Plan A turned out not to be a complete dud, the winds certainly arrived for Friday but a bit earlier than expected and by mid day on Thursday it was clear that Saturday would be OK and I was able to book a space. I went onto the piles at 05:00 a day and an hour later than planned back in September, this was just before 2nd high water in perfect weather although I could have done with a moon to light the way; why does sailing always seem to involve early starts?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdonjyjG-tROXDRU9CYhufbcRklyKQbYwUwstmoDXBhzUfxqlOeTcy-Ua7VhMsj0fodi6qFZYqLhX3InuPpzgRbGMVmgAiJ0zF3uEC2jMKqFEnt1qoEZ6rvwRtj4Nt9Vxcetmb4AyeN44ZLN_yUzUNLQG2lp0iO-mr8BRJX4buAim5mvd77l0SwD5yw4/w300-h400/Scrub%20March%202024%20(1).JPG) |
06:37 waiting for the tide to drop. |
As predicted she touched ground a tad after 06:00 and I was able to start power washing at 07:20. Hamble is reported to have the worst fouling area in the country, here is an example of what that means, Sancerre
had three coats of a top of the range anti-fouling paint in July last year since when I have just been
to the Isles of Scilly and back.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLT6kWbguyqJt0QiIb0OKLKUeOdmw_b45l8uMiRCoTnUQ_Eof5sajnbDksexNtXGxlUr2fk1YyHS8NPNgMNb4UziESacnHB6tg5qlT9U5iHr_Y2lTH6GPLkz3KNS1HBxcb_0m8N2D2YN7wtiuhbULXZHoUu7uIkJV1oSWafq9GcO_Tbmtdxd8b_FVZiw/w400-h300/Scrub%20March%202024%20(4).JPG) |
What a winter on the Hamble does to your boat, it would be worse in summer with warmer water and more light. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjdTpX8LujRxNrSX1jSoSPQ6vblEw9mvFljPaUZINTvxN7jIxnvMpJiyzGbwOT97OlzpUtlT77bqgOQ6jZIzLH7jmZ4tQpBC7kAbq7DlMe25nQjRwUzyc308ihoUzY6q0o_kmf8Tp5RpR8UNkrd9u4W8_4UGOOnHZbvjdl4VbHsc_8cwU8yji-y2guNA/w400-h300/Scrub%20March%202024%20(5).JPG) |
Strange that the square centre left 9where the cradle prop was) that only had 1 coat of antifoul immediately before launching was cleaner than the rest that had three coats in the previous couple of weeks. |
The power wash took an hour but apart from the boot line, some of which is a bit thin after I raised it last year, the anti fouling was in good condition [
Update: but depleted). I just had time to repaint the boot line plus the leading edges and rudder which ablate quicker than the rest. A new anode went on with the water over the sill but I just managed it with wellies and did not have to resort to the waders.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyHO0oe8Cp0mdxEZXpem-5YcEqQMBjTvGiwDfXhjoKbsQ8-R84j_RcXKKt3yfzWxrEJekH2aRaHHNgcWMjtbl7rAR6f_y-PD69BEAW5jLzZaybzz5e7Wt51oza8kj1CEkJh1j_QSkCWj4QWAdPnXLIxIAJPke0k5qTvZQMM_G49SmFXQxgsEbGPVV9is/w400-h300/Scrub%20March%202024%20(7).JPG) |
Job done and ready to head off as soon as the wind and tide serve. |
It was then a long wait, after an initial rush of incoming water the "New flood stand" resulted in a four hour wait from paddling in the dock to floating off, it is frustrating but does give the anti foul chance to harden a bit, most of the time there is only c 18" of water in the dock which makes the wait seem even longer. 4 days after springs, it was 9 hours 15 minutes from LW to 2nd HW.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4deJCSlYPuCsIGgsYXPeRYGYvALbfxvCnQTiB5l0J0qCSEYepa5qsEBUNdhgd5gTDnOdfqvTIRAXbnmuHv1_-y6K-7jQwoEwL6zmUiUR5d6uV-vHBw1oYUXxJHZuzHz_tS99kOT-_TPQvgGXGzhzvKwbTVN98PkJMYXQvg4kd6eqfx4mkLqnIs0NcMxo/w400-h300/Scrub%20March%202024%20(9).JPG) |
Waiting for the water to return, it was pretty much at this level for a couple of hours. |
I just missed my chance of warping onto and along an empty pontoon when both the launches came back from delivery / pick up trips but I got the bosuns to take my lines and I was safety through the narrow gap with room to turn, then back to the mooring with quite a strong tide and a breeze on the nose but with the boats up and down stream of me out of the water for maintenance it was a straight forward operation.
The wind forecast for the coming week is not encouraging, and the week after I would have to commit to an overnight crossing of Lyme Bay so unless the weather is particularly benevolent my likely departure date is Easter Monday / All Fools Day to take the inshore route around The Bill at daybreak on the 3rd or 4th. One can only hope.
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