Do camper vans drag around the field .....???? Portisco 20th- 22nd July 2014 Sardinia. 41.02:18N 009.31:56E
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Tue 22 Jul 2014 18:40
Well those of you who follow our blogs will know how much I love Tioram and the thousands of miles she has carried us .....and to stunningly beautiful places.
But those of you who have kindly read the last five years of blogs will also know that there have been the odd few moments, probably countable on one hand, but no less remembered when I have commented that perhaps we should have bought a camper van instead !!! Or perhaps I should have married a domino player who wore a flat cap and went to the pub on a Sunday instead of sailing oceans.........boring I know.
Those moments have generally been after feeling ' sick ' on the Atlantic or dragging at anchor at 2 am in St Barts in the Caribbean next to millions of pounds worth of 'Velsheda' J class moored close by in the St Barts bucket race........a very well dug in anchor for three days, but yes I remember those moments.
Well as the Jaws film quote goes, ' just as you thought it was safe to go back into the water'.........we anchored on a stunningly calm night outside Portisco marina. Picture not a breath of wind with the sea like glass. The forecast was for stronger wind the next day but we were well dug in.
By morning 21st, the wind had strengthened and we monitored a drag at anchor. Our anchor does not like weed. We moved around the harbour wall to anchor off the beach with a sandy bottom along with 3 super yachts to ride out the gusts and forecast winds.
The maestrali certainly came on the afternoon with constant high 30s true knots. Tioram held her ground in a flat sea protected by the steep hillside ahead of us.
By 16.30 we were hit by 40 true gusts, one of which broke us out and we started to drag.....alongside other yachts ...a 65 footer and a 100 footer who also broke out. The 65 ft dragged across the bay before the crew realised.....thank fully not near us.
Collecting an anchor in high winds is very difficult as trying to keep the bow of a yacht into high winds is nearly impossible when he gusts are blowing. For those of you who don't sail, it is essential to drive the boat forward and to take the load off the chain to be able to collect It to the windlass and bow roller. So judging the collection speed etc in calm condition is normal ........in 40 knot gusts it's very difficult.
So as the spray whipped up off the water and my handheld radio to Tony on the helm crackled with wind noise.....totally unintelligible......my mind flicked for a moment to, ' Do Camper vans drag around the field......hmmmm ???
Well all ended fine, the anchor came up, we found another sandy spot, dumped the anchor back ASAP and Tioram held, bless her for the rest of the gale.
At 05.00 hrs on 22nd ( yes I was up listening to the wind and watching the anchor position on the chart plotter, whilst Tony slept like a baby.....he's built for this game!!!), I recorded constant 21/22 kts with occasional 30 t knots gusts.
As the day progressed the wind decreased and we lifted anchor to move along the coast to anchor off Cala Capriccoli, near Cala di Volpe for the night.
Not a breath of wind overnight after the Maestrali went through......lovely again .
Not quite ready for a camper van x x x x x x
Love to all
Tina and 'skipper built for the sea' Tony x x x x
