Sailing Aphrodite: Plymouth

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Delivery - The Exe to Plymouth

Monday 19^th August 2024

I had answered an email from Halcyon looking for local crew on a delivery between the Exe and Plymouth and had been accepted.

After a few WhatsApp messages and a call with the skipper, Tris, we arranged to meet with the owner selling the boat at 0500 hrs beside Lympstone Sailing Club.

0530 hrs

Lat: 50° 38.65' N Long: 003° 26.13' W
Off Lympstone, Devon.

An early start and a short drive to Lympstone to meet up with Tris and the selling owner. A quick handshake and we all jumped on the dinghy for the ride out to the boat.

The owner talked us through the boats systems. We had been advised that there would be no kettle onboard and I had spent some time rummaging in the shed for my old camping Trangia kit, last used some 20 years ago, dug out the kettle and spent ages cleaning it only to discover some spiders in there not previously known in East Devon. Much to our surprise not only was there no kettle, there was no way of lighting the stove as neither Tris or I smoked! It was going to be a long day with no way of making a hot drink.

Given we were racing the tide there was no time to head back to shore, dash to the village shop for a box of matches.

We were later to find that while the boat had lots of engine spares, filters, fan belts - that sort of thing there were no tools onboard. If we had any engine or rigging issues there was very little we could do.

The current owner having finished the handover departed on the dinghy and we cast off from the mooring. As I had previously had a boat on the Exe I was given the tiller and not steered a boat with a tiller for some time it felt a bit odd.

Kingfisher on her mooring at Lympstone
© Tristran Brooks 19/08/2024

I was quite surprised to discover how much the Exe had changed. It felt like I was leaving a new harbour again.

Tris had opted to take the 'short-cut' as we left the river and cut the corner heading straight towards Dawlish. In the past I had always gone out to the safe water mark, but time was of the essence.

0700 hrs

Lat: 50° 24.22' N Long: 003° 28.10' W
Off Dawlish, Devon.

The morning is grey and overcast. Very few boats out on the water. Under motor as the wind is on the nose.

Note to self: Invest in a decent pair of gloves even though it is August it is quite chilly.

0920 hrs

Lat: 50° 33.94' N Long: 003° 25.25' W
Off Berry Head, Devon

Tris popped below and comes back on deck to say 'we've used 10 lts of diesel!', engine to tick over and fill the tank from the spare 10 ltr jerry can and ponder popping into Dartmouth as Kingfisher was drinking fuel at about 2 lts an hour.

We ran the engine up again, but with lower revs having come to the conclusion that the hull was foul with weed. While Dartmouth was an option as a refuel stop I calculated it would add another three hours to the passage time and the weather forecast, so far, had been pretty accurate.

1200 hrs

Lat: 50° 13.73' N Long: 003° 39.22' W
Noon Position

1230 hrs

Lat: 50° 11.85' N Long: 003° 39.99' W
South of Start Point, Devon

Just off Start Point we found some sailable wind, the forecast was proving to be very accurate as we now had a F6/7 with wind over tide. Tris hoisted the main which promptly got stuck half way up the mast!

On handover we were assured that all the running rigging was working perfectly!

Tris ventured onto the deck of this 24 foot boat, doing its best to be a bucking bronco fairground ride, and worked to fix the problem for about 20 minutes with only the 'occasional swear word' being heard in the cockpit as I was threading the vessel through mountainous seas - well they looked big in this tiny boat.

1500 hrs

Lat: 50° 15.90' N Long: 003° 58.87' W
South West of Burgh Island, Devon

A cracking sail, double reefed, but a serious lack of tea!

Not the only boat out on the water
© Tristran Brooks 19/08/2024

1600 hrs

Lat: 50° 17.58' N Long: 004° 04.59' W
South West of Yealm Head, Devon

The fog had descended and we were sailing blind. With two to three metre waves we threaded our way into Plymouth Sound, the far end of the breakwater only visible when there was a lift in the fog.

Once inside the breakwater we turned on the motor and dropped the sails.

1730 hrs

Lat: 50° 21.99' N Long: 004° 09.26' W
King Point Marina, Plymouth, Devon

The new owner took our lines and we tied Kingfisher up in her new berth at King Point Marina, Plymouth.

Kingfisher at King Point
© Tristran Brooks 19/08/2024

After the handover the new owner kindly drove me up to the train station and I headed back to Lympstone to collect the car and head home.

