Approaching Portland just before dawn
Portland Bill! Passing a good distance away to avoid the treacherous tidal races
Lurking menacingly..
Poole > Weymouth /
A day of all weather!
Started out quiet leaving sheltered anchorage by Goathorn Point in Poole harbour, and then breeze picked up and fast reach out and south to Old Harry, where squally rain started and had to motor sail close hauled into the increasing swell to make progress against tide. From Anvil Point struck out south-west to avoid the military firing zone off the coast, and the black clouds and rain continued for couple of hours.
Once turned the corner and could sail on a single tack north-west all the way to Weymouth the sky cleared and helped by tide had a glorious sail at 5-6 knots and covered the same distance in half the time!
Goathorn Point
Passing Old Harry and Old Harry’s Wife
To avoid the inner firing range I followed the recommended track to and from the co-ordinates shown on the chart.
Entrance to Weymouth harbour with Portland in the background.
34 nautical miles
Haslar > Poole /
An exhilarating and challenging day sailing into the wind and waves along the Solent with hundreds of other yachts taking part in - and spectating - the round the Isle of Wight race. Then through the turbulent Hurst narrows at west end of the island and across Christchurch Bay in a lumpy sea to a sheltered anchorage in Poole harbour.
Leaving Haslar marina and passing the green light ship (which now a pub that drank in last night).
Cherete (Phil’s boat) sailing out and heading for start of the race.
Another Contessa 26!
The Race Marshall Boat
Passing Hurst Point. Taking the shortcut over the shallow shingle bank the bow ploughed into a steep standing wave and came over top of Arwen and splashed down into the cabin!
Shoes getting pretty salty after waves coming into cockpit and getting a soaking (waterproof socks so dry feet!)
The Needles at western end of Isle of Wight
Approaching entrance to Poole harbour and can see the mansions at Sandbanks and the car chain ferry across to Studland.
Drying out everything that got soaked crashing through the waves today.
The wind to increase up to Force 7 tomorrow from south so rest day and found anchorage sheltered by tall trees on Goathorn Point (Arwen is red arrow).
Goathorn Point
39 nautical miles
Brighton > Haslar /
A slow hazy humid day with little wind and showers, so motor sailed much of the time until wind freshened nearer Portsmouth. Nice coming back into the Solent and familiar sea / landscape from growing up in the area and childhood sailing adventures.
The hydrovane doesn’t work when motoring so got the auto-helm out.
Cut a piece of wood so can mount the instrument displays in cockpit.
The two forts that guarded entrance to the Solent during the war, with Isle of Wight in the background.
There’s an underwater concrete barrier between marker and the fort in the distance, to prevent submarines from attacking!
43 nautical miles
Newhaven > Brighton /
Rested in the morning and did a few chores, like scrape off the weed from the hydrovane rudder that has grown since I left Edinburgh. Then in the afternoon a short sail around to Brighton - running with just the genny up alongside the cliffs - where Chris came and visited which was jolly.
Goodbye Newhaven!
Another Contessa 26 in Brighton called ‘Thousand Knights III’ in great condition and with lots of ropes that not sure their purpose! Looks like set up for racing so can fine tune everything..
8 nautical miles
Rye > Newhaven /
Another early start as can only leave Rye at high water which was at 5:17. A clear still morning. Motored out along the winding river back to the entrance, and the sea almost as calm as the river with no wind so motored south-west towards Hastings. After an hour or so the wind picked up and a slow gentle sail all the way past the cliffs to Newhaven.
Being very slowly overtaken
Beachy Head
Seven Sisters
Tried over-sunglasses over top of prescription sunglasses for extra protection and very restful for the eyes.
Moored in Newhaven. Can see the mud from sitting in river bed at Rye.
Can you spot Arwen?
Can you spot Arwen?
36 nautical miles
Ramsgate > Rye /
Up before 4am so that could arrive just before high water at 16:34 in Rye (tide in river can run at six knots if early or late!) and, with wind shrieking in rigging, had qualms about leaving. But forecast was declining wind from Force 6, so decided to go for it.
Outside harbour big swell rolled Arwen back and forth with couple of waves breaking over cockpit! But once turned downwind got calmer and speedily sailed all the way to Rye with just the genny part unfurled (the sail at the front).
Campsite just south of Deal where spent the night.
Keeping out of the way of ferries going in and out of Dover
Navy ship on patrol circled me for an hour as approached Dungeness. I looked up P281 on side and is the HMS Tyne.
Nuclear power station at Dungeness (not operational)
Entering the River Rye
High tide
Low tide
46 nautical miles
Ramsgate + Deal /
As luck would have it friends camping for the weekend nearby in Deal, and stormy weather to be avoided, so rest for couple of days and night in shore in a tent (which was strange as felt like it was swaying!)
Ten people on Arwen - a record!
Sharfleet Creek > Ramsgate /
Woke to a still morning just before 5am accompanied by birdsong from the marshes that surround the creek. After removing all the floating weed that got tangled in the rudder and anchor chain, weighed anchor and motored out being swept along by the ebb tide.
Industry on Medway
Red Sand Towers
Hitchhiker
Passing Broadstairs beach and cliffs
Approaching Ramsgate Harbour
39 nautical miles
Pyefleet Channel > Sharfleet Creek (Medway) /
A day of two distinct halves. The first, glassy smooth sea with no wind, so motoring and taking last of tide out into Thames Estuary and the Wallet Spitway. And then the second, turn the corner and a breeze appears and long sail all with way up the estuary with the tide to the Medway following a Thames barge as guide.
