Shakedown

Apparently it was the first public holiday since Christmas and as always I know somethings about to happen when provisions start arriving.

I now understand that on the Friday, I was to be taken to St Vaast, a place I've not been to before, but that the trip had to be timed just so.  Now St Vaast is on the eastern side of the Cherbourg peninsular and I've battled for many an hour against the tides crossing, so I understand the need to arrive when the flood tide is spilling south around the corner of this bay.  The port itself is protected by a lock which opens 2 hrs before high tide and closes 3 hours after, retaining just enough water to keep me off the bottom, just.

A late or early arrival means anchoring off the coast line, which depending on the prevailing winds may or may not be pleasant, so I've heard.

However, friday dawned cold and dark, and with the winds predicted to be strong, my crew opted to leave this one for another day.

Saturday broke much brighter and the winds had eased but still from the east bringing a bitter chill to the proceedings.  My crew arrived with more provisions and prepared my lines.  Soup was called for rather than to cast off and so the changed plan to Weymouth, also took a knock.  Finaly on the Sunday, my lines were slipped and we headed out in to the Solent once more.  There's a new breakwater being built, I remember seeing something whilst in the yacht marina, but now there it was sticking out of the water like a whale's back.

Now today there was little in the way of any wind, but the main was hoisted, more to dry out after the long winter spell in its bag.  I was left in tick over and we headed west.  So far so good, the autopilot engaged, no squealling from the fan belt, wind instruments working, log working, it all felt good.  To both the south and north of us, clouds started to form, cutting out the sun. Eventually beads of rain could be seen falling, this brought with it wind and the cold, so jumpers, jackets and even gloves were brought out from their hiding places and the engine turned off.  I was actually sailing for the first time this year, main only and with the tide pushing 8 knots.

As we were passing Yarmouth being pushed faster as the Solent ends, Hurst narrows takes over and finally past the shingles bank.  Except we didn't and headed to our usual spot in Totland Bay.  The windlass worked too !

As the night was clear the temperature dropped, as did what little wind there was.  The Bay was flat calm.  I was woken at 0500 by the sounds of the Needles light house fog horn, sounded twice every two minutes.  Sure enough I couldn't see further than a boat length away.