INDABA'S BLOG
DATE FROM TO DIST TIME SPEED
nM hr kn
5.7.11 Titchmarsh Ramsgate 54.3 10h55 5.0
We left on this date as planned last September. Set off at 0950 with just enough tide to get out and down the channel to the Pye End buoy, then motored into the wind to Long Sand Hd. We then had a pleasant sail past the beginnings of the London Array Wind Farm, Kentish Knock buoy and inside the Thanet Wind Farm. During these early day sails, Chris, Alex and Charlie did a watch system of one hour on followed by two off. By the time we were off Ramsgate (about 2000) and with a bad weather forecast, decided to go in there. It blew hard for the next 3 days and so we stayed put doing jobs.
9.7.11 Ramsgate Dover 14.6 3h10 4.8
On a rising SW wind, went to Dover in the morning. Managed to sail down the Gull Stream but then had to motor off the coast. Then sailed to the Eastern entrance in a F6 gusting 7. The alarm on the charging system went off a number of times. Once in, some adjustment to the DuoGen
regulator cured the problem.
10.7.11 Dover Eastbourne 43.6 8h55 4.8
Set off just after 0900 on a lovely sunny day but with the wind on our nose. So motored with the main up hoping to get to Brighton. Found 5 litres or more water in the bilges with no obvious explanation. Fearing it might be something wrong with the cooling system and having found there is a Volvo Agent in Eastbourne, decided to put in there.
11.7.11 Eastbourne Brighton 17.5 4h00 4.4
Next morning, tightened some water clips and filled a couple of small holes on the stern deck, which seemed to cure most of the problem. So left at noon for Brighton. Sailed the first 3 hrs but then the wind died. Motored the rest of the way.
12.7.11 Brighton Newton Creek 60.7 10h55 5.5
At last, the wind went round to the NE. Sailed to the Looe Channel and then up to and past Cowes. Tried the Neptune (the wind driven self-steering) most of the way to the end of the Looe Channel; it worked well after we got the hang of it. Went into Newton Creek and anchored. The new Spade was used for the first time and held well.
13.7.11 Newton Creek Dartmouth 72.0 16h10 4.5
Met Frank in Tantrum (a Najad 380) going out towards Hurst Castle; we took photos of each other and then left him behind after the Needles because we turned the motor on. Started out going for Weymouth but, since we had only a light wind and were motoring, decided we might as well make up for one of the lost days and go on to Dartmouth - motored 15 out of the 16 hrs. Tried the DuoGen (the wind or water driven generator) in the water, which did much better that the wind turbine.
14.7.11 Dartmouth River Yealm 25.5 4h30 4.6
Refuelled at the barge in the middle of the River Dart and then set off. The wind was no better (mainly WSW 2) and so we were motoring again. Easy entry to the estuary and tied up at the pontoon in the river. No mobile signal presumably because of the high wooded hills all around ...
15.7.11 River Yealm Falmouth 45.7 7h10 6.4
Left at 0900 with enough light W wind to sail with both the main and full genoa. Soon after 1100 the wind went to the SW and virtually on our nose so we motored yet again. Went into the Town marina (the so-called Visitors' Marina) and then spent the next 4 days there because of strong winds.
20-24.7.11 Falmouth La Coruna 429.5 82h50 5.0
Left Falmouth at 1400 (Day 1) after large shopping and various other jobs. Sailed to off L'Aber'wrach (in mainly E or NE 4/5s ). For this passage we adopted a 3 hours on followed by 6 off watch system. Off the tip of Brittany, it was quite rough. Had the DuoGen in the water much of the way but had to clear weed off it around 0630 on Day 2. By the time we were SW of Ouessant (about 1330), the wind had eased and so we tried the Parasailor. This did not work well, mainly it seemed because the wind was too light and there was still quite a swell – Indaba kept rolling and the sail kept spilling. At this point we turned the engine on and we motored for next 18 hours or so. By mid-morning on Day 3, the wind was NW 3–4 and we could sail again; in the early evening the light wind went NNE and we tried goose-winging which was better. Again we couldn't get Neptune to hold the course mainly because of the rolling. This lasted until 0600 on Day 4 when the engine went on again until we arrived at 0300 (day 5). tied up and went to bed. During the crossing we were accompanied by dolphins several times.
25-26.7.11 La Coruna Baiona 99.8 21h25 4.6
Given the distance to Porto, we decided to divide the trip into two, doing the longer bit first overnight. So, after refuelling, set off for Baiona at 1045 motoring in a light SW and plenty of low mist – the visibility varied between about a quarter and 1 mile. The visibility improved in the early evening but we had to motor on through the night for lack of wind. In the dark we hit some debris and after dodging one fishing float caught the line of another which fortunately slid off the rudder without snagging. Arrived Baiona just after 0800. Spent the rest of that day and the next in the Puerto Deportivo Marina there (with its primitive wash house). Also decided to split the rest of the 60 or so miles to Porto into 2 day trips; the first to Viana do Castello and the second on to Leixoes (just north of Porto).
27.7.11 Baiona Viana do Castello 30.5 5h05 6.0
Left Baiona at 1215 with a N3-4 and so could sail! In fact for much of the afternoon we had the Parasailor up, the DuoGen in the water and Neptune (the self-steering) steering us; this is how we hope we will make most of the Atlantic crossing. The wind got up a lot in the last few miles before Viana, enough to make getting the Parasailor down quite difficult. Tied up on the waiting pontoon just outside the bridge into the marina just after 1700; the marina man said we should stay there for the night if we were only going to stay one night.
28.7.11 Viana Leixoes (Porto) 32.0 6h55 5.3
Cast off at 1120 and motored for an hour before the wind got up to about a NNW3-4. It and the waves from the swell were both on our starboard quarter and so we were rolling a bit again. This would have made flying the Parasailor difficult if not impossible; so we just put out all of the genoa and sailed with that. By 1600 the wind had eased and so the engine went on again. By 1815 we were tied up on the Visitors' pontoon in Leixoes – with the aid of two marina staff who gesticulated wildly about which particular berth we should go into and the need to register arrival and clear formalities so they could go home at 1830.
29.7.11 to 2.8.11 More boat work including leak fixing and struggling with ssb/computer compatibility. Charlie left on 30th. 31st was the first day off since joining in Titchmarsh, celebrated with a visit to Porto.
Regards
Crew of Indaba