Weighed anchor just after 5am to catch last of tide out of River Colne
Catching up with Thames sailing barge
Thames sailing barge raised new sail. Not sure it’s name but above the jib at the bow.
Drying cushion cover after coffee spillage!
On collision course and this ship couldn’t change course in channel - so I did!
Hard to make out in photo, but this is The SS Richard Montgomery that went aground and sank 1944.
https://www.medway.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/5870/ship_wreck_ss_richard_montgomery_8_june_2021.pdf
Another Contessa 26! I emailed Barbara at the Contessa 26 Association and she replied this boat has just been sold, and new owner setting out to sail to Lithuania.
Walton-On-The-Naze > Pyefleet Channel (Colne) /
Weighed anchor just after nine and motored out once there was enough water. Was a still sunny morning, and once out of the channel set sail in light wind towards the Naze Tower.
Running before wind and with a calm sea, was a quiet bright day with much sun lotion applied and podcasts listened to.
As the tide turned and wind dropped even further, motored sailed so could take a short cut and cross over the Colne Bar while enough depth. And then slow sail up the Colne and return to Brightlingsea!
Being overtaken in the narrow shallow channel leaving Walton backwaters
Beach hut metropolis at Walton-on-the-naze
Passing Clayton-on-sea fun fair
Having break from sun while hydrovane steers
23 nautical miles
Lowestoft > Walton-On-The-Naze /
Left at 6am to catch the flood tide flowing south down the North Sea. With wind from the south-east had to tack back and forth down the coast and up to midday sped along helped by the tide.
But good things never last and afternoon battle against the ebb tide getting around Orford Ness to the Harwich Channel.
Anchored and watched a huge container ship arrive while waiting for tide to rise so could enter the shallow estuary of Walton-on-the-nase and quiet sheltered anchorage for the night.
Stanford buoy after leaving Lowestoft - can see tide streaming to right
Wally helping with navigating
Approaching Harwich and the gigantic dinosaur-like cranes
Arrived just at sunset
53 nautical miles
Marked in blue pen - Anchor 1 where waited for tide to rise and Anchor 2 where spent the night.
Lowestoft /
After a long sail when arrive late and exhausted am finding that appreciate day after to recover, clean, wash, shop and plan next journey, and also chance to explore..
The Broads One Design - they have 90 of them here - beautiful boat!
Cars are smaller in Lowestoft
Wells-Next-The-Sea > Lowestoft /
A day sailing a gentle curve around a coast of endless beaches, groynes, low crumbling cliffs, churches, lighthouses and an occasional windmill - to the easternmost town in the UK.
Kept close to the shore to reduce effect of powerful tide in the afternoon. Constant tiring attention required by wind continually varying in strength and direction (so not many photos!)
Left at 5am and carefully following the red and green buoys out of the estuary to the North Sea
Seals and beach huts
Entering Lowestoft harbour. Tide was running at over 2 knots across entrance and so to make it had to aim further up stream and actual track over the ground going sideways which felt quite surreal!
57 nautical miles
Wells-Next-The-Sea /
What a beautiful place! Fishing town of brick and flint buildings surrounded by fields, dykes, marshes, estuary and beaches fringed by dunes and pine forest.
Edge of the entrance channel at low water and a well-placed buoy!
Rob came over from Cambridge for surprise visit! So we had tea..
… and then beer
Grimsby > Wells-Next-The-Sea /
Restricted by tidal access I left Grimsby when the fish dock lock was open before midnight and sailed overnight out the Humber and across The Wash to the Norfolk coast, so could enter Wells-Next-The-Sea just before high water.
As left the Humber was careful to avoid ships coming and going and at anchor - the moonlight helped!
Beautiful light as raced across the sea about an hour before dawn
Following the buoys that threaded their way between sand banks up to Wells-Next-The-Sea
54 nautical miles
Grimsby /
Rest day wandering around Grimsby, exploring the old derelict fishing district and down to Cleethorpes beach.
Scarborough > Grimsby /
A long day running before the wind timed to reach Spurn Head at low water and then cross the shipping channel and take the flooding tide up the Humber to Grimsby.
Passing Flamborough Head
Passing wind farm off Withernsea
Crossing busy shipping channel into the Humber
Approaching Grimsby with lights of chemical industry near Hull to right
Easy finding the docks as head for the huge Grimsby Dock Tower that was built to hydraulically power the lock
67 nautical miles
Whitby > Scarborough /
Scenic sail alongside cliffs and green valleys cut down to the shore.
Morning walk to check out conditions at sea. Favourite spot for many with memorial messages on fence.
Looking back at swinging bridge. Goodbye Whitby!
Approaching Scarborough.
Can you spot Arwen?
18 nautical miles
Blyth > Whitby /
Longest journey yet of the trip and first overnight! Picked up Jon in Sunderland and then straight back out with intention of overnight sail down to Scarborough. But with wind from south-east progress was by tacking back and forth against the wind or motoring when wind dropped - and so came into Whitby instead in the morning to wait for better winds.
Not longer after leaving Eyemouth a school of dolphins passed traveling in pairs heading north. On the calm sea was the only disturbance.
Becalmed passing entrance to River Tyne.
Oil rigs and passing ships during the night
Approaching Whitby
Waiting for bridge to open
Fry up on land
85 nautical miles (not in a straight line!)
