Frostbite Delivery – Day 3

Saturday 10^th December 2022

0600 hrs

On watch and it is still dark, we had been weaving through the Thames Estuary for most of the night. I took over from the skipper, but as we were close to the destination he remained on deck.

0700 hrs

As the light started to fill the sky we had a course change turn to starboard at Black Deep No 8 Buoy (N51 36.51 E001 21.32), then keep within that channel, but as with everything there were two large cargo ships inbound for London. We furled away the Genoa and dropped speed allowing them to pass well in front of us.

Crossing the channel we consulted the tide tables and felt that there was enough water to safely cross a major sandbank. I turned to port and over we went, carefully monitoring the depth sounder. We were fine with over a meter of water under the keel.

By now the sun was up and it was turning into a lovely morning, Phil was also up on deck, everybody was aware that we were on the last few miles, being guided by the windfarms.

One of the many wind turbines in the Thames Estuary

With everybody up on deck we all enjoyed the sunshine and remarked how brown the water was then set the boat up for arriving at Brightlingsea.

1200 hrs

We really could not have timed our arrival so well, noon it was. Greeted by the new owners on the pontoon, they had been eagerly watching us on AIS and were keen to see their new boat tied up, safe and sound. We handed over the boat, gave them a list of small issues that they needed to know. They insisted that lunch was on them and we were all taken to the local sailing club. Where we all enjoyed our first pint since before leaving Plymouth.

1400 hrs

Following lunch at Brightlingsea Sailing Club, including some excellent local beer, we were driven to the local railway station, waved our goodbyes to the new owners and bought tickets for the rail journey home.

Crossing London on the new Jubilee Line was a new experience. It was fast and the trains very modern. Climbing the steps at Paddington threaded my way through the pre Christmas throngs of people and waited for the next train to the West Country. The train was delightfully warm.

All times are UTC.

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	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	12h 00m	68	6.00	10.00	7h 51m
Trip:	49h 50m	248	5.70	12.00	7h 51m

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Crew: Ismail Tezdiker (Skipper), Phil Kingerlee and Sandy Garrity.

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Sunrise: 0751 hrs Sunset: 1547 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Fri 9 Dec 2022 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 10 Dec 2022 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Dec 2022.

Humber, Thames

West or southwest 3 or 4. Moderate at first in Humber, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 10/12/2022

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Frostbite Delivery – Day 2

Friday 9^th December 2022

0000 hrs

I climbed back on deck in every item of clothing I could find to do the midnight to 0200 hrs watch.

Under the light of a Silvery Moon

All times are UTC.

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	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	141	6.00	12.00	-
Trip:	37h 50m	216	5.70	12.00	-

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Crew: Ismail Tezdiker (Skipper), Phil Kingerlee and Sandy Garrity.

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Sunrise: 0542 hrs Sunset: 1931 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 8 Dec 2022 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 9 Dec 2022 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 10 Dec 2022.

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

North or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west Plymouth. Showers, occasionally wintry in Dover. Good, occasionally poor in Dover.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 09/12/2022

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Frostbite Delivery – Day 1

Thursday 8^th December 2022

0700 hrs

An early start as we needed to vital, water and fuel Rhapsody, a Jeanneau SO 379. Ismail and I popped up to the CO-OP to do the food shopping while Phil went on a hunt for a chopping board and jerry can.

On return to the boat I found Andy, one of the Ocean Youth Trust's Relief Skippers, had arrived from Cowes and tied up next to us – more small world syndrome. While loading Rhapsody with stores we caught up on news and chatted about conditions out at sea. Cold, very cold was the message.

0930 hrs

Filled with diesel and headed into the lock and the start of the 290 NM trip to Brightlingsea in Essex.

Rhapsody in Sutton Lock, Plymouth

After a short wait the outer locks opened and we motored into Plymouth Sound. A stunning, but cold, December morning.

As Plymouth is my home port Ismail passed me the helm and I steered Rhapsody through the Sound to the Eastern Entrance. It felt a bit odd as this was the first twin wheel boat I'd helmed, quite sure twin wheels don't work for me as you need to move between wheels to get a good view of what is going on.

As is customary I called up the National Coast Watch station at Rame Head for a radio and AIS check. They replied and wished us a good trip.

Without a formal watch system agreed I remained on the helm as we motored in zero wind past the Mew Stone and SE towards Start Point our first tide gate.

1400 hrs

Ismail took over watch as we settled into a 2 on 4 off watch routine as it was bitterly cold and doing the usual 3 on, 6 off was going to lead to very cold people and poor decision making.

1600 hrs

Phil came up on watch and I got my head down for a nap.

1800 hrs

Arrived on watch. EEEK, it is dark and rather cold. At this point I discovered I had left my thick winter buff and charcoal hand warmers on Aphrodite. Hood pulled well up and hands planted firmly in pockets to keep warm I started my first of three dark hours watches.

2000 hrs

Thankful that the watch finished I retreat to the warmth of the cabin and my sleeping bag. The alarm was set for 2345 hrs and I was not looking forward to getting back on deck then.

All times are UTC.

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	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	13h 50m	75	5.00	11.00	7h 43m
Trip:	13h 50m	75	5.00	11.00	7h 47m

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Crew: Ismail Tezdiker (Skipper), Phil Kingerlee and Sandy Garrity.

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Sunrise: 0803 hrs Sunset: 1613 hrs

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Weather:
The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 23:30 (UTC) on Wed 7 Dec 2022 for the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 8 Dec 2022 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 9 Dec 2022.

Wight, Portland, Plymouth

North or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west Plymouth. Showers. Good

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/12/2022

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Frostbite Delivery – Pre Voyage

Wednesday 7^th December 2022

I was not planning to do any sailing in December but an email from Halcyon Yachts dropped into my inbox looking urgently for crew to do a delivery from Plymouth to Brightlingsea in Essex. I promptly replied saying I was in Devon, available and could be down at the boat two days later. Almost by return I had a reply saying, great I was on the crew list and to await instructions from the skipper.

I hopped on a bus, jumped on a train to Plymouth then walked down to Sutton to meet the boat, Phil was already onboard and the skipper was on his way from Southampton.

It turns out that the delivery had already been started, but due to technical reasons had to turn back at Start Point. The previous skipper and one of the crew had run out of time leaving Phil from the original crew still onboard. Thus we were to be the replacement delivery crew.

While waiting for the skipper to arrive Phil and I popped to the Barbican for some excellent fish and chips, but resisted going into The Dolphin.

Ismail arrived just after 2030 hrs and we set about with introductions and briefings before turning in for the night.

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