PAUL ROSE SAILING LOGBOOK 2015
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical in a Rustler 37 “Eagle”.
Personae: James Miller “JM” Paul Rose “PR” Lachlan Mulholland “LM” Nigel Tuttle “NT”
Thursday 16 April 2015
0710: Picked up fellow course candidate LM from Albert Hall, Drive down the A3.
0830: Arrival at Northney Marina and meet up with boat owner JM. Assist JM carrying bags of victuals from his SUV to the wheeled trolley. The tide is still low but filling so the ramp down to the pontoon is at a relatively steep incline. Takes two of us to manoeuvre trolley. Stowed kit and food and drinking water bottles on board. JM has brought a bottle of Grahams 85 Port for decanting. I have brought the boat champagne and another bottle of Port – but LBV.
0840: Obtained shore fresh water hose and boat broom and commenced scrubbing down deck and coach top which was covered in seagull guano. A messy but necessary job.
0855: Filled up fresh water tank. Equally vital task for a cross channel crossing.
0900: Breakfast break with Jim and Lachlan both of whom have been checking the engine.
0915: All three of us check weather forecast from Navtex and notes taken by Jim from HMCG broadcast.
0930: Lachlan and I remove sail cover and shake off rain water; final brush down and remove the sponge squeegees in cockpit and ensure all sheets loose; all fenders in place and spares neatly stowed. Another cup of tea and as the sun comes out we relax in the cockpit. WX F3 and slight. No rain forecast.
0950NT our Yachmaster Instructor (Ocean) and head of Hayling Sea School, carrying a battered wheelie suitcase and battered laundry bag with clothing. Introductions accompanied with a cup of coffee. He appears friendly but clearly does not suffer fools.
10:05 Cast off with Jim on helm. Northney Marina is a tight squeeze. Lachlan and I on fender duty. High tide is 10:30. ETA 45 minutes to reach Bar Beacon.
11:00 Past Bar Beacon with West Pole in sight. Change helm to PR and LM as skipper takes the con. Motor cruising. Reminds me of my Day Skipper Practical in 2001.
11:07 LM points for my direction ! NT has suggested 265(M); I discover to my horror that Eagle’s compass is wildly inaccurate as to be useless. It has not been swung for at least two years, maybe more. LM, JM and NT now search in vain for possible interference. No joy. JM has a hand held GPS so no dramas.
11:18 JM and LM hoist mainsail and genoa. Motor cruise to the west. JM and LM and I have sailed together since September 2013 and during 2014 including training for and sailing Round the Island Race. We are familiar with these waters.
11:40 Engine off. Starboard tack broad reach. Wind ENE F3. Sunny.
11:50 NT requires LM to go over to Cowes. JM brews up. LM orders me to port on a close reach.
12:50 We pass Cowes and now turn to starboard. JM on helm. I demonstrate plotting transits.
13:45 I prepare ham and cheese rolls for lunch. JM still on helm.
14:15 I relieve JM on helm. Sail on stbd. close reach down the Solent. JM and NT liaise over tides at Yarmouth using Tides Planner. Decision to head for Yarmouth for the night; then leave early morning for Cherbourg to obtain night passage out and night passage return. JM to skipper outbound to Cherbourg.
16:50 PR on helm. Arrive Yarmouth Roads Fl.R. 2s to port. Line up with hand compass 187.6° on leading lights/diamonds. Lower sails. LM skipper – motor in.
17:00 Mooring up. Farce. I line up, JM very nervous. First time anyone else has ever manoeuvered it into harbour. He reaches over me to turn on bow thruster. LM gives up as do I as JM now takes over. Mooring simple. LM does OK. On pontoon, NT goes berserk at all three of us yelling at us to get ourselves sorted out as to who is performing what function ! NT storms off to HM. We three stand around slightly bewildered but appreciating that it is time for each of us to accept responsibility – including JM trusting us with his pride and joy.
17:30 off to the Pub. Close to but not the George. We have several pints and discuss leaving in the early hours. Order steaks and chips. NT in better mood and signs off personal logs 25 miles.
20:45. Leave Pub to get early night. JM prepares passage plan prior to departure. PR selects NT as joint on watch for Friday. 21:30 lights out.
Friday17 April 2015
03:00 JM alarm goes. Get dressed including foulies and lifejackets and safety lines. Helm and Skipper have headbands with red lights. I feel nauseous and overtired. Drink water.
03:35 Cast – off. Get fenders in. Motor only. NT and I in cockpit, JM as skipper has the con. LM on helm.
03:45 Bell Sconce N. Cardinal to port; Hurst Point Tower ahead and to starboard.
04:15 Fairway safewater mark. Turn to port heading 183° M. Wind east 20 kts. Hoist Mainsail with one reef and genoa. Sea state supposed to be slight. NT and I go below to sleep.
