Summer Cruise-2nd. May- 17th. August 1999.

A single-handed cruise in company with Ian Wright, sailing "Patience", Vertue2O3, from the River Blackwater Essex, to the South and West coasts of Ireland, and back, via the South Coast of England.

As I have done most of my sailing on the East Coast and to the near Continent, I have for a long time wished to sail in more distant waters, and to this end planned to attempt a circumnavigation of the British isles and Ireland. That we didn’t succeed was of no importance; what was important was that we were able to change our plans to suit the weather conditions we found, and to enjoy the experience, (at least in retrospect, and to say, "Yes, we have sailed in distant waters".

Day 2, 3/5/99 - Pyefleet to Ramsgate.

We got underway at 06:45- a very light air from S-SE with patchy mist and a smooth sea, so ran under engine, as we wanted to make the most of the tide, which was at springs. We used the last of the ebb to take us through the Spitway, across the North Hook, and into the Barrow Deep, where we picked up the first of the flood. The wind had now backed to the East and freshened to F3 so both boats were sailing at their best, making very short work of the passage to the North Edinburgh Channel, via the Sunk Beacon. Here the tide came foul as it floods up the N. Edinburgh for the first two hours of tide, but as the wind continued to back, we were able to hold close hauled until we cleared the channel, and then eased sheets for the North Foreland. Although the breeze died as we came to the Foreland, it became very cold, especially as I was sitting in the shadow of the mainsail. So into Ramsgate at 16:30-4 0 miles in 10 hours- not the fastest passage, but not too bad.

At the end of last season, 1 had fitted an AutoSteer trim tab system which, once set up kept Tesa beautifully on course, and "freed me from the tyranny of the helm", as Edward Allard expressed it in "Temptress Returns".

We listened to the 17:54 forecast which gave NE 5 moderating to NE2/3, and so we planned to go to Eastbourne to-morrow.

Day 3-4/5/99- Ramsgate.

We did not go to Eastboune, in fact we stayed here! Every time I’ve come to Ramsgate, I’ve been held up by the weather. The NE wind stayed at F5-6,and very cold it was. During the night, the participants in a Classic yacht race came in from Holland at 0200, with much shouting and hurrahing. They had had a very rough passage, but the boats were large schooners and ketches with large crews, and so had managed in the stormy conditions.

Day 4 -5/5/99- Ramsgate to Dover

We came out of Rams gate at low water, and took the inside passage down the coast. The surf on the Brake bank was something to see, and one could appreciate just how dangerous this whole area can be. Off the South Fore/and the wind suddenly died, leaving a horribly confused sea; the topping- lift chose this moment to get itself caught round the starb’d upper crosstree, and with the boom slamming back and forth, there was real danger of damage to the mast. However, l was able to cut the topping-lift free, and made repairs once I was in the marina. We spent the afternoon in the town, and later made the acquaintance of Douve Bakker, a Vertue enthusiast from Holland, who was much impressed with both boats. Forecast for the next few days was for SW 4/5-we had wasted the NE wind that had been "sitting in the shoulder of our sails" for the past days, and now we had to get our heads down ,and beat "Down Channel".

Day 5- 6/5/99-Dover to Eastbourne

Wind SW 

We left Dover at 0800 to make the most of the tide as we had some 60 miles to go, and expected to be on the wind the whole way. It was imperative to get past Dungeness before the tide went foul, and to that end I stood out on st’bd tack to the South going traffic lane. It was very rough and wet but Tesa was going well, keeping a ground speed of 5 kts cross tide, and 6½ kts. when on port, which was the making tack. I managed to get past Dungeness at slack water, and decided to keep close inshore, down the western side of the Ness. I had, however, forgotten about the practice area, and was approached by a high-speed launch and told to ‘proceed on a course of 180* for ½ mile." Luckily, the wind just backed sufficiently to allow me to lay across Rye bay, past Fairlight, Hastings, St. Leonards, and Bexhill, and into the Sovereign Marina at 2O:30.

Ian, meanwhile, was having fun!! As he was towing a wooden dinghy, he was slower than me, and had missed the tidal gate at Dungeness-"it shut in me face, mate, it just shut in me face," and he flogged back and forth, dodging the Range Safety boat and getting nowhere. He had had engine problems, and finally got in at 2300, somewhat beat! As a result, to-morrow will be a make do and mend day.

