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At 2200 on Monday night our crews set out for Arbroath on the second overnight sail of the round Britain sail 2019. With calm seas and a fair wind, at times reaching 20 knots, our crews made 7 knots speed, a fair pace for our two vessels on this trip so far!
Again the experience of our skippers was reassuring to the others on board, even those who have sailed at night before, as navigating at night is a challenge and it is always comforting to know there is someone to rely on to keep you on course. Our crews enjoyed more views of the Milky Way, with shooting stars aplenty and many warm cups of tea to keep them going.
On arrival in Arbroath, with Ashanti and Clearlake II safely moored, our hungry crews treated themselves to a bounty of famous Arbroath Smokies (traditional hot-smoked haddock) as reward for all their hard work, and as preparation for what is yet to come.
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
On a beautiful morning, our two new crews set off on the first day of the second leg of the sail4macmillan round Britain cruise. The conditions could not have been more perfect, with a fair wind, and in the right direction this time, and clear skies, Ashanti and Clearlake II departed under sail alone for the first time in a couple of days.
Heading for the Scottish border, the two vessels needed to anchor off Holy Island for a rest and a good meal in a location that would not look out of place in a travel brochure. Even though the views are beautiful, the stop had to be short-lived, as our yachts and their crews need to set off at 2200 for an overnight sail to Arbroath.
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
The final day of this leg would see Ashanti, Clearlake II and their crews set sail for Royal Quays marina in North Shields where Rob, the skipper of Ashanti, lived whilst a cadet in the merchant navy. With the weather holding up our yachts in Lowestoft, a night in Hartlepool had to be sacrificed in order to make it in time.
The weather was the best it has been so far, with beautiful clear skies and crystal waters a great setting for the final push. Keeping a keen eye open for lobster pots, which can snarl a propeller easily if ran over, our crews were treated to sightings of gannets, puffins, seals and even the odd porpoise came out to play! It is treats like these that remind everyone of the absolute joy that can be taken from being on the water, and this glorious Saturday was no exception.
Our crews were booked in for dinner at The Lock cafe in Royal Quays, and so needed to arrive in plenty of time to scrub up for their well earned celebration of their achievement. Many had never undertaken such a trip as this week before, and had faced challenges that they have never encountered before, and would take away a whole new view of sailing, as well as new skills and new friends.
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
Our sponsors have been great so far and we would like to thank them for all their help. Plans are coming along for the great finale in Fambridge Yacht Haven on 29th June. Lots of events are planned including taster sessions with both the Scouts and Yacht Clubs.
What a difference a day makes!
As the sun rose on Thursday morning, it appeared that the weather had calmed and that our overnight passage to Whitby could go ahead. This was, for many of our crew, the first time an overnight sail had been attempted, however the skills and experience of our skippers meant that any nerves were quickly set aside and spirits were high as they left Lowestoft.
As the east coast passed by Ashanti and Clearlake II made steady progress throughout Thursday, although a northerly wind did mean motor-sailing for some portions, and soon they were in amongst the gas rigs and wind farms of the North Sea.
Night sailing provides a whole new dynamic to time on board. Our crews split into three-hour watches and took it in turns to keep their colleagues on course as they slept below. With minimal light pollution forty miles off shore, and with the clouds slowly clearing, the majesty of the Milky Way unfolded above our vessels with a clarity so rarely possible in the UK; one of our watches on Ashanti even saw the space station passing overhead!
The following morning, the skies were a clear blue and the waters were calm, and after a much-needed breakfast (cooking at a thirty degree angle is a challenge for the uninitiated!), our crews continued to eat up the miles. The first glimpse of our destination was the ruins of Whitby Abbey, its glorious Gothic arches looming over our crews from the clifftop (no wonder this place was the inspiration for Dracula) and soon our two yachts were expertly piloted through the narrow entrance of the harbour, where they would wait for the tide to come in enough for them to pass through the swing bridge into the Marina.
Both crews were tired and hungry after a 35 hour passage, and were soon tucking into the best fish and chips money can buy in one of the most beautiful port towns in the country, and alongside a replica of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour as the sun set over the harbour.
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
As our crews woke up in Lowestoft on a rainy Wednesday morning, news of bad weather began to rear its ugly head. Although conditions were not too bad in our marina (a little rain will not stop our crews!) our destination of Whitby was a completely different story. This was to be the long passage of this leg, arriving in the afternoon of the following day, and a forecast of high winds and a huge swell meant the going would be rough and entrance to Whitby harbour would be treacherous.