A comment from a friend who watched us enter King Point, you can't go anywhere without being spotted, was, 'your either very mad or very brave to be out in that wee boat on a day like today'.

Footnote:

Halcyon has a number of prizes for things that go on during the year and I nominated Tris for the "Above and Beyond" category and we were lucky enough to be joint winners.

All times are UTC.

The Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	55.00	12h 00m	5.00	9.00	0

Crew: Tristran Brooks (Skipper) Sandy Garrity

Sunrise: 0542 hrs Sunset: 1931 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 19 Aug 2024 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 19 Aug 2024 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 20 Aug 2024.

Portland, Plymouth, North Biscay

Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in Plymouth. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except in southeast Portland. Rain later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 19/08/2024

Updated 04/12/2024

OYT MACS Trip Day 2: Brixham - Cawsands Bay

Thursday 3^rd August 2023

We agreed an early start and after breakfast got up on deck to slip lines. I was wondering where the promised sailing conditions, bright sunshine and a steady F4 from the SW, had gone as we had heavy rain overnight and visibility was poor.

0840 hrs
Lines slipped from the pontoon and we were off. A few fishing boats maneuvering in the harbour and a Dutch sailing boat departing just before us.

Just out of the harbour the fishing boats roared past us and the Dutch boat was hoisting sails. We then started with winch drills – teaching or reminding everybody to make sure hands did not get jammed and that pinkies not thumbs should be towards the winch!

0940 hrs
Winch training completed we hoisted sails just south of Berry Head and settled into our watches in a good sailing breeze.

1100 hrs
Time for the Man Overboard drill, I hear there is a move afoot to get this changed to 'Person In the Water', Bob was flung into Start Bay and we swung into action, the crew pointing and Sea Staff getting ready to hoist the Bosun overboard to collect Bob.

1130 hrs
Passing inshore of the Skerries Bank we had a close look at Start Point lighthouse and the overfalls gave us a taste of what was to come.

Interestingly, the skipper asked if I would monitor the passage through the narrow channel between Start Point and the bank on the chart.

1200 hrs
As we were now to the west of Start Point the seas had built and the forecast was correct we were experiencing rough seas. An afternoon of passing sick buckets around started as the ride was uncomfortable.

1400 hrs
A 90° course change as we turned to head for Plymouth passing the Eddystone Lighthouse and several fishing boats trawling on our way into harbour.

1630 hrs
Tucked up at anchor in Cawsands Bay in the company of five other sail training vessels: Olga, Johanna Lucretia, Pegasus and Rona II.

Several people went ashore in the dinghy and Josh and Hannah decided to swim back to the boat (madness)!

A cracking day sailing even though many were seasick.

All times are UTC.

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	8h 00m	52	6.50	9.00	0h 0m
Trip:	8h 00m	52	6.50	9.00	0h 0m

Crew: Andy Brown (Skipper), Lauren, Josh, Glyn, Robert L, Jack O, Hannah B, Sandy and MACS crew.

Sunrise: 0445 hrs Sunset: 2003 hrs

Weather: Forecast valid from: 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 3 Aug 2023 until 01:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 4 Aug 2023

Issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Thu 3 Aug 2023

Portland, Plymouth

West 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 4 to 6. Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 03/08/2023

Papillon: Fowey to Plymouth

Having spent three relaxing days in Fowey, wandering about the town, reading onboard, enjoying the beer and meals at The Ship Inn.

There were few boats on the pontoons and as sailors the world over we all met up, had coffee and a chat. I was delighted to see a French boat over with all the shenanigans about Brexit.

When it was time to head back we slipped our lines and poked the bow out of the river, conditions were still bouncy, and headed east under a single reef. Visibility was less than a mile.

The French boat that was on the second pontoon also departed heading for Plymouth.

As we arrived at Sutton Lock the lock keeper called out and asked if Andrew would ring then Coastguard at Falmouth as they wanted to check we were OK. It turns out that the French skipper had lost sight of us and we had disappeared from his AIS, hence he reported this to the Coastguard. They were able to confirm that they could see us on AIS doing 7 knots heading east.

All in all a cracking few days.

All times are UTC.