Day6 to Day 9 - 7/5/99 - 10/5/999 Sovereign Marina.

During those four days, Ian had cleared all his problems and I had had to go home on family business. I returned to find Ian "champing at the bit" to be away.

Day 10- 11/5/99- Eastbourne to Brighton.

Wind SSW- F3/4/5- rain showers-cold.

Locked out at 0700 and on starboard tack out to sea to clear Beachy Head. A moderate sea and Tesa was moving comfortably at between 3 and 4 knots. I tacked at 08:45 and with the tide fair, Tesa was making a good 5½-6½ kts. over the ground. Off Beachy Head I was able to free sheets, and make for Brighton, which I entered at 1300. Had the day been warmer, the wind a fraction freer, the sea a little less lumpy, we would probably have cracked on to the Solent- I have done Eastbourne to the Solent in 14 hours, but that was in very different conditions- a warm southerly F3.

Brigh on Marina entrance was as rough as ever, but I was glad to get in. Ian came in about an hour later, and we both slept in the afternoon.! lit the charcoal stove in the evening as it was so cold and damp and kept it going all night. The 5 day forecast posted in the marina office gave some hope of a break in a day or so, so all we could do was "wait and see".

Days 11 and 12 were spent "waiting and seeing"

The The deep depression that was giving us such cold and wet conditions and SW winds of F6, 7, and 8 gradually moved away. We spent one afternoon on the pier-bought rock, rode the electric railway (first in Britain and opened in 1883), and on one evening were invited to drinks on board "Anjura of Java", a Vancouver 32 sailed by John and Jane Collinton. But at last we were able to get on.

Day 13 -14/5/99 -Brighton to Langstone Harbour.

Forecast -S W3-4 veering W-NW-1-2.

Actual -SW-4-5

We left Brighton at 09: 15. I put one reef in the main and hoisted sail in the inner harbour, where it was relatively calm. At the entrance I was met by a very heavy confused sea, the result of days of strong SW winds. After getting through this with the help of the engine, I continued on the off-shore tack, making reasonable progress and feeling pretty good. It’s never a good idea to "feel pretty good" about life when going to windward in a small boat in rough weather, because when I came about to go on the other tack, a big sea broke on the foredeck, swept aft, spilled through the main hatch soaking every thingI It was at this point that I made the resolution that, on this cruise, windward sailing was BANNED!!! Still, at this moment there was nothing for it, but to crash on regardless, picking the west going tide at 10:30, which, as well as helping us along also built up a fine stopping sea. Off Shoreham I put the engine on to help maintain way through the lumpier bits, and gradually Selsy Bill came nearer, but oh so slowly!

The tide began to slacken as I got to the Mixon beacon, and by the time I got to the Street and Boulder buoys, the tide was roaring through against me at some 3kts. It took 45 minutes to clear the channel, but by 18:30 1 was in a slacker tide, had shaken out the reef, and was making steady progress towards Langstone. Ian called up on the radio and asked my position and when I gave it he said that he was a long way back with a strong tide against him, and that he wouldn’t be in before mid-night. I finally got into Langstone at 21:00,and picked up a visitors buoy in the entrance. / signed off with the CG, had supper when Ian came through to say that he had just cleared the Looe channel and was under engine as the wind had dropped completly. He got in just after mid-night, and anchored further up the channel.

A long tiring day for both of us!

Day 14 -15/5/99 -Langstone to Lymington.

Forecast NE3/4 -high pressure building.

Actual-NE 0/1-warm and dry.

As the tide turned we slowly sailed out of the harbour, but the wind soon dropped to a calm and so we motored in company past Portsmouth, Southampton, until off the Beaulieu river, a smart NE-2-3 came in and we were able to sail again- Of to(the Autosteer) working very well in these conditions, which was a square run. We motored into a very crowded marina, found two berths and tidied up. Ian had arranged to have two storm sails delivered here care of the Harbour Master. These were picked up and we settled down to plan for the next phase-Solent to the West Country.

Langstone Horbour<