The First Sail of the Season. Ramsgate Run, 25th May to 1st June 2021
Skipper: Tim Sandford Mate: Bruce Dudley
Crew: Diane Roworth, Elena Piras, Robert Johnson, Eddie Kitchen.
Sponsor: Whirlwind Charitable Trust
Much to our surprise and disappointment on the Friday before we were due to meet we had notification that the race had been cancelled. It was too late to cancel the charter, the crew had arranged their travel plans and we wanted to go sailing – so we did!
Arriving on Tuesday the 25th with the wind howling and the occasional squall of horizontal rain we fought our way along the pontoon to our yacht Ellie B. She’s a 37 foot yacht with a single wheel, a wide cockpit and all the rigging lines came back to the cockpit making it easy to raise and alter sails. The shopping team of Robert and Tim braved the local Morrisons and shopped till they dropped, transporting vast quantities of food back to the boat.
In the meantime, and a special thank you to Jane Littleproud for meeting Elena at the station and guiding her to the boat, the crew got our boat ready. The stores where tucked away and after a spot of lunch we decided that, as the wind had dropped below 30 knots, we’d pop out for a test sail.
Lifejackets fitted, safety briefing completed, 6 different varieties of tea and coffee drunk, we were off! It’s fair to say that the berth Ellie B occupies is reasonably snug and, if it wasn’t for the moored yacht one boat length directly ahead, the exit which takes a sharp turn to starboard and then to Port would be a simple one on a still day. But this is Visa-gb and we’re not going to let a spring tide setting us down and a mere 25 knots of breeze stop us, so off we went into the waters of Portsmouth harbour. With the wind on our beam we decided to let out the headsail and when we reached 7.5 knots decided to pull a bit of that away. We spent a couple of hours getting to know the boat up and down the protected waters of the harbour. Back for tea and cake and planning for the week ahead. Following a very hearty beef stew, courtesy of Eddie, we turned in for the usual first night of strange noises, banging ropes and squeaking fenders.
Day two was better, still plenty of wind and unremittingly grey, the decision was made to head West with the wind behind us. Leaving Haslar at the crack of 11a.m., Elena helmed across towards Ryde in a stiff South Easterly before turning West to run down to Cowes. As we passed Cowes the wind decided to trick us by bending around the Isle of Wight and was coming straight up the western Solent giving is the joy of tacking our way West. We went from full mainsail down two reefs fairly smartly and Ellie B responded well. All the crew began to work as a team as we tacked our way down the western Solent towards the Needles. After a few hours punching the wind and our afternoon tea and biscuits in danger we made the decision to pop into Newtown Creek and pick up a mooring buoy. What a great decision that was, for those that haven’t visited, Newtown Creek is a delight. Sited on the North West coast of the Isle of Wight, about 5 miles up from Yarmouth, the creek is managed by the National Trust. Oyster Catchers greeted our arrival, flat and sheltered waters, a mooring buoy that the crew picked with no fuss and a wonderful calm settled on the boat leading. That was quickly shattered as supper preparations got into full swing with creation of Robert’s delicious paella.
Day Three and the wind was still and the sun was shining – hooray! Planning over a leisurely breakfast we decided to keep the wind behind us and use the tide get us back up the Solent towards the Folly Inn. This allowed us time to go ashore for a walk. This of course meant using the dinghy, the boat could sleep up to eight people and, when inflated, the dinghy wasn’t much bigger than Tim’s shoes! Robert, and none of us could understand this at the time, politely declined the opportunity to join the shore party so just the five of us went. Loading us into the dinghy was interesting, the writers shorts are still drying out, say no more! With Eddie at the oars, one of which had to be held together with string, we headed off to the closest landing point only to be promptly swept into the creek by the strong spring tide. At one point Eddie was manfully rowing forward while we made 2 knots backwards – how the other boats enjoyed the spectacle! There were a few mutterings about Robert’s wise decision to stay aboard but the tide helped to deliver an elegant landing some 150 meters further away than expected. We then enjoyed a great walk along an easy going track through trees while enjoying the birdsong and scents of the flowers. Thanks to the lovely National Trust harbour master our return journey was easier and to top it all they generously waived our mooring fee.
