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.

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The Log

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

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Crew: Tristran Brooks (Skipper) 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 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

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Updated 04/12/2024

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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The Log

	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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Faro to Falmouth – Day 12

Friday 19^th August 2022

0100 hrs

Lat: 49° 48.77 'N Long: 004° 49.70 'W

Up on deck for my last watch at sea of the trip. The Cornish coastline could be seen and the welcome flash of familiar lighthouses.

0700 hrs

Lat: 50° 09.17'N Long: 005° 03.70'W

Arrived and tied up at Port Pendennis Marina, time for breakfast before cleaning the boat from stem to stern.

Following a shower, I am not impressed with the facilities given the reputation of the place, we headed up to Falmouth Docks rail station, purchased our tickets and jumped on the next train to Truro where we changed trains for all points east. Dan and Stuart got off at Plymouth as they wanted a London bound train and I continued to Exeter.

All times are UTC.

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The Numbers

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	6h 00m	26.30	4.38	6.00	5h 17m
Trip:	10d 23h 59m	938.10	0	0	0

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0517 hrs Sunset: 1933 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 12:30 (UTC+1) on Mon 8 Aug 2022 for the period 13:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 8 Aug 2022 to 13:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 9 Aug 2022.

Plymouth

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 in northeast for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/08/2024

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 11

Thursday 18^th August 2022

0000 hrs

Lat: 48° 27.0'N Long: 005° 05.99'W

A very peaceful night in this lovely anchorage. I must return one day.

0730

Dropped the mooring buoy and started on the last hop to Falmouth. Looking distances we had about a hundred miles to run and it felt like just a short hop over La Manche to Cornwall

0900 hrs

Lat: 48° 32.39'N Long: 005° 06.95'W

We had come out into a lumpy chop, but the sun was shining and the coastline, including several spectacular lighthouses was stunning.

1000 hrs

Lat: 48° 37.75'N Long: 005° 03.10'W

The French Coastguard and several fishing vessels out searching for a MOB from a fishing vessel last night. Another reminder that the sea needs to be respected.

Several dolphins, gannets and shearwaters spotted.

All times are UTC.

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Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	82.10	5.75	7.00	5h 17m
Trip:	5d 08h 30m	911.80	6.29	7.00

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0515 hrs Sunset: 1935 hrs

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Weather: Forecast valid from: 19:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 18 Aug 2022 until 19:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 19 Aug 2022

Portland, Plymouth

West or southwest, veering northwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight at first in Portland, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west Plymouth. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 18/08/2022

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 10

Wednesday

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 59.99 'N Long: 004° 59.59 'W
Course: 360°T SOG: 9 kts STW: 4 kts Hourly run: 5 nm
TWD: 360 °T TWS: 10 kts AWA: 360 °P/S AWS: 5 kts

text

All times are UTC.

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Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	16.90	-	-	-
Trip:	5d 08h 30m	829.70	6.29	7	-

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

---

Sunrise: - hrs Sunset: - hrs

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Weather: -

-

-

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/08/2022< /em>

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 9

Tuesday

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 59.99 'N Long: 004° 59.59 'W

text

All times are UTC.

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Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	109.00	5.75	7.00	-
Trip:	5d 08h 30m	812.80	6.29	7	-

---

Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

---

Sunrise: - hrs Sunset: - hrs

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Weather: -

-

-

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/08/2022< /em>

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 8

Monday

0000 hrs

Lat: 44° 28.90'N Long: 007° 25.42'W

text

All times are UTC.

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Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	138.00	5.75	7.0	-
Trip:	5d 08h 30m	703.80	6.29	7	-

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

---

Sunrise: - hrs Sunset: - hrs

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Weather: -

-

-

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/08/2022< /em>

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 7

Sunday

0000 hrs

Lat: 38° 41.99'N Long: 009° 31.40'W

Placeholder

All times are UTC.

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Trip Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	13h 30m	79.20	5.80	7.00	-h -m
Trip:	104h 35m	565.80	5.41	7.00	-h -m

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0543 hrs Sunset: 1930 hrs

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Weather:

Faro to Falmouth – Day 6

Saturday

0000 hrs

Lat: 38° 41.99'N Long: 009° 31.40'W

Placeholder

All times are UTC.

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Trip Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	8h 50m	47.40	5.38	6.00	-h -m
Trip:	91h 05m	486.60	5.34	6.00	-h -m

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0543 hrs Sunset: 1930 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 17:25 (UTC+1) on Sat 13 Aug 2022 for the period 19:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 13 Aug 2022 to 19:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 14 Aug 2022.

FitzRoy

Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later just north of spain. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fog patches in southeast. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southeast and poor elsewhere

Faro to Falmouth – Day 5

Friday

0000 hrs

Lat: 40° 55.47'N Long: 009° 20.34'W

0200 hrs

Lat: 41° 13.97'N Long: 009° 19.55'W

My turn for the night watch. Took over the watch from Stuart. All quiet on board and no traffic about.