08:15 Change of watch. Daylight. NT and I get foulies and lifejackets and lines back on. 50°.30’ N 1°37’ W. Wind from east and is fresher and sea state appears moderate. PR takes the con. LM goes below to make breakfast. Cheese sandwiches. He eats one, makes a strange noise, clambers up the companionway looking very pale. No line. I move to grab back of his lifejacket as he leans over to Ieeward and chucks up breakfast. NT shouts “Good shot sir”. LM takes some air, improves returns below and then produces cheese sandwiches for NT and I; appearing again at head of companionway with sandwich in his mouth. NT shouts “Respect !” NT and I have tea. I sit to windward. A large wave breaks over the port side and as my hood is not up, nor neck fastened, half a cupful breaks on my head and down my neck. I’m surprised it does not feel particularly cold. NT laughs. Serves me right for not ducking. He is calling his wife on his mobile. Mine has run out of power. So he obligingly calls my wife and regales my getting wet. Twisted sense of humour.
10:00 NT passes me the helm. Sea state moderate with 5 foot swells and easterly wind. All 3 of us candidates feel motion sickness.
11:15 I lose direction as Eagle’s long keel and sail set makes her vulnerable to weather helm. NT shouts at me. I determine not to lose direction ever again. He is a hard task master.
11:30 NT insists on using autohelm as he reckons I am an awful helm. Is he being fair ? Autohelm goes on and within a few minutes it makes an unpleasant and ominous metallic sound. The handle then flies up and the bow swings to port. NT calls me a “bloody idiot” and I put the autohelm on again.
11:45 Autohelm has switched off three times now. NT had gone below for 5 minutes. He comes up to see me with my hands behind me as the autohelm disengages yet again. I say that it is broken and I have no intention of leaving post on helm with the autohelm inoperable. I steer better than I have ever done and NT now appears genuinely sorry for being so critical of me. Course is good despite the lumpy sea. NT goes below deck. I enjoy the solitude and responsibility. This is better and more challenging than my Day Skipper practical.
11:55 NT comes up from below deck. He apologises for shouting at me. I say that’s OK. He now appreciates that the autohelm is inoperable. It probably needs washing in fresh clean water due to being encrusted in salt.
12:30 Watch change. NT and I go below. We make coffee and serve up to LM and JM. Strip off foulies and get some rest. NT’s apology now makes me feel more confident. I can helm perfectly well. Lesson though is always be aware of wind, however tired I may be.
15:45 Wake up and come on deck. Land in sight but only just. Long coastline and low lying. Cannot see cliffs. Other watch goes below. NT asks my opinion on position. I state that we are east of where I would have wanted. We are 49°.46’ N 1°.34’W. NT discusses with me sailing plan. Is this new respect maybe? He says he does not want to criticise the other watch to their face but will alter course if necessary. I say we can always bear away to turn further west. He agrees. Looks like I’ve learnt some good basics already.
16:00 PR on helm and NT now seems to trust me. Might I actually pass?
16:15 I decide to bear away by 5°. Brave decision. My dead reckoning as a former pilot has kicked in.
16:50Excellent decision ! NT now clearly impressed at my dead reckoning. We now see the eastern end of the outer mole of Cherbourg. The plan has come together. We wake the others and get them on deck.
17:15. Mole clearly visible. JM takes over as skipper. He decides we head to wind inside the outer harbour to drop sails. LM on the helm. NT can now shout at him. NT warns him about the lights on the western approach to the outer harbour.
17:40 Outer harbour. Entrance safely cleared and as we turn into wind we are still exposed but less sea than outside the mole. Sails down and fenders out. Engine on. Cherbourg looks huge.
17:55 We motor into inner harbour and look for mooring. Find one. LM on helm. We have little choice but to take one of the few moorings left which and face into wind.
18:05 LM makes first attempt to moor and is blown off. Bow line is thrown to neighbouring lady who offers help. She is moored at end of pontoon in a 47 footer. Magnificent boat. She says they, too, had a bit of a rough crossing. JM and NT are off the boat on first attempt. But only one line on. NT tells LM to power it in. I remain on board with LM for moral support and to see how he does it. LM put on throttle gently and almost makes it but is again blown off. JM looks very concerned for his boat. NT then yells “Don’t pay attention to him (JM) He’s only the owner. Go on Lachlan, give it some wellie!” I tell LM to take it firmly but gently. LM ignores me and doing as NT orders, powers on throttle. He rams Eagle’s bow onto and up the pontoon,gouging the bow. JM is horrified. NT thinks it is highly amusing and shouts out – “Excellent”. I get off toward the stern and secure stern sheet; then take surplus back toward centre cleats as a spring. NT takes the passports takes the passports up to HM while JM LM and I head for the facilities. We meet NT in the bar. Beers followed by Pernod then dry white burgundy and the set supper of pate de compagne followed by duck legs; then cheese and a very sweet cake. Cognac all round. The three of us candidates needed to get drunk. We are exhausted and bonded.
Saturday 18 April 2015
Inport. Breakfast on board.
Weather still blowing an easterly but picked up with 25 - 30 knots and overcast. Seas look moderate with white horses. We do not see anyone leaving harbour. NT has risen early and brings back croissants. Fantastic. We brew proper coffee. We congregate in the showers and then set off to explore. Market is interesting with fish stalls. We walk across the inner fishing harbour bridge to big hypermarket to buy food and large thermos flasks for soup on return trip. NT teaches us not to attempt to heat up food in rough weather; better to have prepared hot soups.
