SELENE - CAPTAINS LOG

January 2009 - May 2009

ECA Frostbite Rally to Cowes 10 January 2009

The weather has been very cold for as long as we can remember and it was indeed a real frostbite rally. Selene was covered in ice and it was very cold. It was misty and calm, so we motored over to Cowes on Saturday, and joined Richard and Helen who were with Dick in Tringa 2, Dave, John and Bev aboard their boat, and Graham turned up last about 1400.

We all repaired to the fire at the Anchor and then had a rest before drinks aboard Tringa, followed by dinner at the Island Sailing Club and further drinks at the Duke of York. A good time was had by all. The Saturday was Richard's birthday, and he celebrated in style.

Sunday would finally see the weather change and a great breeze got up along with glorious sunshine, so we enjoyed a sparkling sail back into Haslar. The new auto helm works a treat, and it was a very satisfying sail. Tide time meant an early start so we were all tucked up in the Square Brewery at lunchtime, and by nightfall a gale was blowing in.

RSYC Frostbite Rally to Port Hamble 7 February 2009

We had one of the best sails to windward for a long time, with the wind a NW 5/6 with some lumpy gusts, we enjoyed ourselves tacking on the shifts as far as Gurnard and then up into the Hamble on a couple more. The weather was kind and it wasn't too cold.

We got moored up and shot into the King & Queen for lunch and caught the Six Nations rugby, got a good seat and saw England struggle to beat Italy.

We retired to the boat and I fixed a locker catch that had given up the ghost, and then we went for drinks aboard the Westerly Fulmar Trivial Pursuit, hosted by Paul and Jan Crouch.

Dinner was at the Victory Inn, and it was a great evening. We sat with John & Ann Bass and Roger & Penny and James Hanratty.

There was very little wind on the Sunday, so we motored back and got back in time to have lunch with the Square Brewery crowd at the Queens Head in Steep.

Trip to Swanwick in the River Hamble 21 February 2009

Neil and Jane arrived on Friday evening, and I cooked us cassoulet.

Although Saturday promised no wind, there was a light and usable breeze and some lovely sunshine. Jane enjoyed some helming, and we had a game with her making her guess where we were going. We had yet another great sail to windward and Jane enjoyed her surprise as our intention was to go to Swanwick so that she could see a boat she really likes at Deacons Boat Yard. ("Nonsuch").

We were given only a small amount of pontoon, but had no mooring problems, and had a leisurely lunch in the cockpit.

We then walked round to Deacons and after some waiting got taken out to see Nonsuch.

Afterwards, we tried to eat in the Jolly Sailor, but it was fully booked, so we took a cab to the Bugle in the village, where we had a super meal. We then had a drink in the Royal Southern, where Monica was very welcoming and they even helped organise our taxi back.

Sunday was a grey no wind kind of day, so we motored back and Jane cooked us all a splendid brunch. They departed on their long drive home, and we popped into the office on the way back.

RSYC Rally to Warsash in the River Hamble 07 March 2009

Had a good sail there with the wind allowing us to beat al the way up to the Hamble. Wind strengthening all the time. We were only given a bit of pontoon to hang off and were pinned there by the wind.

We took the pink ferry over to Hamble Village and had lunch (Welsh Rarebit) in the King & Queen, and then walked all the way out to Hamble Point and back.

I then started to feel unwell, which sadly persisted through the drinks on board Rex's boat and the meal. We were in good company at dinner on a table with Peter and Wendy, Gordon and Christine and Bob and Jackie.

Overnight I was violently ill and we left as soon as we could in the morning, motoring back before the gales blew in later. I came home and went to bed!

Ocean Village for Peter Whatley's 50th Birthday party 21 March 2009

Motored in no wind up to OV, and enjoyed the nice weather by walking into Southampton. Gordon and Christine came aboard for drinks about 1700 and we went up to the party about 1915.

Great evening - Black Tie and the food was the same as the Pudding club evenings.

Sunday, lazy sunny morning - had breakfast in the cockpit. Sailed under cruising chute all the way to Gilkicker. Afternoon spoiled by the toilet blocking up, and the bilge pump packed up. I spent the whole afternoon stripping out the old sewage pipes which all need to be replaced, and nearly sliced my thumb off when hack-sawing through one of the rubber pipes as it was reinforced with wire, so the blade jumped. Blood and sewage all over the place - yuk.

