13th – 15th August – The Final Leg – Guernsey to Hamble
13th August – Southampton – Guernsey by Air
It had been a little stressful over the last 4 weeks as we awaited the prognosis on the saildrive. We finally received the message that we could collet Purrfect Tale on Wednesday 14th August. MG&E had taken her on a test sail and motor and all seemed to be okay. So that was the good news. The bad news was a) the bill – £5,800 and b) they could not pinpoint exactly what was wrong. The engine had been removed from the boat and then the saildrive. The latter was stripped, cleaned and seals replaced including the main membrane which at least saved us a job in 3 years time. There was some evidence of misalignment between the upper and lower casing and some evidence of ingress of water by the membrane – but they were honest in stating not a huge amount. So it was with some trepidation we flew out on Tuesday evening from Southampton to Guernsey. It still felt strange to us that it took 35 minutes to fly there and it would take about 18 hours to sail back! We arrived just in time for supper in one of the restaurants on the quayside before going to bed.
14th – 15th August St Peter Port to Hamble
We managed to pay for our stay on Passe-Port Escales which pad for the meal last night. We were on the outside pontoons furthest in with 3 boats outside us and a huge yacht behind us. However we were not planning to leave till around 1030 when the tide was just turning in the Russel to take us up towards Alderney. Interesting Navionics automatically routed us outside the Casquets. I could see why the algorithm worked this way but that route would complicate crossing the sea lanes so we planned on the more traditional route of going North through the Alderney Race. Wind was not strong F3/4 and with the die so we were not expecting anything too rough.
Everyone was co-operative in moving their boats to let us out and the harbour launch was quite happy to lend a hand if needed. Once on our way it was a peaceful motor sail uop towards Alderney. We planned to do the trip back in one leg. So we had two tidal gates to navigate. The easier in terms of time estimating was the Alderney race the other was the tide in the Needles Channel. Last safe chance to arrive off the Needles was around 0400 which would get us past Yarmouth but might have to push the tide up the Solent. The alternative was to go around the Eastern end by the Nab Tower – but a longer route and we would be bashing down the Solent against a SW. So fingers crossed we could make the tidal gate.
Then………..as we passed Alderney we had oily water in the bilge – big groannnnnnn! A quick phone call back to Alex at MG&E who was surprised but advised us to press on. It could be residue finding lowest point on boat but advised us to leave a little in the bildge so we could examine it on our return. I have to admit it did not entirely calm my nerves and I spent the rest of the trip looking at the bilge and worrying about the sail drive.
We made the northern tip of Alderney within 4 hours of leaving St Peter Port and then struck out across the Channel. It was a good sail with some motoring. The shipping lanes were very busy and we seemed to hit each at just the wrong time. I had got into the habit of looking at CPA and time to CPA. If it looked as if one of the ships would come within 1Nm or less, at 2-30 mins out I would call them on Ch 16 and ask if they were content with my course and speed. Most responded and were happy to accommodate us. We crossed both shipping lanes in daylight.
For the evening meal we each had a huge bowl of M&S Shepard’s Pie with a large tin of baked beans – Heniz of course! After putting a reef in the main for the night as the wind was forecast to increase a little – better now in daylight than later in dark. We then settled down to the long sail to the Needles with one other yacht in company off our port side whose lights we could see. We had aimed off for tide but made much better speed than assumed – nearer 6kts than 5.5kts which meant we had less West flowing tide. So a couple of small adjustments were needed in the last quarter of the trip.
We arrived at the Needles at around 0100 and had a pleasant sail and motor sail down towards Thorne Channel and Southampton Water where we arrived about 0330. As we began to relax I spotted a lot of lights off Cowes and amongst the lights the flashing blue light of Southampton Patrol Vessel. After examining the AIS we saw there was one container ship and two cruise liners coming in ot Southampton water and one SP guiding them – shuttling back and forth. We idled in the shallow water on the west side of Thorne Channel. The ships pass very close to you but you are safe and they know where you are. Once all had gone through the SP vessel came across to us to thank us for our patience which was a nice touch.
The final leg up to Mercury took 50 minutes. As ever the Hamble River is a confusion of lights at night which you need to thread your way through and then darkness as you approach Mercury. One of the team came down to our berth to take lines as we reversed in and we were finally tied up at 0420.
The extended Summer Cruise had come to an end.
Purrfect Tale 