OYT Trip 04 of 2025 - Day 2

Friday 11^th April 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 45.70' N   Long: 001° 17.67' W
Sheppards, Cowes, Isle of Wright

0800 hrs

Wake, breakfast then 'Happy Hour'.

1000 hrs

On a bright, sunny day the crew accopanied by several sea staff venture into Cowes for a spot of 'shopping', a very popular activity, where significant amounts of sweets were purchased along with some souvineers.

On spotting that Neil Williams Photography shop was open I popped in and thanked the man himself for his amazing photographs and YouTube videos about his trip round the UK. He was more than a tad suprised!

Neil Williams Photography Shop, Cowes Isle of Wight.

We continued to amble up the High Street to the ice cream shop last visited in 2024. I was delighted to see that they had changed brand from Kelly's of Cornwall to an island brand. It is always good to support your local ice cream manufacturer.

1230 hrs

Back onboard Prolific for lunch and prep the boat for an afternoon trip down to Yarmouth along with winch drills and sail hoists.

1630 hrs

With Prolific being helmed by a crew member. Katie, Harry and I went forward to pick up the mooring buoy. Out of the three of us I was the only one who had done this before, Katie was out on the netting and Harry assisted me at the tide was running swiftly. We were all rather surprised when we picked up the buoy first time. On chatting to the crew member later she said this was the first time she had helmed any boat, even more surprising as she did it like a pro.

All times are UTC.

---

Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	15.60	5h 00m	3.10	10.00	0
Trip:	23.85	6h 30m	3.70	10.00	0
Year:	129.00	26h 30m	4.86	12.00	0

---

Crew: Andrew W (skipper), Brigid, Katie, Josh, Sara, Si, Harry, Sandy and the MDL group.

---

Sunrise: 0527 hrs    Meridian Passage: 1201 hrs   Sunset: 1849 hrs

---

Weather: Not available

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 11/04/2025

---

OYT Trip 04 of 2025 - Day 1

Thursday 10^th April 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 53.66' N   Long: 001° 23.34' W
Ocean Village, Southampton, Hampshire

0800 hrs

Wake, breakfast and sea staff change over.

1400 hrs

The new crew are welcomed aboard. A group of youngsters that MDL, one of the OYTs major sponsors, had funded berths for.

1700 hrs

After settling the crew in, welcomes and briefings we made a quick dash under motor to Cowes for the night.

1830 hrs

Alongside at Sheppard's in Cowes.

All times are UTC.

---

Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	8.25	1h 30m	5.50	7.00	0
Trip:	8.25	1h 30m	5.50	7.00	0
Year:	121.65	23h 00m	5.20	12.00	0

---

Crew: Andrew W (skipper), Brigid, Katie, Josh, Sara, Si, Harry, Sandy and the MDL group.

---

Sunrise: 0521 hrs    Meridian Passage: 1201 hrs   Sunset: 1852 hrs

---

Weather: Not Recorded

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 10/04/2025

---

OYT - Change Over Day

Wednesday 9^th April 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 53.66' N   Long: 001° 23.34' W
Ocean Village, Southampton, Hampshire

0800 hrs

Wake, breakfast and Prolific given a deep clean.

1100 hrs

Voyage sum-up and crew depart.

1200 hrs

Lunch and prep Prolific for the next crew.

1700 hrs

All Sea Staff head off for a pint.

All times are UTC.

---

Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	-	-	-	-	-
Trip:	-	-	-	-	-
Year:	113.40	21h 30m	5.40	12.00	0

---

Crew: Constantinos (Skipper)

---

Sunrise: 0527 hrs    Meridian Passage: 1201 hrs   Sunset: 1849 hrs

---

Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Wed 9 Apr 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 9 Apr 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 10 Apr 2025.

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar.

The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected Forth 1033 by 1800 Wednesday

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 09/04/2025

---

OYT Trip 03 of 2025 - Day 4

Tuesday 8^th April 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 42.70' N   Long: 001° 59.11' W
Poole, Dorset

0700 hrs

Awake and time for breakfast and happy hour.