With this in mind our two skippers, Rob and Ian, made the decision to stay another day and wait for calmer seas, safety always being paramount in such situations. However all was not lost, and a lovely afternoon was spent in the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, and were joined for lunch by a group of local businesswomen, led by Wendy Hunt of Marine Safety Centre Ltd, who were more than generous in their donations to Macmillan as well as being superb company. This chance encounter buoyed our two crews, and reminded everyone of the importance of what they are doing and the much needed funds that they are raising.
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
Our crews set out on a slightly warmer Tuesday morning, leaving Shotley marina and heading for Lowestoft. Ashanti and Clearlake II once again looking wonderful, passing the huge cranes outside the port of Felixtowe and the container ships loading and unloading their cargo.
With the tide working with us we made good time for the first few hours of the passage, each crew member taking turns at the helm whilst our skippers ensured we kept to the deeper waters, avoiding the sandbanks that surround the south-east coast. Although the tide was with us, alas the wind was not, and it duly disappeared forcing us yet again to proceed under motor for a couple of hours. All was not lost however, as the tranquility of a calm day on the open water, and the gentle throbbing of our two vessels' Volvo engines in the background.
Both boats arrived at Lowestoft around 1800, in plenty of time for a delicious meal at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, who were excellent hosts, ready for the following day.
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
On a cloudy May-day morning, our two crews set off on the first stage of our adventure around Britain in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Both vessels looking resplendent in the liveries of our sponsors, and with the green flags for Macmillan rippling in the breeze, Ashanti and Clearlake II set sail from Fambridge Yacht Haven toward Shotley marina, day one of the cruise.
With the tide against us, but with fair winds, we made slow but steady progress along the river Crouch, although as the wind dropped we were forced to motor for a few hours in order
to make any progress at all! Those of us who are relative novices to open water sailing became very aware of the drop in temperature as we left any shelter from the wind behind us, the cool bank holiday weather offset by the hot tea and delicious cake served in generous quantity!
We reached Shotley marina with little time to spare (when locking in, Ashanti had only half a metre below the keel), however she was expertly handled by our skipper in the shallow water and we berthed safely a few minutes later. After a very welcome dinner and a rest in the marina club house, both crews settled in to prepare for the next leg of our cruise up to Lowestoft, hopefully into the sunshine!
If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing
Thank you.
What a glorious day to start a course from our Essex base at North Fambridge. Force 4 to 5 winds in the right direction and off we go to Southwold. Cruising under sail does not always go according to plan and forecasting isn’t an exact science, so when the wind died and then resumed its huffing and puffing but from the opposite direction we changed plans and diverted to Shotley, just over the Essex border in Suffolk.
Entering the lock at Shotley (the old HMS Ganges Naval Establishment) was a new experience for two of our Competent Crew candidates and none of our Coastal Skipper candidates had seen a Moire Light (directional light) before.
Day two began with some berthing practice in what can only be described as challenging conditions before we exited the lock and headed for Southwold. It was an uncomfortable passage with wind almost on the stern. Because, like many East Coast harbours, the water is shallow we prepared a tidal height calculation and had to reduce sail to slow down. Arriving too soon would mean that we wouldn’t be able to enter this lovely Suffolk watering hole. The uncomfortable passage was soon forgotten after we moored to the jetty and went to the Harbour Lights for fresh fish and chips washed down with either Adnams or some other rejuvenating liquid.
Southwold is a beautiful harbour and not often frequented by sailing schools as has extremely fast tides and no floating pontoons. Crews have to moor up using springs and breast ropes, ensuring that the boat can rise and fall with the tide safely. We used fender boards between the fenders and the jetty piles to ensure we didn’t damage the vessel. Again our crews, who don’t normally sail in the South East, found this a new skill to learn.
Day three saw us waiting for the tide to rise, so we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before sailing for the River Orwell and a return visit to Shotley. A meal of freshly made chilli and rice on the journey meant we were prepared for a truly awe inspiring night entrance past Felixstowe Container Port. Thankfully we had a Yachtmaster Instructor on board, as deciphering the lights against the mass of port lighting was almost impossible.
Day four began at 0500 with tea and sausage sandwiches and the exhilarating beat down the Essex Coast to Brightlingsea. We met force seven headwinds, but the tide with us meant we made good progress … and spray all over the bow. Once safely moored up, and having some refreshment ashore, the roast dinner cooked by our skipper was superb.
Day five dawned and we woke to glorious sunshine, force 3 to 4 winds and scrambled egg with bubble and squeak for breakfast. The journey back to Premier Sailing’s base at North Fambridge in Essex was a sailor’s dream – good winds, clear weather and fair tide – what more could we ask for?
