Meticulous passage planning for safe boating or so we are led to believe. I always have a passage plan. What course will I take. What the tidal streams are going to be. The best time to leave, the route, hazards and so it goes on. But all this depends on the weather. Now weather forecasting is a lot better than it used be, but it is still guesswork.
If you read my previous post you saw the forecast and the route plan. We were leaving at 0630hrs and arriving at around 2030 hrs. Did that happen, no, and why? Because the weather forecast wasn’t right. The wind was stronger than predicted, so the sea state was rougher and the boat went slower, therefore we got to the Bill of Portland later than predicted and we didn’t get the advantage of the tide into Lyme Bay. We ended up tacking along the coast and finally when the wind got a bit of north in it we could almost get to Brixham on one tack from around Bridport. No broad reach mind you!
Highlights of the trip and some pictures,
An early start, with Swanage Bay like a mill pond. The Peveril race was choppy, beyond Durlston, moderately rough.
Rounding Portland Bill and dodging the rain showers. We managed to stay clear of all the rain.
Sunset and the moon on the water.
During the trip I managed to lose 2 caps and a pair of sunglasses overboard … don’t ask!
We took lots of water over the boat as Watanga pitched into the waves , and a lot of it found its way into the port hull, we still haven’t found out how. The bilge pump stopped working so every couple of hours Lou was hand pumping to empty the bilges.
About 9 o clock in the evening we had to put a reef in the main as the wind had picked up to 30 knots. further delaying us.
We eventually arrived at 11.30pm, tied up the boat, and went straight to bed.
4 Kidneys and a Wonky Leg 