OYT Trip 46 of 2025 - Day 4

Tuesday 30^th September 2025

0000 hrs

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

0800 hrs

After breakfast and packing the usual very happy hour, an extra good clean of Prolific. Then followed the voyage summary and the handing out of certificates.

1000 hrs

The crew depart and the kettle goes on.

1300 hrs

Following lunch the boat checks are carried out, items mended and kit stowed.

During the afternoon Sea Staff who are leaving the boat pack and say their farewells and joining Sea Staff arrive, say hello and grab a bunk.

1830 hrs

All Sea Staff onboard go out for a meal in a little Greek resturant in Southampton

All times are UTC.

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OYT Trip 46 of 2025 - Day 3

Monday 29^th September 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 47.66' N   Long: 001° 06.61' W
Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth.

0900 hrs

On a lovely sunny morning we slipped our lines and headed out of Portsmouth passing the hovercraft on route to Ryde. At the south cardinal at the start of the channel we turned west and headed up the Solent.

1030 hrs

Man overboard drills as a couple of small fishing boats dropped their pots. Even got a wave from one of them.

1110 hrs

Lat: 50° 46.86' N   Long: 001° 10.89' W
Off Gosport, Hampshire.

Dropped anchor on a stunning autum day, while the lunch team sorted out the meal we broke into groups for a session on knots, lunch and some basic chartwork.

1400 hrs

Anchor raised and the crew took charge of Prolific for the run back to Ocean Village through the North Channel then buoy hopping up Southampton Sound.

1640 hrs

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

Along side on the south side of the hotel in Ocean Village.

All times are UTC.

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Prolific Log

	Distance NM	Underway	Avg SOG knots	Max SOG knots	Night Hours
Day:	20.10	4h 00m	5.00	8.00	0h 00m
Trip:	84.30	11h 25m	5.53	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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Weather: The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 00:15 (UTC+1) on Mon 29 Sep 2025 for the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 29 Sep 2025 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 30 Sep 2025.

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Spain 1010 slow-moving with little change by 1800 Monday. New high expected FitzRoy 1021 by same time.

Dover, Wight

Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 29/09/2025

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OYT Trip 46 of 2025 - Day 2

Sunday 28^th 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 on deck.

0800 hrs

The skipper handed me the deck and the wheel! After 20 minuits 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 and I had one of these rare pinch me moments - yes I was really doing this and if 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 and one young lad said 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 and himself. Only to discover that he had clipped in and we were unable to move him off the wheel quickly, 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 cabins.

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 one star in my marina guide.

All times are UTC.

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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

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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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Weather: 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 warnings of gales 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.

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 28/09/2025

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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

Settled for the night, but with an anchor watch to do between 0100 hrs and 0230 hrs.

All times are UTC.

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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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Weather: 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 warnings of gales 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

Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight

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 UTC.

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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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Weather: 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  warnings of gales 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

Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth

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