It is my daughter's 20^th birthday and I wish her a happy birthday via the stars.

A flat calm and very little cloud. In the distance I spotted a cruise liner. Wonder where they are off to? A shooting star spotted about 0320, the Perseids shower is happening about now.

0500 hrs

Lat: 41° 32.36'N Long: 009° 18.78'W

Still heading north, with 3 knots of true wind so the engine is off. Dan takes over and I head down to my bunk and the drone of the engine.

1100 hrs

Lat: 42° 05.20'N Long: 009° 16.96'W

The mid-day watch. We think there is a minke whale off to our starboard, just a small fin breaking the surface.

1200 hrs

Lat: 42° 10.47'N Long: 009° 18.58'W

At 1245 we defently spotted a whale off the starboard bow

All times are UTC.

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Trip Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	133.00	5.54	6.00	-h -m
Trip:	82h 15m	439.20	-	6.00	-h -m

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0543 hrs Sunset: 1930 hrs

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 4

Thursday

0000 hrs

Lat: 38° 41.99'N Long: 009° 31.40'W

A flat calm and very little cloud. In the distance I spotted a cruise liner. Wonder where they are off to?

0200 hrs

Lat: 38° 53.25'N Long: 009° 32.88'W

I am relived by Dan and head below to get some sleep.

0800 hrs

Lat: 39° 28.95'N Long: 009° 25.62'W

Well that was a short night. We are well into the three hours on, six hours off watch pattern.

1100 hrs

Lat: 39° 28.95'N Long: 009° 25.62'W

A small group of islands are off our port side and we are visited by dolphins.

All times are UTC.

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Trip Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	24h 00m	139.00	5.79	6.00	-h -m
Trip:	58h 15m	306.20	5.25	6.00	-h -m

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0543 hrs Sunset: 1930 hrs

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 3

Wednesday

0000 hrs

Lat: 36° 58.96'N Long: 008° 46.82'W

0500 hrs

Lat: 36° 59.26'N Long: 007° 56.74'W

I'm up for the sunrise watch, one of the best of the day and it is turning out to be a stunning morning. Brilliant sunshine, no wind and a glassy sea. The only down side was the noise of the engine.

0600 hrs

Lat: 37° 23.02'N Long: 008° 56.82'W

0900 hrs

Lat: 37° 39.77'N Long: 008° 54.54'W

1115 hrs

Lat: 37° 57.05'N Long: 008° 51.97'W

As we did not have a fuel gauge onboard we pulled into Sines to top up the tank and give us an idea of consumption. Given the port has a major oil refinery we weaved through the anchored ships and made our way into the marina only to find that they closed for lunch between 1 and 3 pm. Giving us time to check the boat for leaks and any damage since launch. Shock horror when we found the bilge full of water thankfully fresh. After refilling the tanks we found that a hose had split flooding the bilge. Given the lack of wind it was decided that fresh water would need to be purchased in containers for the rest of the voyage and two of us were quickly dispatched by taxi for supplies of fresh water from Aldi.

The journey back to the boat was not as easy as all of the taxis had gone for lunch and left us standing outside the supermarket pondering how we would get 50 litres of back to the boat. My crew-mate, having much better language skills than me, asked a family if it they could help. Very kindly they offered to take us the mile or so back to the marina. Mum and children jumped out of the car, we filled the car with us and 10 containers of water, and dad drove us back to the marina. A simple act of kindness that was greatly appreciated.

The marina staff duly arrived after lunch, we filled the fuel tank and after a quick swim to inspect the hull we set off again.

1330 hrs

Departed Sines. A lovely town. Must try and get back one day.

1400 hrs

I'm on watch and there is a problem with the auto helm. Dan pulls it apart and sets about fixing it. It is a long way to hand steer, but this is what we will need to do with no wind to drive the Hydrovane.

1800 hrs

Lat: 38° 09.76'N Long: 009° 02.41'W

2100 hrs

Lat: 38° 24.42'N Long: 009° 14.01'W

All times are UTC.

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Trip Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	21h 45m	114.00	5.00	6.00	-h -m
Trip:	34h 15m	167.20	4.88	6.00	4h 30m

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0543 hrs Sunset: 1930 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Wed 10 Aug 2022 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 10 Aug 2022 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 11 Aug 2022.

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Westerly or northwesterly, but variable at times in north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far northwest. Moderate in west, slight in east. Fog patches near silver coast. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near silver coast.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 08/08/2024

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 2

Tuesday

0000 hrs

Lat: 37° 01.25'N Long: 007° 56.65'W

0600 hrs

The sun woke me early, hot and bright even this early in the morning! I clambered off the boat to look round the boatyard before the start of a very busy day. After a shower and teeth brushing we all headed up to the local supermarket.

Finding a cafe beside the supermarket we dived in for a morning coffee and a small Portuguese custard bun, both were delicious. The top priority was food, I wandered round the supermarket quite lost as I had no idea what people liked and was bewildered by the different ingredients. I ended up pushing the trolley and letting Dan and Stuart fill it. We then all tottered back to the yard carrying six carrier bags each. Then had the fun of getting the heavy bags onboard.

