|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cruising for pleasure In the Bristol Channel Planning for 2009 season Introduction: The
aim of this short guide is
to help organise our thoughts prior to setting sail and is based on the
recollections of one relatively experienced practical sailor and his
partner a rookie! We have about 16
years of sailing in the Bristol Channel and the South west of England
and the channel Isles Aim
for today:- To
explore when ,where,and how of this years programme to reach the point
where we have some options for those who wish to mix racing with
cruising and perhaps have a holiday afloat
I.
Ground rules for preparation A.
The captain of the ship is ultimately responsible for the safety
of the crew and boat. It is essential that the weather forecast is
checked for the
planned passage and that the
outward and return trip can be achieved
by the crew. B.
There is a legal requirement to have a written passage plan for
any trip and within that plan you record all the information you will
need to safely get to your destinations.It should include all the time
critical factors and contingency just in case you have to change plan
due to bad weather or equipment failure C.
Your craft should be in the best working order,with all the
equipment and safety items required to ensure the crew stay safe.That
should include life jackets ,flares ,fire extinguishers, first aid kit,
food and drink
and warm clothing ,Navigation equipment including manual compass
and charts just in case you have a power outage. Lights in working order
should you be planning any night sailing.A
vhf radio is also an essential
and a mobile phone can
also be useful A serviced life-raft or usable dingy. d.
Remember the tide tables and Almanac-make the relevant
adjustments for BST II.
When can we sail A.
We tend to avoid starting
in wind speeds 5/6 or over
but a 4/5 can in a small boat with a bit of wind over tide can be very
un-comfortable too. If there is a hint of a 6 we also choose the
destination carefully if we choose to go at all. You can anticipate
early starts with flat seas that can become
near gales at tea time. There can be mist early on or later quite
often at start of season as weather warms up.
Aim to leave as soon as you
can to get to Watchet,Cardiff,Barry
Safe Harbours all weather
entrances beware!! B.
Suggested dates,- Easter
;- Friday 10,11th,12th,Mon 13th May
Day Sat 2nd,3rd,4th,May 9th or 10th 2 tider, Spring Bank holiday;-Sat
23rd, 24th. 25th June
5th/6th/7th 2 tider or weekend away, June 19/20th/21st
2 tider or weekend away July
4th/5th or 11th/12th, July 24th,25th,26th August
8th/9th, August 22/23rd Sept
5th/6th 2 tider or weekend away, Sept 19th/20th 2 tider or weekend C.
Where Watchet-
3hours,Cardiff- 2-4 hours, Barry-2 hours ,Swansea-6-10hours Illfracombe-6-9hours,Watermouth-6-7hours,Lundy-
10 hours over 2 tides Bristol-
5-8 hours over 2 tides, Tenby ,The Haven,Dale,Milford,Neyland Clovelly,
Padstow, Ireland,Scillies “We continue the run to be off Newquay by 1500hrs well ahead of the
fleet and so exhilerated by the volume of adrenalin we have built
in the veins!Bluejays crew have had
a tense sail with the motion of down wind sailing
with her sloop rigThey are tired from the rocky night
they spent on the moorings the previous night and relishing
getting into Padstow.We are all relishing the
customary Fish and Chip Supper that follows
a trip into Padstow Harbour and
tastes like nectar
eaten from the paper with
fingers, washed down by
generous amounts of cheeky
white vino. Little did any
of us envisage the
excitement and danger that
was about
to befall FATS as she closed
Trevose Head and the rocky
Quies inner passage that we had all sailed
a number of times before
this trip.” III.
Costs IV.
Communication Network;-email
,phone,DSC MSSI numbers,keeping company on passage V.
Expectations when we get there-it,s up to you but we do try to
eat well! Retail
therapy at Watchet Not
the best marina in the
Channel., where facilities are basic and appointed poor.A town
with potential to please as the wispy white steam of the engine rises
with a toot a toot. A
better feeling this time in the sleepy town, a different variety to
tempt the shoppers but better quality and welcoming goods sit in the
windows and through doors….. so we go in and explore Dresses
bought in surprise to wear to our homecoming dinner, best get back the
boats as crew to sail as time flies when having fun Conclusion:
No
good pondering what could have been! No
Ireland or Silvery Scillies, too elusive when the wind contrives to make
things difficult But
consider the journey…to Woolserry and the quietness with little things
to reflect on. To
Ilfracombe and it’s walls to fall from or run too or crash on. and the
beaches quiet but for the children’s’ chatter and splashing. North
to Tenby with its continental colours and Caribbean feel, rising late
and trying coffee or lunch ashore and returning to sleep off too much
dinner and falling down water Too
soon Swansea and to Watchet and HOME The
weather pulled her stops out and we needed to baste often in the
Pizbuin,not too much wind over tide or rough seas this time It was
simply the best-shared with friends. And
of the budding writer, thoughts flowed and words covered the white page. So
why writing you ask—I think it beats knitting and so why sailing—it
is character building
and in it’s way brings all friends closer each time. Notes following meeting 29th
March
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||