Torquay to Salcombe

Torquay at night

The day's route

A day off in Torquay was just what I needed to get myself and Brown Eyes cleaned up, replenish the rations and do some planning. 

Around the rugged rocks......

I planned a shorter leg today, it is time to slow things down a bit and enjoy the journey - I have a long way to go still. 

Salcombe was my destination and as my favourable tide was not until after 9am I had a leisurely start to the day.

Birds too lazy to fly (or too fat)

As I set off I soon found the wind was not as forecast and was coming from directly behind.  This always makes any boat have more of a rolling motion as it travels through the water, which is often the cause of some peoples’ seasickness. Luckily, this is not something I am prone to.

For a Tuesday, there seemed to be quit a few other yachts out on the water and everyone seemed to be struggling to get the best from their yachts, with a number of different sail setups being used to catch the tail-wind.

Lighthouse of the day.

A little over 5 hours found me in Salcombe with the friendly Harbour Master helping me tie off on a visitors buoy - a chance to enjoy the sunshine and watch the boats go by.

An enjoyable, chilled day....... 

Salcombe harbour.

Swanage Bay to Torquay......

I was up at 4.30, before the sun, put on the kettle ready for my morning coffee to wake me up and whilst it boiled I got Brown Eyes ready for the off.  Another long-day planned, I was hoping to get to Torquay over 60 nautical miles away and I needed to make the most of the the favourable tide to get me there at a reasonable time.

Just before 5 o’clock I was pulling up the anchor and the sun popped up above the horizon. A lovely start to the day.

There was little wind, but I put up the mainsail straight away, if nothing else it steadies the boat when motoring.  

Speed over ground 10.3Kts!! (without the engine)

Swanage was drenched in the morning sunlight so I grabbed my camera to capture the moment.

Swanage Bay in the early morning sun

As I rounded Anvil Point the wind lifted and for the next 5 hours or so I could sail and enjoy the peace.  There were very few other people out on the water, just a few distant sails and the odd fishing boat collecting or laying lobster pots.

Lighthouse of the day - Bill of Portland

Being single-handed means everything takes a little bit more planning and I have to do things in stages.  I did try filling a flask the first day, but it didn’t hold the heat, so now I go below after making sure there is no other boat within 5 minutes of my position and put the kettle on the gas ready for a fresh brew.  The same goes for admin breaks and making snacks to get me through the day.  This seems to work well and also keeps me busy.

At the helm of Brown Eyes

Crossing Lyme Bay was the longest leg of the day and about half way across the wind dropped and the sea became a millpond, so it was engine back on for a couple of hours.

A fisherman obviously off to a party......

Dead calm.

I phoned ahead to Torquay Marina to ensure there was a berth for us and just after 4 I was safely alongside. As I stepped off Brown Eyes, I realised that it was the first time I had been off her since Brighton!  We did 66 miles today and that gives us a running total of 299 nautical miles!

Today's route.

A day off tomorrow - I need some sleep!

The view from the anchorage at Swanage.

Chichester to Studland Bay .....

I awoke this morning at 4.30, without the aid of an alarm, my body-clock telling me that the tide was high and I needed to go with it, as the water flooded back out of Chichester Harbour.  Going with the tide would ensure I could make best speed towards my next destination, Studland Bay.

Early start.

I had been worried about getting the anchor up on my own, but it all worked out ok and I was soon on my way.

My plan had always been to go south of the Isle of Wight, as this was somewhere I had never ventured before, even though much of my sail training and experience had been gained in the Solent area, for some reason all my sailing had been north of the island.

So I set my sails, turned off the engine and headed out.  The wind was over 20 knots and with the tide behind me Brown Eyes hit 10.4 knots - the fastest we have ever been!! Usually she is happy at around the 6-8 knots, so this was quite an event.

Sir Ben.....

What's that in the distance?

As we sailed on I could make out a strange structure in the distance and even with the binos could not make out what it was.  As time progressed I eventually realised that it was a yacht, but not a normal yacht, and it had several speed boats accompanying it. This was (Sir) Ben Ainslie on his record breaking trip in the annual Round the Island Race.  Luckily I did not get in his way and even though I waved, he did not stop to chat or even wave back......still I got some decent photos and a view of the race most people never see.

And there he was, gone....

A good ten minutes behind Ben there were several other impressive looking yachts and then hundreds upon hundreds of others followed on; although it was my right of way, I decided to go out further from the island and allow the racers the shorter route.