Got to get new pipe and get these jobs done ahead of hosting a rally next weekend!

Bembridge - Selene Hosts the ECA Rally 28 March 2009

Malcolm and Mave joined us on Friday morning, and we zoomed over to Bembridge in a WSW F6, so it was a nice reach. The weather stayed fine and we were able to sit in the cockpit and enjoy champagne on arrival. I cooked us an evening meal, and we somehow managed to demolish another bottle of port.

Saturday was still windy, similar to the previous day, but not too much rain. We all walked to South Quay and poked around the boat jumble, and then returned aboard Selene to welcome the rally participants. First to arrive were Dick and Alice aboard Tringa 2, and then Kotka with Richard, Helen, Charles and Nicky and Pete and Natalie. Then Tony aboard Elwing 2 followed closely by Jeremy and Nicky (and bump) in Ransom.

Just when we thought there would be no more, Graham and Val Holt appeared in Satisfaction, and we rafted them outside us. Julia and I went to the bookshop, but it wasn't open, so after a quick pint in the Vine, we returned and prepared for the drinks party.

The usual drinks party ensued, and then we repaired to the Brading Haven Yacht Club, and 16 of us sat down to dinner. (APB having come by road) Great food, and a great evening. We got a taxi back, but as everyone was so tired, there was no late drinking session.

Sunday was pleasant but with light winds, so after breakfast and some pontoon parading, we saw all the boats off, and then motored back to Haslar, where we had more lunch, and took delivery of our Brompton folding bikes from Malcolm and Mave.

Cowes and Lymington - Boys weekend 4/5 April 2009

Andy and Richard joined me for a boys weekend on the water. We sailed to Cowes and moored in Shepards, then enjoyed a few beers in town, and a Thai meal and drinks at the Island Sailing Club to round of Saturday.

Sunday, we sailed downwind under chute to Lymington where we enjoyed Moules in the sunshine at the Kings Head. Motored back in the sunshine, only to get thick fog about a mile off Portsmouth. Liaised with QHM over the VHF and got in safely.

Weymouth for Easter 9-13 April 2009

The strong Southerly scuppered our plans to go to Cherbourg, and the forecast said that the weather would be better to the West, so we went to Weymouth. It being a big spring tide, I was able to carry us into Weymouth in seven hours averaging 8 knots. The weather stayed good but the sea state was very confused into Weymouth bay and I had to hand steer as the new auto helm, simply couldn't do it. We managed to get in for the last bridge lift, and got tucked up into the marina.

The staff were very friendly - typical of a Dean and Reddyhoff marina, and we ate out in town and retired tired. It chucked it down overnight and the next day was grey and drizzly but not the expected rain all day. We shopped, drank at the George and booked ourselves into the Galley Bistro for the evening meal.

Saturday, the sun shone, and we took out our new Brompton folding bikes which we bought from Malcolm and Mave. I have been riding mine nearly every day, and this was Julia's first time. We cycled the Rodwell Trail to Portland and saw Paul at the Portland Marina office. We did climb up Portland, but it wasn't very bike friendly (unless you have a mountain bike) but we did see some great views at the top.

We then cycled back into town and drank at the Boot where we got chatting to the locals. We organised a bridge lift with the Harbour Master and booked ourselves onto the waiting pontoon as we had an early start to take the east going tide on Sunday.

Paul Mason came down for a couple of beers and motored with us under the bridge and onto the waiting pontoon.

I cooked aboard and we saw a band in the King's Arms literally above us on the Quay, and went to bed early.

Sunday, Julia stayed in bed and I got us away at 0600. Motor sailed to start with as it was flat calm, and so was able to take the inner passage at St. Albans / Anvil Point. The wind then picked up enough for a super reach across Poole bay and we motored again through Hurst as the wind had died again. We took up position on the Dan Bran Pontoon at Lymington and the ECA rally gradually made its way down from Cowes. We went up to the Kings Head after Dick and Alice had arrived, and Kotka and Clarabelle came in and they all came up to the pub and we had an afternoon session.