We had a lovely sail back up to Cowes and then motored up the Medina towards the Folly Inn, chugging gentle along with over a meter of water below our keel, we were reliably told the depth gauge had been set to the keel, so it was something of a surprise when we came to a gentle halt mid-stream. Skipper’s mutterings confirmed that this was the perfect spot for a cuppa and Elena serenaded us, and the rather puzzled passing boats, with a lovely Scottish lullaby as we waited to float off. The Folly Inn was open and we enjoyed a couple of drinks on the balcony before returning for Diane’s delicious aubergine and tomato one pot supper.
Our original plan was to race to France thanks to generous sponsorship from the Whirlwind Charitable Trust, this was cancelled but we still wanted to lay down a marker and give the crew the experience of a long passage. Our pre-race training had gone well, we were working as a team and had built confidence in our collective ability. The plan B was to get to Poole and then from Poole come back to Gosport via the Southside of the Isle of White, a passage of just over 50 miles.
Leaving the Folly Inn we then headed West towards the Needles, the South Easterly meant we could sail with the asymmetric spinnaker which gave us good speed. The tide and wind combined to push us along at 10 knots and we flew down the Solent. Fast reactions from the crew as the wind shifted through 180 degrees at Hurst castle and the spinnaker was tamed and back in it’s bag before you could say tea and digestives, great job team Visa! Then onto Poole and we picked up a mooring buoy off Brownsea Island – the tide of 3 knots kept us alert while Bruce cooked up his Pasta special at the end of splendid day.
Day 5 and an early start for our passage back to Gosport, up at 0600 and off the buoy before 0700. Light winds and sun as we motored past millionaires row at Sandbanks and the chain ferry. Proper sailing breakfast, bacon, sausage, tomatoes , eggs washed down with a jug of coffee and the crew were set, ready, keen and prepared. Teasing the boat through light airs we were on course and looking at an ETA of 1900 into Gosport as long as we could make the tidal gates. But, as we all know things happen, the wind died away and try as we might it just wasn’t going to happen. Engine on and we nipped back up to the Needles and squeezed through the Hurst castle narrows just before the tide turned. The wind filled in and we sailed again punching the fast flowing ebbing tide. Not wanting to motor and unable to make much progress we ferry glided across to Gurnard Bay, dropped the anchor for the night. Elena dished up a delicious risotto which was much enjoyed at the end of a long and ultimately satisfying day.
We needed milk, the crew were revolting, matters were going to be taken into hand so the decision was Gosport, shopping, showers, Chichester. Great sail across to Gosport, long starboard tack from Gurnard into Southampton water, then port tack towards Ryde avoiding the Bramble bank. Complete mayhem entering Portsmouth as every boat in the world was leaving, after all it was a sunny back holiday. Like a formula one pit crew, we docked, we showered, we shopped, we left. Eddie Kitchen took the boat off the mooring and organised the crew to get sails up and we were off again. For those that know the Solent the submarine wall has a couple of gaps you can go through – this is what we did, simple, right? Wind North Easterly, tide running East. All you’ve got to do is tack the boat and get through the 20 meter gap without hitting that, or the hundreds of boats doing the same from the other side, what could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, nothing! Diane at the helm, a steady and confident hand on the wheel, the well oiled tacking machine that was at work, we made it with at least one cigarette paper between us and the port hand mark, great work and, after a short lie, down the skipper made a brew to celebrate.
Robert had the onerous task of helming us up into Chichester punching the ebbing tide, 1.5 meters under the keel (we think!) as we crossed the bar, 3 knots of tide and 4 knots of boat speed saw a relaxed arrival into Chichester. Anchoring off the lovely beach at West Wittering amongst many other yachts, isn’t it satisfying when your crew get the anchor set first time and you’re enjoying a cold beer watching the anchoring exploits of others! What a lovely spot, families playing, dogs on the beach, swimming, and mucking about in boats. Our last night with the full crew so a couple of dark and stormys’ to start with followed by the skippers one pot supper, finished off with the classic Jamaican ginger cake flambé.
Last full day and another leisurely start and a very nice spinny run back to Gosport where we said goodbye to Eddie and hello to Jane who joined us for supper and a singsong – the end of an excellent week. So a very big thank you to Whirlwind, we are sorry the race was cancelled but we are entered for next year and your money allowed us to get a crew race ready, we all learnt a lot from each other, confidence was built during the week and everyone wants to come back for more!
We sailed 105 miles through the water with some great sailing, testing conditions at times, we anchored, picked up mooring buoys, learnt new knots, how to rig a spinnaker and how to get it down in a hurry, we worked on tidal streams, and got our bums wet in a tiny dinghy – brilliant, here’s to the next adventure.
