Monday 30th April

We didn't get started due to heavy weather. Hopefully tomorrow.

Return to Lymington

After a week back in Maidstone in the loving arms of my wife, Chrissy, I have returned to Lymington. And things are very much the same as when I left last Monday. The wind is still whistling through the rigging. The rain is still pouring, and the journey was similar, involving seven trains.
On arrival in Lymington, I did a quick restock in Tesco's and then the Harbour Master very kindly ran me out to the mooring.
Tomorrow, I'll go alongside the Town Quay and wait for my brother in law John who is to join me for the next leg .

Some Pictures From David H.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100963855698432477111/DaveHeppellsPictures

David very kindly sent me the pictures he took during our trip together.

Day 9 - Lymington

We spent a rather chilly night (min 6deg C.) with no fan heater to keep us warm.
I broke a tooth on a breakfast panini, so I will need to try and make a dental appointment for next week.
We had a chat with Michael W. on 'Liberty Jane' who is making a circumnavigation out of Falmouth anti-clockwise. He intends to be back in Falmouth in July. His trip from Falmouth to Lymington had taken him three days. I have allowed a leisurely four weeks going in the opposite direction. Our paths should cross again when he is going south down the Welsh Coast and I'm heading north up the Irish Coast.
I said goodbye to David at Lymington Station. He is spending the night at Dick P.s before catching an early plane tomorrow from Gatwick to Lyon. He must have enjoyed his week as he wants to join me next year in Scotland and if any legs need a crew this year, and the Gite business allows, he will return.
Whilst at the station I bought my return ticket home for tomorrow. £29 via Brighton or £ 59 via London. You can guess which one I opted for.

Day 8, Cowes to Lymington

We enjoyed a fried breakfast in Cowes and then left. At first the winds were very light and the sea was barely rippled. After a while we were able to sail, tacking right up to 'The Jack in the Basket' were we dropped the main. We carried on up the Lymington River user genoa. We nearly got caught between two Wight Link ferries, but we motored away to the Town Quay.
We moored on the pontoon and spoke to Mark, the harbour master. I decided to leave the boat on a mooring for the week and return home on Monday.
I rang Sharmon & John and they invited David & I to dinner and John came to Lymington to collect us.

Another visitor

Whilst we were in the fish & chip shop, David mentioned Ian S who lives on the Isle of Wight and we both knew from our times with Seeboard. I looked in the telephone book in vain for his number, but I did have his email address. A short email asking if he was about, and shortly after he was with us.
A couple of hours in the pub spent reminising.

Day 7 Hayling Island to Cowes

We left Sparkes Marina for a leisurely motor to Cowes. After a while the wind picked up, on the nose, and we had hail stones. The CG helicopter dropped a man aboard the yacht approximately one mile ahead as practice, and then returned to collect him.
After crossing the Solent to Ryde we sailed into Cowes.
David & I enjoyed fish & chips as a late lunch and a pint.

More Pictures

Wash day

After breakfast, I put my washing in the marina washer-dryer machine, and went for a shower. On return I helped Murry & John on Irish Eyes next to us change the VHF antenna. After that, I assembled the Bickerton bicycle I had swopped with Nigel for an AIS receiver & antenna splitter and cycled along the Hayling Billy Cycle Trial.
I met up with David in The Olive Leaf for lunch.
After cycling back to the boat, I went to get my washing back. It was still wet, so I gave the really damp items another hour. After folding up the bicycle and a snooze it was still damp.
As it was raining I rigged a washing line down below and we went for a coffee.

No sailing today

Piranhas Bar, Sparkes Marina

The jazz band in the restaurant.

A visitor

Peter H dropped in to see us on his journey.