There is a nautical fair on. We inspect a line of clothes stores and are more interested in the boats, particularly the J models. NT is looking for boats for sail. He likes to be a yacht broker. When he isn’t teaching at Hayling Island Yacht Club as Hayling Sea School, or teaching and assessing Yachtmasters, he spends the rest of his time ferrying new and power boats across the North Sea to Sweden and Norway.
Early afternoon. JM and NT remove the autohelm cover and hose it down with fresh water. It was heavily encrusted. Putting it back together, it looked a lot cleaner.
Late afternoon: We have a few drinks at the Yacht harbour bar, then into town for dinner. A super menu of fish, washed down with lots of burgundy. Desert is again sweet so we all opt for cheese. The variety and quality is superb.
Sunday 19 April 2015
Still in port. Weather not improved. We decide to stay in port and sail back the following day as the forecast is set to improve.
A walk in the morning after coffee. We inspect a 60 footer moored in the harbour behind the bridge. It looks used battered and is filthy. But the engine has been kept well and with some work will be a desirable yacht.
Sunday lunch on board. A feast.
After lunch NT and JM teach me the AIS and Plotter.
Afternoon. NT takes the LM and I through engine checks. JM as boat owner is deemed to know what is on board. I am the first to be able to locate and remove check and get replace the oil dipstick. It is not easy to reach. Raw water intake is even more difficult to reach. I learn to adjust fan belt.
NT puts the three of us through secondary port tide calculation exercise.
Afternoon walk around the harbour. I am shown the tide gate at eastern end. We have drinks in a local bar for tea.
Evening. Meal on board. Then NT designates me as skipper for the return journey. I get to passage plan using the white board plus course to steer on the chart. I set 358° having worked out my cross channel tides and passage. Wind is still from the east reducing to 15 kts. With a slight sea. I hope so.
NT goes for a shower. The three of us get together in the cockpit and I piece together from both my compatriots a check list for the pre-dawn start. This is really my first time as skipper. I am nervous as I want to get the order of sail correct. Brainwave – I write down a check list. Now I can get to sleep. Retire at 21:45.
Passage Plan for leaving Cherbourg and entering Northney Marina
Monday 20 April 2015
04:00 Alarm goes. I rise first and rapidly get dressed and into foulies. I turn on lights and the kettle and prepare three cups of tea and one coffee. I square away my bunk, then I put into practice the important points of skippering; calm authority and delegating tasks according to the check list. LM for internal items, JM for external items; NT to secure the galley. Then with all reporting completed everyone up on deck. I ensure NT is as far away from me as possible. I put him on the second bow line so he cannot interfere and make me nervous. I run through the external check list for departure with the other two; then safety brief for everyone.
04:40. Engine start and NT on prime bow line, with JM on stern. LM and I have headband lights. LM allows throttle to run gently to warm engine and JM slips stern and climbs aboard. Wind will blow us off. I ask NT to place a slip on the bow line and climb aboard. NT to slip the bow and I order LM to gently reverse. He is to focus on my directions as I have the passage plan. He slides neatly out of the berth and I order a slow turn to port as the wind pushes our bow around to port anyway. Throttle ahead and slight turn to port to clear the floating pontoon to starboard then head out to the outer harbour; avoid the yellow buoyed area (military) and straight ahead. Stop in the outer harbour heading about 040° and hoist mainsail with one reef and unfurl genoa.
05:00 Turn to port 005° to clear the outer harbour and steer 358°. En route. I let the other two go below for more rest and NT and I will take the first watch as dawn comes up. NT congratulates me on the check list and a smooth calm no drama style departure while in darkness for homeward voyage. I ask him to put the kettle on and make two cups of coffee. Its going to be a long day but a nice one. Wind easterly at 15kts and sea stare is slight. I’m now feeling confident I can skipper. The autohelm now works having been cleaned up.
09:00 50°.00’N 1°.36’ W. Good progress and its time for us to change watch. I ask the other two to take their turn and keep a good watch out for cargo ships (see photo belo). NT and I go below. I make teas for the chaps on watch then settle down for rest on the bunk.
13:00 Time to rise and get back on watch. NT wakes me and asks if I’m OK. He then says that JM has passed and he is fine with me but wants me to do 250 miles of skippering unsupervised to build confidence, after which he will give me my ticket. He asks if am I OK with that. I am thrilled. I’ve passed, subject to getting somenecessary experience. He will give LM his Day Skipper as he does not have this qualification yet. I check the GPS and plot the chart. We’ve made another 20 miles - 50°.20’ N 1°.37’ W.
I punch in the next waypoint.
15:15 Land ho. We’ve travelled 14 miles and can make out Freshwater Bay of the Isle of Wight. Bear away 10° to port and allow windage so we can clear port side of the fairway buoy.
16:20 Over the radio we hear the Coast Guard asking all vessels to look out for some object. Some kayaker had drowned on Saturday and the kayak had just been found. NT mishears and asks us to look out for a corpse. The corpse had already been found.