Second
Update .
Crosshaven to Cowes
All sorts of delays occurred during the next week in Crosshaven, mostly
waiting for parts to arrive then wrong parts then parts missing. The following
Saturday (8th Sept), it looked like we were ready to depart. All tests
had been completed and everything seemed to be working well. At about
7.30pm we left Crosshaven, happy to be on our way with all the new cruising
gear like Radar, Auto-pilot, Furling gear on the Genny, a whole new set
of instruments and new rigging … she felt like a new boat. All this new
gear makes "Short Handed Sailing" so much easier.
Only an hour later … the Auto pilot started to fail then the rest of the
instruments … on checking, battery power was extremely low and even though
the engine was running they weren't taking a charge. Dark now, I decided
to go back to Crosshaven to get the problem sorted rather than try to
navigate through the night without even the navigation lights working
… this was not an option.
Sunday morning (9th Sept) the problem became apparent, a wire had come
off the Alternator. This corrected, we left Crosshaven again at 4pm that
day. We had a great sail across the Irish Sea arriving at Lands End in
daylight. All being well I thought we should push on, straight to the
Isle of Wight, rather than stopping in Falmouth for a break.
That night was interesting … in charted depth of 65 metres we suddenly
were registering 13 metres. On checking the charts further we were on
the edge of a submarine exercise area … then a call on the VHF radio explained
a lot … a British Warship was engaged in exercises with a submarine in
the area. I called the Warship to ask if we were in danger at our coordinates.
He noted our position and said we were clear. 5 or 6 times we got these
strange readings of depth but they claimed no responsibility … I'm not
so sure !!! Monday (10th Sept), further along the UK's south coast we
got a Pan Pan (urgent call) on the VHF and responded directly to the coast
guard as we were in the area stated.
Allegedly a German Warship had sent a Digital Distress Signal stating
there had been an explosion onboard. We were about two hours away from
the location and offered assistance. I told them I had a radar (delighted
to be using my new toy…I mean…tool) but nothing was showing up on my screen
in that area.
The coastguard thanked me for assisting and asked me to standby as the
Rescue chopper was on the way. The chopper found nothing and eventually
the Pan Pan was cancelled. Only 48 hours after we left Cork we were in
Cowes on the Isle of Wight … not bad. Ariving in the Solent (Tuesday 11th
Sept) at a respectful time of 4pm we tuned in the radio to hear the news
of the World going crazy.
This was terrible news for all of us but especially Moire as all her family
were in Washington and she couldn't phone home to see how they were. On
arrival at the Cowes Yacht Haven, just as we pulled along side, the propellor
flew off. We were safely in, with no prop, but tied up in total shock
from the World disaster. Next morning (Wednesday 12th Sept) Moire got
through to home to hear all her family were well.
She wanted to fly straight home but as we all know this was not possible
yet. It was Friday (14th Sept) before I got a replacement prop and got
the boat lifted out to get it fitted, only to find the shaft had been
bent also and needed a new one. More delays.
It's Monday (17th Sept) now, new drive shaft may arfar as the Channel
Islands. I met her at the airport, but due to late flights we missed the
last ferry back to the Isle of Wight. When we got there on Thursday (20th
Sept) the boat had already been lifted and the prop and shaft had been
fitted … nice surprise! PJ who I know from Galway, and was in Cowes, decided
to join for the next leg also. That was our last night in Cowes.
Friday (21st Sept) we stocked up the boat with food, fuel and water and
headed off for Yarmouth to wait for the tides to suit to leave the Isle
of Wight and make our way down the English Channel to Guernsey Island.
18 hours later we arrived in St Peter Port on Guernsey after only one
hick-up. While navigating "The Needles Channel" leaving "The Isle of Wight"
in the dark of night, with extremely strong tides pulling us sideways,
we came closer than I would have liked to one of the channel markers.
Otherwise the passage was uneventful.
Timing of the tides for "The Alderney Race" was perfect and we flew through
the Islands. Saturday (22nd Sept) we tied up on a pontoon that we had
to "Tender-Ashore" from, not the easy life I wanted. Sunday (23rd Sept)
moved to the QE2 marina so we could step ashore…cool!!! Monday Susie and
PJ flew out. Ronan and myself enjoyed Guernsey for the next few days while
waiting for new crew to arrive. Wednesday (26th Sept) Jon Hide, a course-mate
of PJ's, flew in. We provisioned the boat on Thursday ready to depart
next morning. Friday (28th Sept) at 6.30am we slipped lines. That night
we navigated the north west tip of France, sailing inside the "Isles de
Ouessant". Choosing the "Chanel du Four" passage gave us plenty to do
until we got to "Cameret-sur-Mer" just outside Brest at 4.30am Saturday
morning. After a few hours in the bunks, the rest of the night ashore
proved disappointing. Sunday (30th Sept) now and our departure from Cameret
has been delayed due to a gale warning. Sunday night was different … Jon
and I met two Swedish girls at dinner, who had their own boat at the marina
and were heading the same direction as us.
We all had drinks together, met a lot of the other sailors, all heading
south but weather bound also. This lead to a party on Magic Number. Out
came the guitar, and some one of each boat could play a little … "Party
on regardless" … as the saying goes.
Five boats now awaiting the weather to abate. Nervously watching for that
gap that will allow us safely across "The Biscay".
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