With everything packed away we got the boat for the yard team to transport the boat to the quay. Thankfully, the skipper had done this sort of thing many times before and we all got on with the jobs in hand.

1015 hrs

The boat transporter arrived and the yard team placed the slings under the boat, removed the retaining straps from the cradle, lifted her and we were slowly moved to the launch quay. I've never seen retaining staps over a boat before and thought it was a very good idea.

Boat launch at the yard.

After lowering her into the water, always a nervous moment as you dash onboard to check for leaks and fire up the engine. Much to everybody's relief fired up first time. The fuel tanks were topped up and the jerry cans filled with diesel. The boat was then walked round to the waiting pontoon while a second boat was launched.

1130 hrs

Lat: 37° 01.27'N Long: 007° 56.74'W

Departure. As the route from the yard to main navigation channel is shallow and narrow the yard has a pilot dory that leads the way to the first official buoy then you are on your own. I can't think why the skipper handed me the wheel perhaps it was because I used to keep a boat on the Exe and used to steering with very little water under the keel. At one point we had 0.5 metres and even I was getting nervous as it was not my boat. Several times as we followed the dory the engine stopped, always a heart in mouth moment, but thankfully restarted. Just some air in the fuel lines.

1200 hrs

Lat: 37° 00.67'N Long: 007° 56.54'W

By the time we had the sails on we were passing the majestic lighthouse at Faro it was purring along nicely and we left the safety of the huge lagoon of Faro and into the open sea.

On arriving on the open sea we turned west and started the long journey to Falmouth. We knew the weather forecast was giving winds in the wrong direction and then very light winds during the first day we bashed into the swell before tuning north at Cape St Vincent in the middle of the night and heading up the Portuguese coast towards Lisbon.

2300 hrs

Lat: 36° 58.88'N Long: 008° 47.42'W

Off watch, headed below for some sleep after a long day. Actually quite an uncomfortable night as the boat slammed into the waves and I was attempting to sleep in the forecabin.

All times are UTC.

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Trip Stats

	Underway	Distance	Avg SOG	Max SOG	Night Hours
Day:	12h 30m	53.20	4.40	6.00	4h 30m
Trip:	12h 30m	53.20	4.40	6.00	4h 30m

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Crew: Dan Judges (Skipper), Stuart Corbett, Sandy Garrity

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Sunrise: 0543 hrs Sunset: 1930 hrs

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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 05:05 (UTC+1) on Tue 9 Aug 2022 for the period 07:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 9 Aug 2022 to 07:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 10 Aug 2022.

Trafalgar (issued 2315 UTC)

Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in east. Moderate in west, slight in east. Showers, fog patches near portuguese coast. Good, but occasionally very poor near portuguese coast.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 09/08/2022

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Faro to Falmouth – Day 1

Monday

To Faro

As an avid listener of the Shipping Forecast I had not planned to visit Trafalgar, FitzRoy or Biscay for some time, but with the boat ashore during 2022 having a bit of tender, loving care I felt just like John Masefield in Sea-Fever 'I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky', and in need of a long voyage. Jumping at the chance to crew on a 'delivery trip' from Faro in Portugal to Falmouth some 950 nautical miles.

I am registered as volunteer crew with a company who move boats around the globe and this was my second voyage with them. Deliveries are interesting in that we get to meet different people and sail on much longer trips than normal. While only the skipper gets paid crew get travel and expenses. The last trip was just after the first COVID lockdown was an on a boat I would describe as an 'ocean going racing dinghy', that had competed in several ocean races including the 2020 Original Single-handed Transatlantic Race (OSTAR), on that occasion we were moving the boat from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to Hartlepool in County Durham for new owners.

Not having flown internationally for about 20 years the first leg of the journey from Devon to Faro started by being dropped off at the local railway station, catching a train to Weston-Super-Mare transferring onto a bus to Bristol Airport, taking hours to check in, even longer to past security, even said hello to some people I knew in the que, and finally got to the departure gate where I stepped on the Ryanair flight south.

Luckily, I had a window seat and was able to watch the world past beneath us as we few down the Bristol Channel, crossing to Start Point then over the channel to the island of Ouessant in Brittany. Ever southward over the Bay of Biscay and finally overflying Spain and Portugal before landing in Faro. The one memory that the flight left me with were the fires that went on for miles and miles in Spain and Portugal.

After, getting my passport stamped and picking up my rucksack - Brexit the gift that keeps giving. I queued up with lots of others for taxies. When my turn came handed the driver my phone with the address of the Nave Pegos Boatyard and got in the back. He did look a little bemused as it was not one of his usual drop off points and in a mix of English and Portuguese asked if this was the right place. On arrival at the yard I telephoned the skipper who was on the boat to say I had arrived. A quick meal and a beer before we turned in for the night.

All times are UTC.

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