The Numbers:
	Underway	Distance NM	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	4h 15m	27.75	6.5	9.00	0h 0m
Trip:	10d 23h 59m	9,999	0	0	0

Crew: Andrew Pascoe (Skipper) Morag Thomson Findlay and Sandy Garrity

Sunrise: 0542 hrs Sunset: 1931 hrs

Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Thu 8 Sep 2022 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 8 Sep 2022 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 9 Sep 2022.

Portland, Plymouth

Southwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth to Treluggan

I had booked the boat to come ashore at Treluggan Boatyard on the river Lynher in Cornwall on the recommendation of a good friend. With a few days to spare until the next set of spring tides, I was advised I'd need a 5 metre tide, I dashed home by train, collected the car and drove it down to the yard. Very kindly Morris and Steph arranged to meet me there and drive me back to Plymouth. With all of the transport in place I was ready to get the boat ashore for the winter.

0600 hrs Slipped the lines at King Point and set off upto Treluggan. The directions from the yard were quite clear, but it being a small Cornish creek the journey did leave me a tad nervous as the drying height on the chart is 2.5 metres.

I chugged up the Tamar and then turned into the Lynher and watched the depth like a hawk. The Lynher is a gorgeous stretch of water and the trip needs to be repeated with crew.

Just past the Dandy Hole I almost missed the turning and headed onto St Germans, but saw the posts marking the channel just in time. Clearly, I missed the center of the channel as I gently ran aground, reversed and aimed a bit more to the east of the channel and edged my way up river almost touching trees as I did. Under the railway viaduct and Treluggan popped into view.

0730 hrs I tied up alongside the pontoon and popped the kettle on and waited for the yard team to haul me out then walked away from the boat and let them get her propped for the winter.

Lift out Cornish Style

Crew: Sandy Garrity

Sunrise: 0642 hrs Sunset: 1945 hrs

Trip Stats: Distance: 8.7 nm, Avg speed: 5.00 knots, Max speed: 6.00 knots, Under way: 1 h 30 m.

Weather: Inshore waters...

Brighton to Plymouth

04/09/2021

Following the discussions over a superb meal last night and looking at lots of options we decided to push hard for Plymouth on the next passage so had a leisurely morning with a good long shower, a quick shop and getting the boat ready for the final leg.

Brighton was being dredged and I watched the two dredgers pass the boat ready to start their days work, quickly followed by a rather sporty racing yacht who got a sharp reminder over the radio not to move until the dredgers were in position. They rather sheepishly returned to the marina and dropped their sails and waited for permission to leave the marina.

1030 hrs
Departed Brighton Marina, clearly there was a race going on in the bay and a lot of fishing trips were enjoying the sunshine.

The wind was still with us as we set off for the final leg along le Manche back to Plymouth. Where I would deliver Morris back to Bora Bora at Saltash.

1800 hrs
Seven miles due south of Selsey Bill Morris came up for the last sunset watch of the trip. The evenings were beginning to get a lot cooler than they had a month before.

2100 hrs
I came up on watch for the start of the last night on the trip.

2230 hrs
Five nm south of St Catherine's Point and heading into home waters.

05/09/2021

0000 hrs
Morris came up for the midnight watch as we were crossing Lyme Bay, distinctly colder.

0600 hrs
A cold misty morning greeted us on the final morning of the trip.

Just off Start Point, in the mist, with a race going on, a few fishing boats weaving their crazy courses across the ocean and a couple of big motor boats heading east the main fuel tank went to empty and the engine coughed and sputtered. I called Morris from below and we dumped the remaining spare fuel in the tank and bled the engine before restarting it again.

1400 hrs
Rafted up against Bora Bora delivering Morris back to Steph and Lammy, the dog, we spend a couple of hours talking over the voyage of over 600 nautical miles. Morris poured a beer and I had a cup of tea as I still needed to get Aphrodite back to her visitors berth at King Point Marina.

1800 hrs
Tied up Aphrodite on one of the visitors berths at King Point Marina and relaxed at the end of a month at sea.

Crew: Sandy Garrity, Morris Abbott

Trip Stats: Distance: 174 nm, Avg speed: 6.00 knots, Max speed: 9.00 knots, Under way: 34 h 10 m.

Weather: Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 4 Sep 2021 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 5 Sep 2021

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight, becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in west. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4 , becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight, becoming smooth later. Fair, fog patches later in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly, veering easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in east. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight. Fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.