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 where he handed over the watch and quietly headed back to his bunk. Leaving me alone and not quite fully awake
Sitting watching Hurst Point Lighthouse flashing four every 15 seconds was quite mesmerising and being quite close to the shoreline I could make out odd shapes and traffic driving up and down the road. I was quite sure they had no idea that we were here.
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 record the voltage and turn the generator on then I 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 working the deck.
0800 hrs
The skipper handed me the deck and being the only one on deck I needed to take the wheel! After 20 minutes 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 when I had one of these rare 'pinch me' moments - yes I was really doing this and it 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 when one young lad announced 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 before the wind caught it and threw it back on his lifejacket and foulies. To complicate matters I discovered that he had clipped onto the rail behind him which delayed him being able to move and get cleaned up, 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 in the sunshine. Once we had tied up, sorted out the gangway it was time for 'happy hour', clean the boat.
1500 hrs
Shore leave for the crew and as they were all under 16 an opportunity to stretch out legs as we accompanied them round the shopping center. We had split into a number of small groups, but all met up in the small Tesco's for the purchase of sweets and biscuits before we headed back to Prolific.
2030 hrs
After dinner I was able to slip off for a shower, sadly the water was freezing in the cubicle I was using! Brrrrr. It always astounds me that architects have no idea about the needs of a sailor in a shower block. Gunwharf Quay gets a one star rating in my marina guide.
All times are UT.
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
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 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 gale warnings 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.
Sea Areas:
Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight
Weather:
South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good.
© Met Office Synoptic Chart 28/09/2025
