OYT Trip 48 of 2025 - Day 1

Monday 6^th October 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 53.71' N Long: 001° 23.43' W
Ocean Village, Southampton

0900 hrs
After breakfast the sea staff assembled for the round of jobs to do before the crew arrived. Getting the shopping from the Sainsbury's Van into the food lockers, freezer and several fridges always takes time when you are catering for about 20.

1200 hrs
Lunch and sea staff briefings. During the briefing I let everybody know that this was my last voyage with the trust, due to my failing hearing I was struggling to hear people both on deck and below.

1400 hrs
The crew arrive and we crack on with pre-voyage briefings, issue of kit and get supper started.

2000 hrs
Unusually, we slip from the marina and motor down Southampton Water to Ryde Bay. A different start to a trip, but it allowed everybody to get used to the feeling of being on the boat without the presure of winch drills.

Chatting to Hope on the fore deck it turned out that we had sailed before on a MACS trip a couple of years earlier. Lovely to see that another crew member had become a member of sea staff.

2215 hrs
Lat: 50° 44.56' N Long: 001° 10.46' W
Ryde Bay, Isle of Wright

With the anchor down it was time for a coco and head for my bunk.

All times are UT

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	13.20	2h 20m	6.00	7.00	2h 20m
Trip:	13.20	2h 20m	6.00	7.00	2h 20m

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Crew: Constantinos (Skipper), Patrick, Steve, Unity, Hope, Will, Sandy and the group from Charter School, Dulwich.

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Sunrise: 0559 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1149 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 Mon 6 Oct 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 6 Oct 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 7 Oct 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
There are warnings of gales in Fisher, German Bight, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle and Faeroes.

The general synopsis at 1800:
High Biscay 1030 expected south Portland 1027 by 1800 Monday.

Sea Area:
Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Forecast:
Northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in Humber and Plymouth. Showers. Good .

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 06/10/2025

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Update: 25/11/2025

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OYT Trip 47 of 2025 - Day 5

Sunday 5^th October 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 45.66' N Long: 001° 17.64' W
Sheppards Yard, Cowes

0500 hrs
Following a second night of disturbed sleep due to creaking warps. The alarm had been set early as several boats wanted to do a 'pursuit' in the west Solent. Much to my surprise the crew were up without a complaint and the boat was made ready for sea in the dark.

0530 hrs
Slipped the mooring lines, the second boat of the fleet out of the marina.

0700 hrs
The unofficial start time for the unofficial pursuit. Chilly and windy, but a cracking sunrise in the eastern Solent.

I have zero interest in racing pursuits and really could not work out what was going on, but concentrated on getting the crew to tack when needed and nodded at the appropriate time when those who were getting excited needed some agreement.

An interesting discussion with the skipper developed on deck during a leg about my lack of excitement, Andy is a rather keen racer. It went along the lines of, 'There is a buoy, oh another buoy, now we are back at the buoy we started at and now we are passing Cowes again. We could have been at Poole by now had we been on passage'. We understood each other's position and it is all part of sailing. I shall and will always remain a passage maker.

0930 hrs
The pursuit having petered out, we headed back up Southampton Water while dropping sails and back to the berth at Ocean Village.

1200 hrs
Lat: 50° 53.71' N Long: 001° 23.43' W
Ocean Village, Southampton

Once alongside it was time for a second breakfast, packing and voyage wrap up. Following lunch the crew departed and new sea staff arrived. An afternoon doing boat and kit checks.

1930 hrs
Time to head off to the laundrette to wash some kit and head to the shower to get washed myself. After struggling with the washing machine I finally got it working and much to my surprise now have a tee shirt in delicate pink after being washed with my red socks!

Time for a quick pint with all the sea staff before heading back to Prolific.

All times are UT

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	30.20	5h 40m	5.20	9.00	0h 00m
Trip:	89.90	18h 35m	4.83	11.00	0h 00m

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Crew: Andy (Skipper), Andrew, Tom, Josh, Lucy Mitchell, Iori, Sandy and the group from Bruern Abbey School.

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Sunrise: 0559 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1149 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 Sun 5 Oct 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 5 Oct 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 6 Oct 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Lundy, Irish Sea, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

The general synopsis at 1800:
Low north of Fair Isle 955 expected Kattegat 990 by 1800 Sunday. High west of FitzRoy 1031 expected FitzRoy 1028 by same time.

Sea Areas:
Dover, Wight

Weather: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers. Good.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 06/10/2025

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Updated: 25/11/2025

OYT Trip 47 of 2025 - Day 4

Saturday 4^th October 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 45.66' N Long: 001° 17.64' W
Sheppards Yard, Cowes

0800 hrs
A long creaking night! My bunk was right in the bow of the boat, just where all the warps were.

