Wednesday 17 January – English Channel
Fabulous stars, night sailing is great
At about 03:30 we are approaching the Needles channel.
So many flashing lights what do they mean? Use the chart plotter, Navionics on the iPhone keeps crashing, it’s OK on the iPad which is on the chart table and is my main navigation aid. (We do have a full set of charts) I have nothing but admiration for sailers who did this sort of thing in night without GPS.
Pass though the needles channels into the Solent doing about 9+ knots
First option is Yarmouth but I do not fancy going into a marina with a boat I am not familiar with in the dark, anyway we still have current with us so we head for Gosport, we do 8 + knots through the Solent.
Mike emerges he is not dead! He managed to get some sleep but otherwise is in good condition and still keen on sailing!
Sea is flat so make proper coffee.
Arrive off Portsmouth at about 6:00 some light in the sky.
Furl the stay sail and drop the main outside the harbour, let’s not get complex.
Enter Portsmouth in the early dawn
Head for the fuel pontoon as we will need some and it’s simple.
Managed to get along side on second try, Jake makes a massive leap to get on the icy pontoon. (I must get better at this)
Cannot open fuel filler, tired and frustrated, get a wrench and to open it.
Machine takes credit card but no fuel delivered. We get it right after a couple of attempts.
We take on 149 litres of fuel (I think to boat started with 160 – it has a total capacity of 250) Mike suggested we took a reading of the fuel system level gauge before filling, top idea, we can now get a sense of what the readings mean and the fuel consumption.
Radio the marina they do have a place for us. (Visitor berthing is limited as they are dredging the marina.)
Jake is in charge of finding the pontoon, I am to tied, just have enough left for one berthing.
Jake guides us in and this time I get it right, Jake and Mike do a great job with fenders, ropes and moorings.
Its about 7:30 we did 165 miles in F6 to F4 through the night on a new boat, we did not kill anybody or break much, we are in and safe I can hardly string two words together.
We check into the marina, get key fobs then go for breakfast. First decent food in 36 hours. (Longer if you discount Mac Donalds!)
At about 9:00 everyone goes to bed and we wake at 12:00
Jake is going to go back to Bristol this afternoon, we go to the pub for a couple of pints.
Buy some steaks and wine, buy a spatular / flipper the check out girl says fish slice, it’s actually a turner.
Mike and I rest through the afternoon and get ready for next days passage.