I had not realised that the race was on today - but it was an amazing experience to watch; I was in the right place at the right time!

A few hours later Studland Bay was in view, as was the RNLI lifeboat and a helicopter picking up a diver that had experienced problems and needed to go to hospital.  I had been listening on the VHF radio to the Coast Guard dealing with the situation for several hours and this was just one of several incidents they had been dealing with.  Hopefully everything worked out ok for the diver.
Another anchorage in a beautiful location and the chance to chill before another long day tomorrow.  The waves will be rocking me to sleep tonight.

They just kept coming!!

Lighthouse of the day - St Catherine Point

The route around the island.....

The Needles from the other side

The RNLI doing what they do best.

Tonight's gastronomic feast...

Just a reminder, I am doing this as one of three challenges to raise awareness and funds for East Anglian's Children's Hospices - You can find out more here:

virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul

Brighton to Chichester Harbour......

The days route

 The first thing you see as you enter Brighton Marina is the golden arches of McD’s and it is the last thing you see as you leave........which just about sums the place up.  I had never berthed there before and probably never will again; too commercial, too ‘the in place to be’ - but then, that is the yachty south coast for you.

Anyway, as I put Brighton behind me, the sun broke through the clouds and the wind picked up!  For the next 4 hours it was beautiful sailing conditions and I enjoyed the noise of the water lapping along Brown Eyes and found myself occasionally talking to myself.  Has madness set in so early!Bang on midday, the wind dropped and I had to resort to motor sailing again.  To top that, as I went to the mast to raise the ‘motoring cone’ (a sign to other boats that you are using the engine and sail) my sunglasses fell off the top of my head and bounced into the sea!  Good job they were only a cheap pair and I have a spare with me!

These glasses are no more!

The black ball tells others I am at anchor.

 As I reached the mouth of Chichester Harbour I dropped my main sail and flaked my anchor chain across the deck, all ready for my first single-handed anchorage.

I found my way to my chosen spot, finding 2 other yachts with similar ideas, just to the North of Pilsey Island in Thorney Channel.

Others in the anchorage

I gently scribed a couple of figure-eights with Brown Eyes, checking the depth and the affect of wind and tide.  Choosing my spot, I put the engine into neutral and went to the bow, easing the anchor into the water along with 30m of chain as the tide took Brown Eyes backwards.  Once back at the helm, | put her in reverse and felt the anchor hold; simples!

I am however, a little worried about getting the anchor up again tomorrow morning around 4, as there are now several other boats around me.  I will be darting back and forwards from bow to helm, hopefully dodging everyone else at the same time as getting the anchor free!

But in the meantime, I will enjoy a night at anchor, tomorrow is another day.

Ramsgate to Brighton......

Ferry dodging

Yesterday was another long day, but I wanted to get as far as possible whilst the weather was fair, as heavy rain was forecast for later on. 

All sails up

I am sitting in Brighton Marina now writing this and already Ramsgate seems like a distant memory - that’s caused by either my age or the cleansing affect of a long day at sea and the fresh air.
In the morning, conditions were good enough to sail and I had all three sails up and the engine off for the first time - which is a great feeling and is what sailing is all about.  

As I passed Dover, all of a sudden the sea became very busy and I had to do a bit of ferry dodging, even though I had right of way (sail over power), but because of the RORO’s lack of manoeuvrability it was down to me to prevent a collision......especially important as I know Brown Eyes would not stand a chance against something that wouldn’t even notice us if we collided!

Not the best view of a ferry coming out of Dover

The afternoon was not so good, the sky darkened, the wind dropped and we had to revert to the horsepower of Volvo to push on......which we did.  

The day's route

Some great views along the route... 

and several other boats.....

A junk-rig yacht

Arriving at Brighton Marina about 2030hrs I found all the visitor berths full, so pushed a little further into the marina to find a space.  My depth indicator soon dropped to zero and I felt Brown Eye’s bottom scrape the mud!  Quickly going into reverse I managed to pull clear and changed direction......eventually finding a berth on an old pontoon that had seen better days, but it was a welcome, secure resting place after covering more than 70 miles that day.

A visitor at Brighton

I later found out that although normally dredged to 2m, the marina is only 0.8m at the moment, hence the grounding - evidently they are waiting for the summer to arrive before dredging!

A day off today, a chance to do some jobs on Brown Eyes and to check my running legs are still working.....they are!

Lighthouse of the day at Dungeness

Further West tomorrow.......possibly Chichester Harbour and an overnight anchorage.