Julia cooked aboard and then a few of us went up to Lymington Town SC for a drink.

Monday, we motored back in glorious sunshine and enjoyed the cockpit for brunch in Haslar, followed by drinks at the office - again in sunshine, and a BBQ at home later

Day trip to Cowes and Gunwharf Quays 16 April 2009

Ed and James were down for a few days after Easter and they both were keen to go out on the boat. As it happened, I had booked the Sea Lift in Cowes so that I could fit the new gaiter that protects the saildrive. The old one came off last Autumn.

Although we have been on the lift a few times before, this one wasn't great as the port rubbing strake was broken as we lifted. So we spent the first quarter of an hour getting it sort of back on. I have to get this repaired at the Sea Lift's expense in due course.

We did the gaiter all right, but as they were late it meant that we didn't have long in Cowes. In any event, we did whizz over to Shepards and went for a drink with Richard and Helen who were on their way back to EYH.

We then motor-sailed back to Portsmouth, where I had us booked into Gunwharf where we tied up and went for dinner at La Tasca, before then taking Selene back onto her berth after dark. A great evening was had, and it was a lovely day.

Sail around Portsmouth Harbour 18 April 2009

Our French friend Philippe came for the weekend with his new girlfriend Veronique, and we took them for a sail around Portsmouth Harbour.

They both really enjoyed it.

RSYC Rally to Royal Lymington YC 25/26 April 2009

A windy beat into wind and tide was hard work (SW 6)  but very enjoyable on the Saturday. We then had lunch and cycled to the Gun at Keyhaven, and then drinks aboard Heidi. 40 people on board! Great dinner as usual at the Royal Lym, and a good night's sleep.

Sunday, the wind went SE, so another beat, but not so windy, but still quite hard work as it was lumpy. Off to the Office on the way home as usual.

RSYC Rally to Poole Harbour  2/3 May 2009

Julia and I went down to Selene on Friday afternoon and I got a number of jobs done. Then we went over to Gunwharf to celebrate 16 years since we met. We ate at Pizza Express and although we had to queue (they don't take bookings) we didn't wait too long.

Early night, as I was up at 0400 and got the boat away at 0500. The wind was pretty much on the nose all the way and was light too, so I motor sailed passing a few hardy yachts sailing but going nowhere fast, and I wanted to take all the tide I could to Poole, even though it was neaps.

Julia remained in bed asleep, and I woke her with a cup of tea at 0800, and we were by now well into Christchurch Bay dodging lobster pots and fishermen in small motor boats. It had been a beautiful morning coming out of Portsmouth, but was already clouding over and the day ended up being one of sunny spells.

We motored into Poole Harbour at 1000 and were moored in Parkstone Yacht Haven on G22 by 10:30. I cooked us breakfast and then had a snooze till 1200. We then cycled into Poole and I had a couple of beers at the Brewhouse as usual. Today I had Monkey and "Beer". We met heavy metal fans Jason and Amy sat outside in the sunshine, and enjoyed watching Poole go by.

We then cycled back and had another sleep. We were a bit late waking, and thus dressed in a hurry for the pontoon drinks party beside Paul Frampton's Victory and then we took the usual fleet of taxis to and from the Royal Motor Yacht Club. We shared with Gerry and Wendy Addis and sat with them at dinner too. It was great to catch up with them. Good meal, but quiet in the club as there was a private 70th party upstairs and not as many locals around as last year. We also met Trevor and Heather Nichols from Ossian Warrior which is moored on D pontoon at Haslar.

Gerry and Wendy retired and we had drinks aboard Arabesque with Bob and Jackie, Paul Frampton and Richard and Angela - Paul's crew. We got the tour of Paul's boat and admired Richard's painting upon the wall!

Next morning was again sunny spells but still with a cold W or NW wind. I cycled off to get the papers and did my "paper Boy" bit delivering to Victory and Arabesque. We read the papers and then set off to cycle to Studland, crossing on the chain ferry. Distance to the village was about 5 miles, so a nice ride. We had a beer at the Bankes Arms and saw Arabesque anchoring off the beach. We went down and met them ashore, and met son Richard and his friends and their daughter.

