The last Day and Pontoon 9 52:53.20N 4:24.40W
Ellatrout3
Tue 19 Aug 2014 09:38
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As usual there is always something to worry about when you
are sailing, on the ocean or near the coast, and on the last day the thing to
worry about was big ships. Because of our run south away from Tropical
Storm Bertha we were further east than we would otherwise have been. This
resulted in our course taking us straight through the ship separation lanes off
Milford Haven and St Davids Head in the middle of the night. To avoid it
we headed further north and started to cross above the separation zone
about 1 o'clock in the morning. It was a black night with no
moon and we might just as well have crossed the separation lanes because the
number of ships that came close was definitely worrying.
The first to come by was a Cruise Ship, Ocean
Princess, she was like a large block of flats on its side with all the
windows lit and glowing like a christmas tree. She didn't cause us much
worry but the next few did. Our AIS system (Automatic Identification
System, I've mentioned it before) tells us how close they would come (CPA) and
when (TCPA). Two in particular were spaced such that I would pass between
them and if I altered course aviod one it put me closer to the other. In
the end, when he was 5 miles away with time to manouver, I called up the
second to check if he could see me on his radar and ask him if he was going to
pass clear of me. I had to call him twice before I got a response
and unfortunately his english was not good and by this time all the crew were up
and anxiously watching. It took me several attempts to
explain where I was, to which he replied "I don't know what you
want". That was worrying!!!! eventually he got the message and said
"I will pass your stern", which was a relief. However when he loomed out
of the night he was damn close, so close he would sever my towed generator rope
so I turned sharply at the last minute and he passed 200 yards away. So I
suppose he thought it is quite alright to pass a small vessel within a 100 yards
which is about all I gained with my last minute manouver. It didn't stop
then either; not long after the two ships I've mentioned became overlapped,
the second overtaking the first with the Roslare Ferry heading straight for
them at 15 knots and we were between the ferry and the ships. We
assumed the ferry would have to alter course to avoid them and may not see
us in the rough sea. "Stena line Europa this is sailing yacht
EllaTrout can you see me?". Fortunately the lady officer on watch had good
english! But it still took while for them to get the message there was a
small yacht dead ahead and to find us on their radar
We continued up the Irish sea at a thumping good pace with
the force 6 north westerly giving us a beam reach (the wind blowing
directly onto the side of the ship which is the fastest point of sailing) and 25
miles out we knew we would arrive at about 5.30 Sunday afternoon. I asked
one of my sailing pals to check my berth was free to be sure of a clear run
in with the strong conditions. Imagine my surprise as I turned into my
bay, along the whole length of Pontoon 9 people were blowing fog
horns, waving and shouting their welcome. there were several water canon
playing (hose pipes cascading spouts of water) it was a really wonderful
reception and so unexpected. Sarah and Patch couldn't keep the smile off thier
faces, all thier experiences of wind, waves and whales came tumbling out.
It was truely wonderful, thank you everybody
My thanks also go to everybody who has helped me and
followed me through this fantastic adventure. I have now finally
completed my gap year at the ripe old age of 77 and the only peice of
advice I can offer is whatever you dream of doing go and do it, be a player not
a spectator.
Love Poppa/Dad/Roger
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