OYT Trip 46 of 2025 - Day 1

Saturday 27^th September 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 53.71' N Long: 001° 23.51' W
Ocean Village, Southampton

With mixed feelings I had driven up to Southampton the previous day for three 'back to back' trips that were to be my last trips as Sea Staff with the Ocean Youth Trust. Over the summer I had taken the decision that due to my hearing loss it was time to swallow this particular anchor.

Supper the previous night had been in the Maritimo Lounge, as noisy as ever and difficult to hear anybody.

0800 hrs
The agreed start of our working day, the deck walk was the first task to complete followed stowing the food for the trip, a final clean of Prolific before lunch.

1315 hrs
Welcomed the crew from The Vyne School, a group that I have sailed with before, the name game, heads and galley briefings followed by kitting out in oilies, or as it was described 'potty and explosives training, and fancy dress'.

It is always interesting to sail with people who you have sailed with as crew in previous years and we had one returnee.

1515 hrs
We slipped the moornings, headed out of Ocean Village and into Southampton Water. Winch breifings were conducted and we headed down to the mooring buoy off Yarmouth.

1845 hrs
Lat: 50° 42.63' N Long: 001° 29.56' W
Off Yarmouth, Isle of Wright

Following supper I settled for the night as I had been allocated anchor watch between 0100 hrs and 0230 hrs.

All times are UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	17.50	3h 40m	5.60	10.30	0h 00m
Trip:	17.50	3h 40m	5.60	10.30	0h 00m

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Crew: Lauren (Skipper), Cathy, Josh, Jack, Simon, Sandy, Peter and the group

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Sunrise: 0559 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1151 hrs   Sunset: 1757 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 27 Sep 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 27 Sep 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 28 Sep 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Fair Isle and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at 1800:
Low 300 miles west of Trafalgar 998 expected FitzRoy 997 by 1800 Saturday. New lows expected Irish Sea 1010 and Faeroes 1000 by same time

Sea Areas:
Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

Forecast:
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.South or southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in Humber and Wight. Showers later in Wight. Good, occasionally moderate later in Wight

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 27/09/2025

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Shakedown Sail

Thursday 11^th September 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 24.33' N Long: 004° 12.32' W
The Mooring

0700 hrs
Spent the night onboard as the J24 World Championships were being hosted by Saltash Sailing Club and Plym Yacht Club and everybody was invited to a 'Cornish Evening'. A social with pasties and cream teas, I did have a chuckle to see the pasties were made in Devon and the cream teas were served in both the Cornish and Devonian style, they also had a very, very loud band.

While I've not sailed Aphrodite over the summer she is staying on the mooring so I can sail over the winter.  However, I have been down on the boat several times checking her and working on some improvements, but today was going to be the first time I'd take her off the mooring and raise the sails.

1245 hrs
After a morning of sunshine and showers, the forecast was spot on, hoisted the main with two reefs in and slipped the mooring.

Delighted to say that leaving the mooring was a lot easier than I had envisaged.  Took off the port bow line, past it in front of the forestay and attached it to the karabina.  Repeated the process with the aft lines, slipped the aft lines then walked forward and slipped the remaining bow line and the boat drifted away from the mooring buoys.

John was on the wheel in case it went horribly wrong.

I left John on the wheel as he had not helmed on a boat with a wheel before and set about unfurling part of the genoa as we headed down river close hauled before turning off the engine and settling down to the task of looking after the sails.

As we passed the Lynher river to our starboard we were hit with a 30 knot gust! Turned smartly round and headed back up river under the Tamar Bridges, where we lost all wind, before heading towards Cargreen.

With just over three metres of water under the keel, don't you love big spring tides, we turned south again just off Devonport Naval Base and got in a right muddle.  Hammered by 35 then 0 knots with speeds through the water ranging from 0 to 7.5 knots!  

On seeing that we were doing zero knots, both SOG and STW, I started the engine to get through a tack. Thirty seconds later the engine sounded a high temperature alarm and I went into 'Don't panic' mode.  

We sailed up the river discussing the option to sail onto the mooring. We did attempt it, but did not quite manage the maneuver and I sadly lost an old and faithful boathook. Time for Plan B and I gingerly turned the engine on just as we were hit with a 20 knot gust, crossed my fingers and took the wheel. Thankfully, no temperature alarms this time and came alongside the mooring at ½ knot. John sprung onto the foredeck and picked up the lines.  

1515 hrs
Back on the mooring.

While a short shakedown I was delighted to see that getting on and off the mooring was not as terrifying as it had become in my head. Given the amount of time the boat has been on the mooring and the visible slime on the hull she moved at about six knots through the water at times! A couple of small issues were found, I had not rigged the reefing lines at the end of the boom correctly and there was on sail slide not in the slot. Both are easily fixed.

While I need to investigate the engine temperature alarm I am sure it was something partially over the raw water intake, we did have some cooling water exit the exhaust.

After sorting out the sails and tidying up I noticed that the club bar was open and a celebratory drink was in order.

All times are UT.

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The Log

                                                                     

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	7.30	2h 30m	2.92	7.00	00h 00m
Year:	12.60	3h 36m	3.96	7.00	00h 00m

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Crew: Sandy Garrity (Skipper), John McMurdo

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Sunrise: 0542 hrs     Meridian Passage: 1159 hrs     Sunset: 1931 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 Thu 11 Sep 2025 for the period  01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 11 Sep 2025 to  01:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 12 Sep 2025.

There are gales warnings in:
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Shannon, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at 1800:
Low Malin 987 expected Faeroes 975 by 1800 Thursday

Sea Areas:
Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Forecast:
West or southwest 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west Plymouth. Showers, thundery at times. Good, occasionally poor.

   

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 11/09/2025

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Updated: 14/09/2025

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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

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

Forecast:
Not available

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 12/04/2025

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Update: 15/12/2025

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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 UTC.

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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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