We then all went up to the pub for more beer, and Allan and Gillian from Twister of Mersea followed by Adam and Louise from Aquaholic came up and joined us.

Julia and I then cycled back and enjoyed Pims in the cockpit. Still a bit chilly but nice out of the wind in the sunny spells. We then motored around to the SE corner of Brownsea Island and anchored along with the others Arabesque, Aquaholic, Twister of Mersea and Kamara.

We didn’t bother to go ashore and had our BBQ in the cockpit. Although Arabesque rafted alongside Aquaholic for their BBQ, no social invites were received, and as we were tired we kept ourselves to ourselves and retired early.

Next day we lazed in bed a bit, had a lazy breakfast and hauled up the anchor about 1100 - still supposedly a bit early for the tide in Poole Bay but fine for the entry to Hurst.

The wind was W 4-5 and gradually increased to a 6 in the Solent, with quite lumpy seas. I caught the ebb out of Poole - which nearly carried me over the chain ferry chains as I waited for it for the first time and was surprised to find a little current with me out to sea to the South. Looking at the tidal diagrams, I should have had some against me, but we carried a little tide all the way to the Needles, by which time it was slack. I gybed into Christchurch Bay and another big gybe off the beach set us into Hurst off the North Channel. We sluiced into the Solent  and did another massive gybe off Sconce. Julia was quite tired and cold and we abandoned the downwind zig - zag with crashing gybes and motor sailed back into Haslar as we were both keen to get home. The sail to Hurst had been fantastic and quite fast, so we had had our exhilaration.

All in all a great rally and very enjoyable weekend. We love our folding bikes so much and enjoyed the good company of our fellow cruisers.

RSYC & LOA Rallies to St. Vaast   21 - 25 May 2009

We left Haslar at 0440 on Thursday morning, and motored past the Bembridge Ledge and then picked up a super breeze and sailed for five hours before it went light and we motor sailed. The breeze picked up again off Barlfleur and we were again able to sail the last couple of hours down to St. Vaast. We arrived exactly as the gates opened and charged in with the rush. Great sunny weather all day. We moored up and shot off to get Moules Frites on our bikes, and crashed to bed early.

Next day the weather was again good, and we relaxed and did some shopping. The next gate opening saw us being squashed in our berth, and I got the Harbour master to move us onto D25 - a residents pontoon with plenty of space. The Royal Southampton crowd had arrived behind us, and we said hello to Bob and Jackie and Rex and his crew of Ken and Richard. We lazed in the cockpit in the sunshine during the afternoon, and in the evening I BBQ-d some langoustines and we ate aboard.

Saturday, we enjoyed the market and then cycled to Barlfleur and had lunch at the Café de France, which was superb. The weather got greyer and colder and so we didn't dawdle back, and it rained just after we packed the bikes away. Saturday evening we had RSYC drinks and then lots of taxis up to the "Panoramique" restaurant up on the hilltop at Pernelle. Great night out. We had Grumpy Bear's Philip and Diane and their guest Ruth back for drinks. Over the evening we met Gerry and Nick Fletcher, and Mike and Cathy (one of the four shares on Kamara) Peter and Betty were there in Kir Royale and Paul Frampton had driven over.

Sunday morning, we discovered that whilst we were out the night before, the Legends had arrived and Paul and Kath in Ghostly Goose were only two down from us, and we had coffee with them. The sun was hot and great all day - completely against the forecast and we then had a massive lunch on Arabesque and Rise and Shine, and then a drinks party with the Legends, where we met Steve, Diana and Holly on Kaikoura, and Paul asked us if we would sail in company with Gary back. So after drinks, we anchored outside in company with Gary in his 326 and I rowed him over and we fed him supper.

At 0500 we hauled up anchors and set off into a terrifying electrical storm and foul tide. The auto helm had packed up on the way over (motor died) so as I was hand steering, I wanted daylight, which cost us a couple of hours to that foul tide. It chucked it down and was thoroughly unpleasant for several hours. The sun came out in the shipping lanes but there was no wind at all day, apart from a little on the nose, so we motored, and the sea wasn't nice until St. Catherine's point. Here it got misty and drizzled. We took 15 hours coming back. Gary went into Cowes and we packed up quick and rushed home.

Great rallies, great company and some lovely weather.