Why Winterise? Solent Morning Sun 20th

[brucehawsker]

Time 0930. Air temp 2 degrees. Classic Solent chop. Four layers under Musto top layer. Absolutely delightful. Three yachts. No ribs. Was everyone sleeping off Saturday night?

[brucehawsker]

Last one before vibration made the next ones blurred!!!

[Andre]

Hi Bruce

Nice pictures and see you had a great time

Why isn't your name down for the Littlehampton cruise
I am sure you will enjoy venturing past Selsy Bill

[Louise]

Originally Posted by Andre

Why isn't your name down for the Littlehampton cruise
I am sure you will enjoy venturing past Selsy Bill

Yeah, c'mon Bruce! Cool piccies BTW!

[Phil Chitty]

Originally Posted by Andre

Hi Bruce

Nice pictures and see you had a great time

Why isn't your name down for the Littlehampton cruise
I am sure you will enjoy venturing past Selsy Bill

Great pics Bruce. Looks like the Solent was in a fair mood that day.

Andre and Louise are right though. You should try life past Selsey Bill some time real soon, like the weekend of the 7/8 May.

Phil

[brucehawsker]

7/8 MAY!!! I have no idea what is happening in my life on 7/8 March!!!!

I hope to go with the Jackeens on 12/13 March I think it is. We are also 'on' for the BIBOA / Trafalgar two day event.

So far our 'furthest outs' are Mudeford to the West - but we did not get into Christchurch harbour. Depth finder was reading less than 4 feet of water, and our leg is two feet below the transducer, so that gave us 2 feet of clearance. It was near low tide and we had obviously not done it before so we chickened out. Freshwater South on the Island, and the forts off Portsmouth to the East.

We now have everything (except the compass!!) working to my satisfaction - even can see the bottom at speed most of the time. Had the auxilliary running at the weekend to test her. Fuel consumption is less than I feared (but weather keeps us to about 20 - 30 knots most of the time), and oil consumption has come right down. I even gave her a clean and a polish (sad git rubbing tubes with cleaner at 2 degrees centigrade in drizzle).

Given up on compass - radio speaker is the culprit I think. In emergency will remove speaker (by brute force if necessary).

Managed to drive off in the dark having detatched trailer but with the breakaway cable still round the tow bar - but BHG produced a spare at short notice. Now remove my ratchet handle every time after last one was nicked!!!

What else have I yet to cock up?????

Couple of queries -

1. Going round the Needles, how do I be sure I am avoiding rocks / wrecks without going out quite a way to the west and hugging the blue countour?

2. Cannot master launching/recovery on my own. Just too much to focus on, especially recovery when cross windy. Does anyone know of anyone who lives close to Lymington wh could help me launch / recover when I am alone?

Many thanks as e'er.

Bruce

[ADS]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

So far our 'furthest outs' are Mudeford to the West - but we did not get into Christchurch harbour. Depth finder was reading less than 4 feet of water, and our leg is two feet below the transducer, so that gave us 2 feet of clearance. It was near low tide and we had obviously not done it before so we chickened out.
Bruce

Its always shallow going into christchurch, and the entrance bouys have been taken out for the winter. If anybody does wish to enter christchurch this winter just follow the yellow markers the fishermen have put out but take it slow. The channel is easy to spot because this time of year there are breakers either side, on the sandbanks.
I went out on sunday at low tide (2pm) down the channel and didnt touch the bottom, but I kept the boat just on the plane, to keep the boat level.
Christchurch is well worth a visit, and if anybody requires any information on launching/ facilities/ just ask me, or ashbypower as we are both regular users of christchurch.
Probably best to enter at high tide Bruce, in a new shiny boat like yours!

Alex

[slimtim]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

1. Going round the Needles, how do I be sure I am avoiding rocks / wrecks without going out quite a way to the west and hugging the blue countour?

Bruce, go through the needles if you're brave enough . stick to the right hand side of the big gap in the rocks. You will see a dirty great rock a few feet to your right but you need to pass close to it . Not sure if this can be done at all states of tide and you need to watch out for the swell and strong tides racing between the rocks...possibly only to be done on a calm day. Oh, and if you go too slowly, the tide/swell can push you sideways onto the rocks !

Anyway, nice pics!

Cheers

Tim

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

1. Going round the Needles, how do I be sure I am avoiding rocks / wrecks without going out quite a way to the west and hugging the blue countour?

2. Cannot master launching/recovery on my own. Just too much to focus on, especially recovery when cross windy. Does anyone know of anyone who lives close to Lymington wh could help me launch / recover when I am alone?
Bruce

1.The wreck is a long way off the lighthouse so to clear it you need to leave the same length as the length of the Neddles. Having said that at high tide you would be OK to go much closer and in fact the wreck is getting smaller all the time. Tims idea of going through can be very exiting but definitely do it at high tide and in someone else’s boat first

2. Would love to help but between looking after three kids and keeping the dragon happy I don’t get a lot of free time Have you tried the Town quay, less open than the Bath Road one and in the winter usually quiet. Bad in the summer and you would have to run your trailer back to the Berthon, but worth a thought

Des

[philip]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

2. Cannot master launching/recovery on my own. Just too much to focus on, especially recovery when cross windy. Does anyone know of anyone who lives close to Lymington wh could help me launch / recover when I am alone?

I don’t get a lot of free time either but fairly frequently in Lymington Sat. mornings - If I'm about would be happy to help - realise you'll more often than not be launching in the morning.

Cheers

Phil