22nd May - Lymington to Dartmouth
Posted at 7:18 AM, Monday, May 23, 2005
Went to bed last night on the boat after a boozy send off party at the Fishermans up the road from the Marina. I's like to say I was concerned about the weather for today - but not due to alchoholic stupor.
The early morning forecast was still for fresh to strong conditions, out of the SW and going W - so we agreed to depart after we woke at 0700 - and if we found it too heavy going agreed to use either Poole or Weymouth as a bolt hole.
Spring tide was on the flood as we motored down river in bright sunshine with a chill in the air. We hung a left and bucked the tide down through Hurst Narrows, through the swirling overfalls close by the fort, and motor sailed out through the North Channel. I was surprised at the amount of tide against us in that channel - at times as much as 4 knots - but by 0830 we'd cleared the channel, histed full saisl, and were off beating into a light 8/10 knot S-S/W'ly.
We attempted to call pals Moira and Stewart on VHF as we crossed Christchurch Bay - it was a promise made last night as they have a riverside home in Christchurch itself - but no joy. Clearly still sleeping it off.
There was enough S in the breeze to allow us to aim for and clear Anvil Point on the one port board. Slipping along nicely with no sign of the stronger conditions yet to come.
By 1100 the tide had turned in our favour as we sailed close by the cliffs at Anvil Point. The breeze had built to 12 / 13 and when gusts started to appear up to 16 knots, we set our first reef.
It became obvious we would not clear the next headland - St Albans Head - on the port board, so seeking some searoom to also avoid the overfalls at St Albans Ledge, we tacked once and picked a line about 4 miles out. We tacked back to parallel the coast as some rain arrived and the breeze settled at 15/16 knots. A single reef worked well as we were making up to 7 knots hunting to windward.
Slipping in the aminsail reefs with the single line system and electric winches is simplicity itself - why have I not had these before?
The ebbing tide gave us 10/11 knots over the ground as we kept up high on port board to also ensure would leave The Shambles Bank to starboard. Even without the shallow waters of the Bank, the SW wind and SW ebbing tide was already creating a lumpy sea in our 50+M of water. As we passed to seaward we could see the surf caused by the conditions over the bank - had we tried to go through it we would have got very wet!
As we passed Portland Bill around 1330 and shaped up to cross Lyme Bay, the breeze and the seas built even further, so the second reef went and we settled down to really bashing our way to windward. Lots of slamming, occassional green one over the bow, but plenty of spray generated. Sue enjoyed helming which allowed me to drop off asleep under the sprayhood - but taking over at the helm after I managed to take a big wet faceful way back at the wheel. That woke me up!
By 1600 the breeze began to veer West and build further to 20/22 knots - gusts of 25.
By 1700, still 20 miles out from Dartmouth, it became obvious we could not lay the river mouth on the one board, and we were faced with a decision to keep sailing, or switch on the donk.
We chose to be cruisers. Leaving the reefed main up to aide stability we fired up the engine and bashed onward - straight into the wind.
We made the Dart River by 1830. The last hour was pushing into 30 knots true and gusts sometimes higher - but as we closed the river mouth the seas gradually flattened due to the protection of the shoreline - and we pushed past the Mewstones and turned up into the the sheltered river entrance.
The Dart is steep sided and well protected from W'lies - and it was very placid as we chugged up to Dartmouth town by 1900 - and took a a vacant berth at Darthaven Marina on Kingswear side. Inside 30 minutes Sue had showered, I'd settled into a bottle of red wine - and an hour later we were both fast asleep.
We plan to stop over here for Monday and Tuesday - when Robbie Smith joins us from Australia.