Thursday 18th April. Gosport to St Mawes.
The Cruising Association organised a rally for the 50th anniversary of Robin Knox Johnson's ( president of The C.A.] solo circumnavigation, the first one done non stop. A group formed off Hasler marina a little before 10 o'clock to see him off with a few of use sailing in company with Suhaili to Falmouth for the celebrations.
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| In company with Suhaili going from Gosport to Falmouth for the event. |
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| Off Lymington, most boats turned back just before Hurst. |
It was a very pleasant, albeit cool, trip through Spithead and the Solent in a light wind. I was surprised how quickly the heavy Suhaile was going in the conditions and I needed the spinnaker to keep up. That led to some embarrassment going down the Needles channel.
I had planned to take the kite down before going through Hurst narrows but with a lot of boats under my lea I decided not to as I was on a fairly close reach for the sail and really wanted to bare away to drop it, as the NE wind was quite constant I decided to hold on to it. Big mistake!
As we passed Totland Bay a gust of wind came down off of the hills and I broached to windward, in 15 - 20 knots of wind. I led the sheet off but it kinked and jammed in the turning block. I was now going sideways towards the Shingles bank and I could not free the sheet quickly. In desperation I let the halyard run, I had taken the precaution of putting on a very long halyard so that the sail could be in the water with the halyard still secure at the bottom of the mast. That recovered the situation but it was then very hard wet work hauling a heavy waterlogged sail out of the water, minus one guy that had disappeared as the sail thrashed about (I had a spare) and repacking it as the boat continued under main alone to keep the speed down.
It took a long time but I had it sorted by the time I reached the fairway buoy when I unfurled the Genoa. After half an hour I was somewhat recovered and in dry cloths to I got the spinnaker up again to dry out.
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| Crossing Lyme Bay |
Unfortunately the Cruising Association advertised the sail "in company" but did not mention that Suhaili was going to stop off at Fowey on-route so I got to the Fal a day ahead.
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Welcome committee off the Fal. Roger and Ron
on Rogers Dehler 41. |
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| Suhaili (right) at the start of the parade. |
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| Some of the 50+ boats in the parade. |
Tuesday 23rd April. Gosport via Fowey and Brixham.
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Sancerre alongside in Brixham,
Photo by Roland V (Achilles 24 "Hot Foot") |
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| Brixham |
The sea turned very rough leaving Brixham in 25Knots of wind but was better later even with gusts to 30Knts - the forecast was wrong until after I left! A very pleasant sail from c Portland onwards.
A total of 66 hours at sea, 21 at night. 305 miles.
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