Turned away from the bar

David and I needed assistance from Bosham Quay Master to leave the quay due to the strong SW wind. The intended destination was Gosport, where we were to meet Peter H.
As we approached Chichester Harbour Bar the waves were breaking and the white water was very confused. We turned about and entered Sparkes Marina, Hayling Island. Peter will find us there.
I had a very nice email from Diana on Flora with an offer of the use of her washing machine.
Calviere Two is now appearing on the Web based AIS. http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=235014993

Tuesday - Bosham Rest Day

David and I had lunch in a tea shop and then wandered into the village to find the Co-Op. There was a special deal on the kitchen paper towels, so we bought two twin packs. This must guarantee the others will be found tomorrow.
Walked to the railway station and bought tickets for Chichester. We then determined that we had 50minutes to wait for the train, so we decided to return the shopping to that boat, not appreciating just how far we had wandered. We made it back to the station with two minutes to spare.
We visited Chichester Cathedral and walked the entire length of the city walls.
So much for a 'rest day'

The Kindness of Sailors

We woke up this morning, the wind was howling through the rigging and rain was lashing the decks.

We had already decided that today was to be a 'Rest Day' so we stayed in our bunks until after 08:30.

I checked on the fenders and went to see the quay master about staying put. I still haven't found him, but I did find showers etc in the sailing club. After a chat they said we could spend some time there. I'm using their PC to write this email. The facilities in the club are exceedingly good, and we are both very grateful for the showers. My camera battery and the laptop, with the iphone are all on charge

David has gone back to the boat to make a cup of tea. I'll join him shortly for some toast.

The sun has come out now, so I expect we will go off and explore the village of Bosham on foot. I'm told there are a couple of pubs, a couple of take aways, a Co-Op, a post office, and some tea shops. I expect we'll check out the tea shops for lunch.

We have finished the kitchen paper roll and I know we have some more on board. David says that he has seen them, but we can't find them. Once we have brought some more they will leap out at us.

Day 3 Eastbourne - Chichester Harbour

David visited Asda while I filled up with diesel and we locked out at 08:30, half an hour after Flora. In the lock we met 'Stress Breaker', a very nice Moody ketch. After leaving the lock we spoke on the VHF, she was on a shakedown cruise out from her home port of Gosport, preparing for a trip across the Biscay.
The winds were fairly light N as we
motor sailed past Beachy Head. We did sail for a short while, but progress was too slow. We set in for a long motor to Selsey Bill. The tidal race at the Bill was fairly exciting, as it was against us and we were only making 2 - 3 knots SOG.
Once free of the race, the wind had built to 15knots SW, so we had a brisk sail into Chichester Harbour. After seven hours of motoring we refueled at Sparks Marina at 18:30.
Listening to 'The Archers' we sailed with the tide to Bosham were we moored against the quay.
Over dinner in The Anchor Blue and a pint in the sailing club, we decided to have a rest day tomorrow.

Pictures

Day 2

We spent an uncomfortable night at anchour in Dover Harbour and left at 10:30 in a hail squall. The weather forecast hadn't been very favorable, strong Northerly winds, rain and temperatures barely above freezing, but at least the wind was in the right direction. We decided to leave, after rigging the safety lines & donning the waterproofs. We had a really good sail, in company with Flora, a Westerly Centur. In Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne, we met up with Flora's crew, Don, Diane & Roger for dinner at one of the Quayside restaurants.

Day 1 Queenborough to Dover

Dave H flew into Gatwick on Thursday and I collected him from Maidstone West Railway Station at 22:00. On Friday we spent the day stocking Calviere Two. I hadn't wanted to leave on Friday the thirteenth, so we left on Saturday the fourteenth, which is the hundred years anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
Queenborough to Dover was an easy start with a helpful NE wind. One drama was recovering the 'hat overboard' shortly after leaving Queenborough. At anchour in Dover. Harbour.

Launch Day

Peter H. very kindly came up to Rainham to give me a hand to launch Calviere Two on  a cool and windy day. The IoSSC weather site was showing force 6 gusting 7. A couple of minor problems along the way, but Calviere Two is now on her usual mooring at Queenborough. Many Thanks to Peter H.

I hadn't realised that Peter had taken so many photographs, as I was concentrating on other things at the time. It is quite worrying watching your pride & joy hovering overhead. Boats are supposed to be in the water. One can accept the fact that sometimes they are on dry land. Boats in the air are unnatural!

More of Peter H's Photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/100963855698432477111/20120405#