Sunday 28th September 2025
0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 42.63'
N
Long: 001° 29.56'
W
Off Yarmouth, Isle of Wright
0110 hrs
Jack shook me awake with a start! My alarm had not gone off due to me setting it for a specific day. I climbed out of my bunk, dressed and made my way up to the shed. He handed over the watch and quietly headed back to his bunk.
Sitting watching Hurst Point Lighthouse flashing four every 15 seconds was quite mesmerising and being quite close to the shoreline the traffic pass by.
Just as Peter came up to take over the watch an alarm sounded as the batteries were getting low. Josh was fetched from his bunk to attend to that. I then quietly slipped below and back to my bunk for a brief sleep before we slipped the mooring and headed off round the island.
0530 hrs
Tumbled out of my bunk, got dressed in full oilies, made a quick cup of tea and emerged with the watch on deck just as it was getting light.
0600 hrs
Safely off the mooring having watched a cracking sunrise between layers of cloud I led the breakfast team below to heat up croissants and pain au chocolate. After feeding the crew it was time for another brew before heading up on deck. Meals and the washing up always take for ages at sea.
0730 hrs
We had rounded the Needles and the sea was lumpy. Many of the crew were inspecting their last two meals in the bottom of a bucket and it was apparent that the next few hours would see Sea Staff on deck.
0800 hrs
The skipper handed me the deck and the wheel! After 20 minuits she popped her head through the shed door and gave me the thumbs up. We we cracking along at six knots in a F5 with one reef in the main and mizzen and I had one of these rare pinch me moments - yes I was really doing this and if felt fantastic. The wind in my hair and the spray in my face.
As the crew found their sea legs they came back up on deck. We rotated crew on the helm and one young lad said he was going to be sick. We could not get a bucket to him fast enough and I witnessed him projectile vomit over the deck and himself. Only to discover that he had clipped in and we were unable to move him off the wheel quickly, he was not having a great day.
0930 hrs
Lat: 50° 32.10'
N
Long: 001° 18.35'
W
Off St. Catherine's Lighthouse, Isle of Wright
Cracking along at about 10 knots and enjoying the sailing.
1130 hrs
In Bembridge Bay and in the lea of the island where the sea state had got smoother lunch was served as we did race tracks in the water looking at all the anchored ships waiting to go into Southampton and Portsmouth.
1200 hrs
Lat: 50° 42.21'
N
Long: 001° 03.24'
W
Noon Position.
1345 hrs
Lat: 50° 47.66'
N
Long: 001° 06.61'
W
Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth.
Alongside and happy hour.
1500 hrs
Shore leave and a trip round the shopping centre.
After dinner I was able to get a shower, sadly the water was frezzing and once again the architect has no idea what a sailor needs in a shower block. A one star marina.
All times are UTC.
Prolific Log
| Distance NM |
Underway | Avg SOG knots |
Max SOG knots |
Night Hours |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day: | 46.80 | 7h 45m | 6.00 | 10.00 | 0h 00m |
| Trip: | 64.30 | 11h 25m | 5.80 | 10.30 | 0h 00m |
Crew: Lauren (Skipper), Cathy, Josh, Jack, Simon, Sandy, Peter and the group
Sunrise: 0559 hrs Meridian Passage: 1151 hrs Sunset: 1757 hrs
Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Sun 28 Sep 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 28 Sep 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 29 Sep 2025 .
There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Trafalgar and FitzRoy..
The general synopsis at 1800
Low Southeast Iceland 1002 expected 150 miles north of Faeroes 1007 by 1800 Sunday. Low south FitzRoy 997 expected Spain 1010 by same time.
Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight
South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good
© Met Office Synoptic Chart 28/09/2025