Back in the UK
The Voyages of Richard and Amanda
Sat 10 Jul 2010 14:59
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POS 50:09.20N 005:3.78W
Well after nearly two months and and 1700 miles we
are back in the UK. We decided that the weather window to cross the channel
yesterday (Fri) was too good an opportunity to miss. The forecast was for 24
hours of SW or WSW force 3-4, and that is an ideal wind to sail the almost due
North course to Falmouth. This a distance of just under 100 miles and we
reckoned that leaving around 10am would get us to Falmouth in about 18 to 19
hours sailing overnight and arriving at Falmouth in the morning.
In fact, that's just what happened. The forecast
was spot on. Occaisionally the wind dropped to force 2 and once or twice it
reached a F5 but always from the same direction so we had a broad reach all the
way across the channel. The only real tricky bits were as we crossed the routes
that big ships were taking between the traffic separation schemes off Ushant and
off Alderney. The ships seemed to be bunching up as they passed between the two
zones so first we met half a dozen heading east. The gaps here were big enough
to sneak through without any problems. The west going stream had the same number
of boats but this time it seemed that each one in turn was going to come too
close.
We use an electronic system called AIS that reads
signals from cargo ships about their course, speed and position and this is
displayed on the chartplotter with a calculated closest point of approach (cpa),
i.e. how near will the other boat come to us if both hold their present course
and speed. This really useful because you can see straight away which boats are
going to be a problem. With the west going stream we had 3 boats, one after
another, where the cpa was going to be less than a quarter of a mile. We crossed
the path of the first boat with 1000 feet to spare (about 300m). This is a
reasonable distance in the Solent, but feels very close when you are 50 miles
from shore especially as these boats are really big and it is like standing next
to a skyscraper as they go past. It wasn't until we saw the view of the boat
change from his port side, to bows on, to seeing his starboard side that we
could be sure that he really was going to pass us astern.
The problem we have is that in theory power boats
should give way to sailing boats. But it is hard to tell from a distance if the
power boat has made a decision as to how much gap he is going to leave. The
first boat crossed behind us by what I assume, he felt was a safe distance. If I
had slowed down thinking I will keep out of his way, I could now be in the wrong
place and his safe distance has gone. So you should usually try to keep on the
same course, so he knows where you will be.
After this relatively close encounter I did try to
call the second boat to see if they knew I was there, but getting no answer
decided that discretion was the better part of valour and altered course before
they were close so that I was obviously sailing parallel to their course until
they had gone. It might have been a bit of a delay but at least it was better
for our nerves. After this there were no more imminent collisions and it was
just a case of keeping on the right course till we arrived.
The Lizard light appeared where it was supposed to
be when we were 20 miles away from land. Very re-assuring that the GPS and
autopilot know where they are. We sailed to within 4 miles of our destination
way point, then motored in the last bit. It was just coming up to daylight when
we arrived in the harbour. The Visitors Yacht Haven seemed to be full so we
moved over to the anchorage and dropped the anchor in about 8m of water at 6am.
After 10-15 minutes checking that we weren't dragging it was time for bed and a
few hours sleep to catch up. All in all it was one of the best sails of the
trip. The number of times that I have been able to sail completely across the
channel have actually been quite small, usually the wind doesn't oblige and
drops to nothing half way over and you are left to motor the last bit, so it is
really satisfying to make it all the way with just the sails.
Woke up around 10.30 relieved to see that we were
still where we were supposed to be. Finished off the last of the French bacon
and croisants, then into Falmouth on the dinghy to have a look round. It is
definately shoppers heaven here, lots of clothes and jewellery shops. Funny I
didn't notice them the last time I was here!! The place has a certain charm
though it is just a shame there are so many people.
Current plans are to stay here tonight, move
somewhere else in the Fal Estuary on Sunday then sail to Plymouth on
Monday. Although as always we are in the lap of the weather gods..
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