So the JMC was cancelled, again! Although Kate still planned to go out in Purple Mist, Beth & I decided not to risk getting stuck in Cowes for the weekend.
Then a thought occurred. I had won a course with Southern Sailing in the club charity auction and, for one reason and another, had never quite managed to take it up. A quick call to James Murrison on Friday afternoon and I was signed up for the Day Skipper course starting on Sunday 19th October.
So Sunday saw me travelling down to Southampton with not a little trepidation. The forecast for the week wasn’t good and I’d be sailing with a bunch of strangers and without Beth for the first time. But once on board “Tomfoolery”, a Sigma 36, with the instructor “Rafa”, a laid back Dutchman, and fellow course mates Philip (“Pip”), Stuart and Charlie, I was keen to get going. The first evening was just a short trip down to Warsash, but it was dark almost before we’d gone under the Itchen Bridge, so navigation was by lights. With so many navigation and other lights in that area things were sometimes a little confused. But we found our way to the pontoon and afterwards to the Rising Sun, just in time for last orders. First task accomplished!
After breakfast on Monday we did a bit of pontoon bashing then I was asked to make a passage plan. Oh dear! But then the good news. What had I been working on in preparation for the JMC ? A passage plan for the Beaulieu River. Where were we headed? You guessed it, the Beaulieu River. What a spot of luck! Once out of Southampton Water we were beating into quite a fresh breeze, but we found our way to the Lepe Spit SCM then to the yellow racing buoy and followed the transit into the river. Once round the first bend we dropped the main then motored up to mooring buoy near the sailing club. A large seal was on the pontoon, pretending to sleep but keeping one eye on us.
We motored all the way up to Bucklers Hard (useful JMC practice!) then sailed all the way back down and out into the Solent again. Heading across to the Isle of Wight in rising winds with three reefs in the main we did some heaving to and MOB exercises. Then off to Cowes in the increasing gloom, tying up at East Cowes just as darkness fell.
Bangers and mash for supper. The first mechanical failure was the grill on the cooker, which refused to stay lit. Gaffa tape had that sorted! This was not to be the only problem!
Tuesday was forecast to be the windiest day, with the tail end of hurricane Gonzalo coming through. We weren’t disappointed! Bramblemet was showing 30 knots gusting to 40, and 50 knots at Southampton dock head. We seemed to be the only sailing boat daft enough to venture out! We headed downwind to Portsmouth with three reefs in the main and a No. 4 jib and, surprisingly, it was actually a good sail. I can’t tell you the wind speeds we recorded, as none of the wind instrumentation was working. Something else to add to the fix list!
During the passage, Rafa pointed out that a significant amount of water was flowing out of the vent in his cabin and going across the floor before disappearing into the bilges! He didn't seem unduly concerned, but it was obviously something that needed investigating!
Once in Haslar marina, the covers in the aft cabin came off. Between Rafa, and Stuart (a plumber, fortunately) they concluded that it was a leak where the cooling water entered the exhaust pipe. Out with the Gaffa tape again and the problem appeared to be solved for now. There was still time for a drink or two in Minnie Mouse 2.
We went into Gosport on Wednesday morning to top up the supplies, particularly tomato ketchup which was sadly lacking on the boat. Then out through the small boat channel again with only one reef in the main as the wind had thankfully died somewhat. We were beating this time and had the tide against us, but things eased somewhat once the tide turned in our favour.
We sailed down to Newtown Creek and dropped anchor while we had lunch. It was a struggle getting in as the tide was already falling, and we only just managed to scrape out before the tide fell away completely. Then sideways across to Lymington in 3KN of cross tide in the failing light, with the front navigation lights needing some “encouragement” (banging!) to come on – another lesson in boat maintenance! We finally rafted up at the town quay with enough time to visit the Kings Head before turning in.
Thursday morning and we set off for Newtown Creek with Stuart making the passage plan. We didn’t stop, but just sailed to the cardinal then set off for Beaulieu again. As before, we waited until we'd rounded the first bend before dropping the main and motoring up to a mooring buoy. The same seal was in the same place it was on Monday. Perhaps it hadn't moved at all?
After a relaxed lunch we set off into the Solent to perform MOB manoeuvres, firstly using the engine and then under sail.
During all this, the engine high temperature warning sounded. Using the engine as little as possible, we headed into Cowes Yacht Haven.
Taking the engine cover off didn't reveal anything obvious. The impeller was checked, but that all looked OK. The water filter was clear. The engine was started and everything appeared normal. Unable to find anything obvious we agreed to see what it was like in the morning and headed to the pub.
Friday, the last day, started with bacon baguettes and coffee from Tiffins for a treat - delicious. We started the engine and left the marina but the smell soon told us that all was not well. We got the sails up as soon as possible and killed the engine. More investigation revealed that it was the same issue we had on Monday, but now water was leaking from the cooling system. With the system topped up the engine worked once more and Rafa declared that it would be OK for berthing back in Southampton.
We had a good final sail all the way up Southampton Water almost to the Itchen Bridge, before dropping the sails and motoring the final stretch to the pontoon.
As soon as the lines were tied, the mechanics started work on the issues we'd had, as the boat was due out again later that day for a seven day trip. Best of luck with that!
We unloaded our gear and gave the boat a clean through. Then the paperwork was completed and certificates issued. Hooray!
So thanks to the RBYC committee for organising the charity auction, and thanks to Southern Sailing for an interesting week, with rather more wind and boat maintenance than I could have wished for!
Doug Hughes