0945 hrs

Slipped the lines and head out into the Poole Bay, I've renamed it 'Pot Hell', eastwards towards the Solent and back to Ocean Village.

1200 hrs

Lat: 50° 39.14' N   Long: 001° 47.40' W
Noon Position

1400 hrs

Another Pot Hell (Poole Bay) with a good lookout for pots and back into the Solent via the North Channel.

1600 hrs

The Trust had use of a mooring off Yarmouth that we were to pick up, prepair supper and do some pilotage before motoring Prolific back to Ocean Village in the dark.

Chris and I were asked to go forward to pick up the mooring, armed with the longest boat hook I've ever used Prolific was skilfully manoeuvred to the mooring where I was lucky to get the pickup buoy on first strike and brought the mooring line inboard.

Getting Ready to Picking up the buoy
© OYT South 08/04/2025

1820 hrs

With the sun setting we cast off from the mooring and the crew navigate Prolific back to Ocean Village.

2100 hrs

Happily tucked up on the pontoon in Ocean Village.

All times are UTC.

---

Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	42.20	08h 30m	5.00	12.00	0
Trip:	83.40	17h 05m	4.84	12.00	0
Year:	113.40	21h 30m	5.40	12.00	0

---

Crew: Constantinos (Skipper), Michelle, Katie, Cathy, Sara, Chris L, Sandy and the school group.

---

Sunrise: 0531 hrs    Meridian Passage: 1202 hrs   Sunset: 1850 hrs

---

Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Tue 8 Apr 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 8 Apr 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 9 Apr 2025.

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar.

The general synopsis at 1800

High Forties 1029 slow-moving with little change

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in shelter. Fair. Good

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/04/2025

---

OYT Trip 03 of 2025 - Day 3

Monday 7^th April 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 45.62' N   Long: 001° 17.59' W
Sheppards Marina, Cowes, Isle of Wright

0600 hrs

Awake and time for breakfast and an early get away for Poole.

0715 hrs

Slipped the lines and head out to the western Solent on a stunning April morning.

Out past Hurst Castle and into the North Channel.

1200 hrs

Lat: 50° 37.59' N   Long: 001° 42.60' W
Noon Position

1400 hrs

Crossing Poole Bay was very much a game of dodge the pots in delightful sunshine.

1615 hrs

Waiting in the main channel into Poole Harbour for the Channel Islands supply ship to pass when a small speedboat zoomed between us and the supply ship! A total twonk who clearly had no idea of the risk he was taking.

As we were reversing into our berth at Poole Quay Boat Haven the same twonk entered our allocated berth as the marina staff, who were waiting to take our lines, looked on in utter astonishment. It was clear that he had not looked behind him and had no idea we were reversing a 105 tonne boat towards him. The marina staff asked him to move to the next pontoon - he was insistent that he was just 'picking up his wife' who was clearly holding some fish and chips.

As I was on the stern I looked on I could only look and wonder about the lack of basic seamanship demonstrated by the speedboat skipper.

Poole Quay Boat Haven

1730 hrs

The crew ashore for showers, ice cream and stocking up on sugar.

All times are UTC.

---

Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	42.00	08h 30m	5.00	12.00	0
Trip:	83.40	17h 05m	4.84	12.00	0
Year:	113.40	21h 30m	5.40	12.00	0

---

Crew: Constantinos (Skipper), Michelle, Katie, Cathy, Sara, Chris L, Sandy and the school group.

---

Sunrise: 0530 hrs    Meridian Passage: 1202 hrs   Sunset: 1848 hrs

---

Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Mon 7 Apr 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 7 Apr 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 8 Apr 2025 .

The general synopsis at 1800

High Viking 1030 expected Forties unchanged by 1800 Monday

Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

East or northeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later. Fair. Good.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 07/04/2025

---