0945 hrs
With all sailing being abandoned a photographic scavenger hunt was arrainged devised for all crews. This lead to an interesting few hours wandering round Cowes finding things and performing tasks with a picture of the challenges. Once back at the boat a team of scorers visited to check the evidence.

The day was stunning sunny, bright with great visibility, if rather windy. In the Solent the sea churned with lots of low waves with white horses.

1400 hrs
All of the crews gather at a local sailing club for an afternoon's entertainment; a sailing related quiz and some construction activities using dry pasta and marshmallows.

All times are UT

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	0.00	0h 00m	0.00	00.00	0h 00m
Trip:	59.70	12h 55m	3.30	11.00	0h 00m

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Crew: Andy (Skipper), Andrew, Tom, Josh, Lucy Mitchell, Iori, Sandy and the group from Bruern Abbey School.

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Sunrise: 0559 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1149 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 4 Oct 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 4 Oct 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 5 Oct 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
All areas except Trafalgar.

The general synopsis at 1800:
Low Hebrides 952 expected just north of Fair Isle 953 by 1800 Saturday.

Sea Areas:
Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth .

Weather:
Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough occasionally moderate. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor .

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 04/10/2025

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Updated 27/11/2025

OYT Trip 47 of 2025 - Day 3

Friday 3^rd October 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 44.37' N Long: 001° 30.08' W
Yarmouth Marina, Isle of Wight

0800 hrs
On popping my head out on deck there was thick mist and drizzle! The forecast was talking about an incoming storm, Storm Amy, the second named storm I've been on Prolific.

Due to the lack of visibility it was decided to give the crew some shore time and we wandered round Yarmouth looking like drowned rats, popped into the local shop to stock up on sweets and headed out onto the pier.

0945 hrs
Slipped the lines and departed Yarmouth heading towards Cowes to meet up with other vessels from The Association of Sail Training Organisations as there was a planned 'race' tomorrow. Although with the Met Office forecasting a storm lots of phone calls between skippers and the organisers were happening.

1200 hrs
Lat: 50° 43.25' N Long: 001° 30.52' W
Noon Position

1410 hrs
Lat: 50° 45.66' N Long: 001° 17.64' W
Sheppards Yard, Cowes

Alongside and getting Prolific ready for the blow. Doubling up lines to the pontoon, making sure there was nothing loose on deck and that all the sails were all well lashed down.

Unusually, we decided to have fish and chips for supper. Just about every fish and chip shop in the country is 'Award Winning', but Corries Cabin in Cowes is amonst the best fish and chips I've ever had!

All times are UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	19.90	4h 15m	4.10	11.00	0h 00m
Trip:	59.70	12h 55m	3.30	11.00	0h 00m

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Crew: Andy (Skipper), Andrew, Tom, Josh, Lucy M, Iori, Sandy and the group from Bruern Abbey School.

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Sunrise: 0559 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1149 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 Fri 3 Oct 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 3 Oct 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 4 Oct 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
All areas except Biscay and Trafalgar.

The general synopsis at 1800:
Low moving very rapidly northeast expected west of Scotland 954 by 1800 Friday. Low Hebrides 994 expected north Iceland 975 by same time

Sea Areas:
Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Weather:
South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time later. Occasionally rough at first in Plymouth, otherwise slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough later. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 03/10/2025

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OYT Trip 47 of 2025 - Day 2

Thursday 2^nd October 2025

0000 hrs
Lat: 50° 47.68' N Long: 001° 06.53' W
Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth.

0910 hrs
Depart Gunwharf Quay on a bright sunny morning. Delighted to report that I was able to have a hot shower at the marina and they have slightly improved in my list of marinas.

1200 hrs
Lat: 50° 46.26' N Long: 001° 17.69' W
Noon Position

The afternoon spent doing winch drills and a sail hoist.

1600 hrs
Lat: 50° 44.37' N Long: 001° 30.08' W
Yarmouth Marina, Isle of Wight.

After an interesting reverse into the pontoon we tied up at Yarmouth. First time into Yarmouth and as ever members of Sea Staff bumped into people they knew.

All times are UT.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	23.80	6h 40m	3.60	8.00	0h 00m
Trip:	39.80	8h 40m	5.80	11.00	0h 00m

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Crew: Andy (Skipper), Andrew, Tom, Josh, Lucy M, Iori, Sandy and the group from Bruern Abbey School.

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Sunrise: 0559 hrs   Meridian Passage: 1149 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 Thu 2 Oct 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 2 Oct 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 3 Oct 2025.

There are gale warnings in:
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea and Malin.

The general synopsis at 1800:
New low 1000 expected just west of Rockall by 1800 Thursday. New high expected west Trafalgar 1024 by same time

Sea Areas:
Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

Weather:
Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight until later in Dover and Wight, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in Plymouth. Fair, rain later in Portland and Plymouth. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in Portland and Plymouth.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 02/10/2025

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