing weekends.

Gins Fitting Out Supper 12/13 April 2008

April showers - well April squalls really. Let’s say sunshine and showers and hefty breezes. SW F5-7. We came out of Haslar double reefed and sailed through some stiff breeze in the 22-28 knots range, and took a major squall of Gilkicker. Then it went light, and we were going nowhere, and as it looked settled and the forecast said it would ease, we shook out the reefs and enjoyed a gusty breezy fast sail for 20 minutes or so.

Then another set of squalls came over and after feathering for a while the wind strength kept increasing - mainly in the 28-30 range and we had full sails up. Then we spotted a huge black squall and as we only had about 2 miles left to the Beaulieu River entrance, I quickly dropped the lot, put the motor on, put Otto Pilot on and just got under the spray hood in time to avoid the deluge. While everyone else in the vicinity was being knocked flat and getting very wet, we went almost straight into the wind out of the rain and were in the river in very short order!

The squall saw gusts in the 35 knot range, so we felt we’d done the right thing, and it was very bumpy. Things down below were on the move. On arrival, Julia successfully managed  a tricky mooring exercise as it was howling straight off the pontoon by judicious use of the midships cleat and a central mooring line.

Once we were tied up, we noticed the bilge pump was still on and chucking water out the side. Closer inspection below showed surface water on the floor, although it was not salty. Soon we realised that the bumpy ride must have been too much  for the new water filter as it had completely sheared in two places and the water pressure system had pumped the entire contents of the (full) water tank (120 litres) into the bilge and surrounding area.

After seeing everyone in the clubhouse, and planning the Summer Ball, I then managed an emergency repair, and topped the tank up again. We were therefore later than usual for the supper, which although not as well attended as the past couple of years, was still a great success. We enjoyed meeting Bruce and Gil and later had drinks aboard Selene with David and Kirsty.

Sunday dawned completely differently. Starting flat calm, it got up to a SW 3-4 and as the wind was favourable, we just hoisted the sails on the pontoon and sailed off as per last week.

The sun came out, and for the first time in ages we enjoyed a gentle sail along the Solent and back into Haslar. Steve and Liz came round for drinks in Selene’s cockpit and the sun hung on until we’d finished that and were heading for home. All in all, a super weekend.

Poole RSYC Rally 3/4/5 May 2008

0700 departure from Haslar, sails up as we entered Haslar Lake, as it was a South Easterly.

Weather fair but hazy. Had a superb cruising chute day, getting overpowered off Christchurch, where we went down to the jib. Got into Poole at 1250 – very bumpy in the channel going in. Difficult berthing with a very short pontoon and the wind blowing us off. No bumps or bangs though!

Walked into Poole (taxied back!) had some beer n shopping and back in time for the drinks on the pontoon next to Paul Frampton’s new boat Victory.

Then a fleet of Taxis took us to the Royal Motor Yacht Club, where we enjoyed a truly splendid evening. We met Janie and Mal, who are members there and sat next to them at dinner. It was really great, and we look forward to going back there.

Sunday, the weather was truly grey and miserable and later very wet. We had a coffee in Sandbanks and took the bus to Swanage. We spent most of the day in pubs because of the rain.

We then took a bus back into Poole and ate at Hardys restaurant, where we have eaten before – it was also excellent. Taxi back to the boat and an early night.

0500 Monday morning, was gray, damp and cold. Julia stayed down below until 2 miles off Gilkicker! Although she did appear around Gurnard.

All I can say was that it was cold and miserable, with not a great breeze. Anyway the tide was under us and we got back fast. We were tucked up by 11 and got home to relax, and have a BBQ.

Greece - Ionian Bareboat charter  11-18 May 2008

We went to Greece with Malcolm and Mavis where Malcolm had organised a Bavaria 32 for bareboat charter in the Ionian. We left Gatwick very early on Sunday 11 May and by mid afternoon were sat on Penelope in Sivota on Levkas Island, ready for the off the next day.

Monday 12 May we sailed to Fiscardo and it was a cracking sail with Malcolm as Captain. (We alternated the Captaincy every day) and had lunch in the cockpit which became our daily routine. We went for a stroll and then enjoyed cocktails by the sea.

Tuesday 13 May with me as Captain, we beat down to Sami in quite a breeze. Then the rain came shortly after lunch. As we ate our meal in the restaurant in the evening with the rain belting down, it was just like being in England – Yuk!

Wednesday 14 May we motored in full wet weather gear (great!) to Vahti on Ithaca, and we again had poor weather with a bumpy night, as the mooring had the wind straight at us all night.

Thursday 15 May finally saw the weather become “Mediterranean” and I was fortunate enough to get a fantastic sail all the way to Kalamos, where we enjoyed crepes for our evening meal.

Friday 16 May, the weather was again good and we had to motor round to Spartakhori on Meganisi. This is a lovely place, and we had drinks overlooking the bay. Here we had lazy lines for the first time – still stern to but without playing anchors. We were next to some very nice Germans who even gave us a couple of beers. Dinner was in the beach taverna.

