OYT Trip 04 of 2025 - Day 4

Sunday 13^th April 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 34.42' N Long: 002° 27.18' W
Portland Marina, Dorset.

0800 hrs
Wake, breakfast then 'Happy Hour'.

1000 hrs
Depart from Portland.

Sadly, from time to time on a sail training voyage things don't work out smoothly on a trip and this was one occasion. After a significant amount of consultation the skipper took the decision that two crew members would need to leave Prolific.

It was decided that we would motor to Poole where the crew members could be collected by family and due to tides we needed to arrive before the ebb. A fast motor, more of an 'Italian tune' of the engine was made and we arrived in Poole in double quick time.

1430 hrs
Lat: 50° 42.70' N Long: 001° 59.08' W
Poole Quay Boat Haven​, Poole, Dorset

Following the departure of the two crew members the entire crew had some shore leave, an ice cream was enjoyed followed with a walk along the front before returning to Prolific to make supper, play some games and settling down for a film onboard.

All times are UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	32.00	4h 30m	7.11	12.00	00h 00m
Trip:	105.85	21h 00m	5.04	12.00	00h 00m
Year:	260.45	50h 50m	5.12	12.00	00h 00m

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

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Sunrise: 0542 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1159 hrs   Sunset: 1931 hrs

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The Shipping Forecast

Forecast:
Not available

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 13/04/2025

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Updated: 10/12/2025

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OYT Trip 04 of 2025 - Day 3

Saturday 12^th April 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 425.63' N Long: 001° 29.65' W
Off Yarmouth, Isle of Wright

0800 hrs
Wake, breakfast then 'Happy Hour'.

1000 hrs
Depart for Portland. Sails hoisted we head out past the Needles across Poole Bay with its minefield of pots in a cracking spring day. Bright skies and warm sunshine out of the breeze.

2000 hrs
Lat: 50° 34.42' N Long: 002° 27.18' W
Fuel Berth, Portland Marina.

Following arrival at the fuel berth the crew went off for a visit to the local shop, more sugar rashions, while we got on with the process of fueling Prolific, a task that usually takes a couple of hours. Following fueling we moved off the berth to allow others to use it. Convently the crew arrived back just after we had completed refueling thus it was time to start supper.

I had not visited Portland Marina for some years, but being with a young crew did not allow us any time to enjoy the facilities.

All times are UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	50.00	10h 00m	5.00	12.00	00h 00m
Trip:	73.85	16h 30m	4.48	10.00	00h 00m
Year:	228.45	46h 20m	4.93	12.00	00h 00m

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

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

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The Shipping Forecast

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Sat 12 Oct 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 12 Oct 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 13 Oct 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland. Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800:
High Thames 1020 dissipating by 1800 Saturday. New Low expected SE Iceland 987 expected by same time.

Sea Areas:
Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Forecast:
East or southeast becoming viarable 2 to 4 then west 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers, good occasionally poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 12/04/2025

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Update: 27/12/2025

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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 accompanied 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 souvenirs.

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 surprised!

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 UT.

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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

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

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

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Weather: Not available

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 11/04/2025

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Updated: 27/12/2025

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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 their berths.

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. Supper and showers.

All times are UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	8.25	1h 30m	5.50	7.00	00h 00m
Trip:	8.25	1h 30m	5.50	7.00	00h 00m
Year:	162.85	31h 20m	5.20	12.00	00h 00m

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

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

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The Shipping Forecast

Issued by the Met Office at 0700 on Friday 11/04/2025 via NAVTEX

There are gales warnings in:
None

The general synopsis at 0000:
High Irish Sea 1028 expected The Netherlands by midnight tonight. New Low expected Biscay 1007 by same time.

Sea Areas:
Thames Dover Wight

Forecast:
Variable 2 to 4, becoming East 3 to 5 in Wright. Smooth or slight. Fog patches, good occasionally very poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 10/04/2025

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Update: 24/12/2025

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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 UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	-	-	-	-	-
Trip:	-	-	-	-	-
Year:	154.60	28h 50m	5.18	12.00	00h 00m

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Crew:

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

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The Shipping Forecast

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 gale warnings in:
Trafalgar.

The general synopsis at 1800:
New high expected Forth 1033 by 1800 Wednesday

Sea Areas:
Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

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

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 09/04/2025

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Update: 15/12/2025

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