Fw: Noahs Progress
Zepher
Chris & Lyn Darch
Mon 16 Jul 2007 09:13
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----- Original Message -----
From: Yacht
Zephyranthes
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 7:32 PM
Subject: Noahs Progress 47:53.11N 004:07.24W
Date 7th to 15th July 2007
Noah's Progress , a small ditty from sea
hobbits.
We would like to say a big thank you to all who
have helped us over the years in achieving our dream of sailing off into the
blue yonder ..Mary my long long suffering sister Dave sore Knees and the Boyz ,
Ali Jan and the kids for parenting support , Mum and Dad " we haven't sunk
yet" to the hands on people Phil "The shipwreck". Geoff "ZOOM" Fields ,
Trevor" Longboard"Bednall, and Chris "Maddog" McDonald to the shore
support team Alison and Dave Hale for putting up with our "Were going soon"
statements and washing feeding us with grade A food , Steve and Lex Sands for
there sound"god dam" advice,good steak and sailing holidays ( Dont go
this year 2006" ) Andy and Annie Thresher , for the use of there garage and
library also Dont go in 2006 , Roger and Margaret for more
encouragement and light hearted banterCarl "FAB" and Debbie for "Universal light
entertainment " and the Dressed ship on our departure, Ike "Anchor
Man" Becky and Dan the other mad lot going round the world and
all the others who we have not mentioned but Im sure you know who you are ,and
finaly Claire and the staff at universal yard our long standing home the for the
past 7 years
Well onto matters concerning the briny , looking
for days at weather forecasts , last minuet rush for food container shipping
communications equipment problems the big day arrived , Alison and Dave came to
wave us off and pick up our old VW polo, trusted work horse for the last 9 years
, we made our way off to the fuel berth to fill up our belly tanks 900 litre
worth its the last cheep fuel we will see for a while ! Carl and Debbie escorted
us down the river on Toucan fully dressed and gave us a farewell salute, and we
went to Yarmouth we thought this would be a gentle way to start the trip , Steve
and Lexa met us Talask and Zephyer met also , we all had a good night in
the pub with Alan and his wife .
Next morning we set off wind westerly and not a lot
of it, forecast predicted it would go NW ! but that never happened , got through
the shipping lanes and off Guernsey by nightfall that's when the wind picked up"
no sailall day plenty sail all nighty"by five oc it had picked up to 30 knts on
the nose put 4th reef in and staysail out boat settled down and we slowly
ground our way to the Chenal Du Four , with weather against us we missed
the tide gate at 12 o/c so decided that hanging about for the next one o a lee
shore wasn't a bright idea so went the long way round Ile d'Ouessant , once
we turn the corner we had the sea up the stern quarter so the hrs of
pounding were over Lyns stomach settled down and we were on route to Camerat on
the Brest peninsular , arrived in Camaret ( Steve your anchor position you
gave me was dead right ) after a quick tour around the fish farm and many small
buoys ... we finally laid anchor at 00:45 UT in 12m of water ,large hook and
plenty of chain 150ft equals a good nights sleep .
Woke up the next morning to a knocking on the hull
"immigration and customs are early we thought popped head out of hatch and heard
Roger and Margaret shouting "were off "they had been trying to get to Spain for
a week and this was the window they had been looking for , so a quick exchange
of notes and they were off , we went back to bed , got up later that day
and started repairs to various leaks , navigation light , engine
maintenance .
Next Day blew up Z boat and went ashore had
a look round got times of fuel dock lazy day looked at weather
not to good rain wind in the wrong direction NO SUN yet.
Fuel Dock day arrived pulled up promptly at 10:30
after the local rush hr went to office only to be told that they were shut till
16:30 , dazed and confused we went back to the boat , asked someone the time
"Sacra Blu" didn't put the clocks fwd to French summer time , thought well sit
here till 16:30 so we did , meet some strange people mainly tails of
woe , weather and usual dock side bullshit , final got some juice
made plans to go on the Friday 13th to Benodet .. Lynn said bad move .. got up
to a South easterly 25 knts in Camerat thought bad day to go so had another day
in Camerat ..
Finally escaped Sat 14th SW wind not a lot of it ,
tide gate at the Raz was at 11 o/c so motored ,got there early flat as a pancake
so pushed on through to Benodet , got there at 16:30 made good time , a bit
Hamble scramble but after a hand break turn in the tide we grabbed the last buoy
up by the bridge " zoom in on the position " and are know currently resting till
we decide were to next this will depend on Sun Wind and which church we attend
on Sunday ..
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