Saturday saw me again as Captain, and we had a good sail most of the way back to Sivota, having to motor as the wind died. The weather was good again and it was tough reversing the boat in with the owner standing there! Anyway, no problems.

Next morning – back to England and a cooler climate. Great holiday and enjoyed chartering. We will be doing this again.

ECA Rally to Port Hamble and Royal RAF scrubbing berth 24-27 May 2008

We had a very windy reach to port Hamble on the Saturday of the Bank Holiday. We were double reefed but flying along at 7-8 knots – it was very enjoyable indeed.

We arrived as planned at the first HW and insisted on a berth that would protect us from the wind. Doing this was great as we were able to sunbath even though the wind was howling – we had our own little suntrap.

The only other boat on the rally was Kotka, but they of course couldn’t get out of EYH until around HW, so they missed the afternoon sunshine. Sue Hastings and her crew (Jean and Julia and her boys and hubby)  came by car, as did Charles and Nicky (new members with a gaffer) along with John & Jackie and Brenda. Charles and Nicky did sail in the next day.

We enjoyed a good dinner at the Royal RAF YC. Although it chucked it down overnight, next day the weather just held despite the gloomy forecast, so Julia and I took the pink ferry over to Warsash, having never been before. We had a drink in the Sailing Club and tootled back.

Charles and Nicky arrived in their Gaffer and we had drinks and nibbles aboard Selene. Then we went to dinner (via the Gales pub of course) at the Italian at the top – good food – very slow service.

Monday, it really did chuck it down until lunchtime. We had placed Julia’s car in Port Hamble on Friday night, and she left about 2:30 to give Charles and Nicky a lift and to get home, as Richard said he would stay and help me onto the scrubbing berth, which we duly did at the first HW. This was the first time I have dried her out, and she sits well on the winged keel and the rudder.

Monday night, Helen and Richard fed me aboard Kotka, and Richard and I drank a lot of port.

Peter Whatley came around on the Tuesday. Originally we thought we had an ingress of water from outside, but when the water had gone, we were still getting water into the bilge. It was a great relief that it wasn’t from outside. On the way over on Saturday, the replacement Jabsco water filter had exploded and dumped another 120 litres of water somewhere in the boat, and we think the pipes had been leaking too. I did a proper repair on the pipework, and the bilge stopped filling up at the alarming rate – and it was definitely fresh water. It was interesting to dry her out though, and through my reciprocal membership I got a great rate for the berth!

Peter went home, and I waited for the tide. As soon as I could float I reversed out and motored back to Haslar. I did try sailing, but it was very light and on the nose, and being solo, I wanted to get back into Haslar just after HW to make for an easy mooring. The wind being light and it being HW on arrival, the mooring was almost too easy – it’s nice to have a few easy ones! The end of a typical English Bank Holiday – fairly miserable weather most of the time – although we were lucky in that we didn’t get rained on whilst sailing.

Gins & The Folly 31 May / 1st June 2008

We motored to Gins in no wind, but plenty of sunshine, and were able to sit in the cockpit during the afternoon, which is always a treat. We took the dinghy over to have afternoon tea with Peter and Wendy who were on a buoy, and it was great that the outboard which hasn’t been used since October started first time.

I had heard rumours that the food wasn’t very good with the new chef at Gins, who just happens to be one of Robert’s sons, and it really wasn’t up to standard at all. The presentation especially. I sent my main course back, but wasn’t too specific about why as it was not going to be possible to reason with Robert. So although we had a great evening enjoying the company of Robin and Rebecca, Peter and Wendy and new members Richard and Judy, it soured the evening a bit.

We knew that Robert was off to St. Vaast the next day, and he had joked (or so we thought)  that they were off at 0630. This boat being inside us and we also had Martin Alexander outside us in Avalon. Paul and Jenni Shaw were also on this trip and when we saw Jenni, she said that they weren’t going until later. We never saw or were spoken to by the skipper.

So it was a very rude awakening at 0630 when we could hear the commotion next door and they knocked us up at 0645 saying they were leaving. I was not amused at all, and had I known I would have moved Selene to a buoy. In any event, given that there was a function, the skipper really ought to have shown some consideration and moved his boat to a buoy!

As we were up, I decided we would just leave, and so we went to the Folly for breakfast and got to have a long chat with Andy there. We also saw Malcolm and Jon Harman who were in two Sunsails with a bunch of guys for Jon’s stag do.

After breakfast, we walked up to Island Harbour Marina where we will be in a couple of week’s time for the Isle of Wight Festival.

We then enjoyed sitting in the cockpit at the Folly and there still being no wind, motored back arriving LW Portsmouth. We had very little water under us and were the only boat using the Inner Swashway! There being only 1.1 metres at LW. We did see 1.2 on the gauge at Gilkicker (Which is what we draw) where it is charted at 0.1 so it was close, but we didn’t touch at all.