Cruise to Portishead - 27th-28th March.

[Camelot]

Cruise to Portishead Quays Marina
Sat 27th – Sun 28th March 2010.

The Cruising Section are planning a short cruise to Portishead Marina for an overnight stay, on Saturday 27th March, returning the following day. We aim to meet up in ‘The Royal’ (a short walk from the Marina) for evening drinks.

The plan is to lock out of the Barrage at around 12:30 to make best use of the tide to Portishead. If there are any members who have yet to venture out for an overnight trip, this would be the ideal opportunity to do so, with a bit a friendly support on hand. Communications will be on VHF Ch. 77 (not 72 as we've previously used as the Avonmouth Tugs use Ch.72 & 8).

A Cardiff to Portishead navigation tutorial session will be available in the club bar on Thursday 18th March from 20:00, or on request beforehand, to help any first timers, or those in need of a memory refresh (ask at the bar for Huw). Portishead is one of the easiest places to get to in the Bristol Channel from Cardiff, so is a great first time destination.

The Marina charges £1.75 per metre per night.

Note that the clocks go forward by an hour on the weekend, so add an hour to the tide times for the Sunday to convert to BST. Most of you will probably wish to leave Portishead at around 09:30 on the Sunday to sail back to Cardiff. Why not finish the weekend off by meeting in the club bar for drinks and a chat on your return? The CYC bar is open from 12:00 on Sundays.

Motor Boats are always very welcome to join us.

Departure time: - 12:30 in the barrage lock.
Distance: - 18 Nm approx (from/to Outer Wrach West Cardinal Buoy - just outside the barrage).


Tide - Cardiff (GMT) - Sat 27/03/2010.
04:19 - 10.9m
10:35 - 2.1m
16:57 - 11.3m
23:07 - 1.7m

Tide - Avonmouth (GMT) - Sat 27/03/2010.
04:40 - 11.5m
11:28 - 2.2m
17:17 - 12.0m
23:52 - 1.7m

Tide - Cardiff (GMT) - Sun 28/03/2010.
05:22 - 11.9m
11:40 - 1.2m
17:53 - 12.1m


Tide - Avonmouth (GMT) - Sun 28/03/2010.
05:37 - 12.7m
12:26 - 1.2m
18:08 - 13.1m


It is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the skipper to decide whether to enter or continue participating in this event, especially with regard to prevailing and forecast weather conditions.
Please also ensure your vessel and it’s equipment is in a sound and seaworthy condition and that you and your crew are suitably experienced, properly prepared and clothed for adverse weather as required.

[Viv]

I think the last of the Early Bird races takes place at 14.00 in the Bay on that Sunday so it should be nice to watch that from the bar!

[Camelot]

Sounds like a plan!

[allan]

We plan to be there. If Friday night in the club is not too extreme we may go out early and sail the long way round.
Allan

[Xanadu]

Xanadu will be there. Aim to be back in Cardiff Bay to sail in the last Early Bird race.

Cheers,

Mike

[allan]

That sounds great Mike, not only can we watch the race but we will have someone to cheer for. I hope your daughter is available for the race as you should then have a chance of a good position.
Allan

[Camelot]

With the club AGM being on Thursday 25th, the navigation advice night will now be on Thursday 18th March. I've edited my post above to avoid any confusion.

[Camelot]

From this month's PBO - Portishead has just be awarded 5 gold anchors - the marina equivalent of a 5 star hotel!




Best we get there quick before their prices go up to match their new status!

[Deleted]

As a 'greenhorn' new member this sounds like the perfect starting point! I'm no stranger to sailing, but am new to this area, and have recently purchased a new boat (new to me anyway!). Neither of us has even been through the barrage yet, so I'd love to have a chat with Huw on the 18th.

BTW the boat is 'Katy' and I am known to Allan at least, having impressed him with the electric outboard on my dinghy.

My last question will probably get me lynched, but in my own defence I have to remind everyone that I am a new member.... but what is the Early Bird Race? Is this a serious thing or can anyone join in?

[Viv]

Hi julianc
The Early Bird Race is organised by Cardiff Bay Yacht Club. Yes, it is a serious thing, you have to register, pay a fee etc. For more information follow this link or just look up Cardiff Bay Yacht Club.
www.cbyc.co.uk/yachtracing/cnor.html
For pics etc of fun racing have a look under Sailing Chat: Boxing Day +1 pics if you haven't already looked!
We shall look forward to meeting you on Thursday.
Sheila

[Camelot]

Julian, Weather permitting this should be the ideal opportunity to take Katy out for the first time. Look forward to meeting you on Thursday.

Huw.

[Deleted]

Thanks for your comments Sheila and Huw. I will look forward to metting you all on Thursday, and hope the weather will be sailable (and not -2C at night!!) on the weekend in question.

I think I'll give serious racing a miss - at least for now. I have no idea how competetive Katy will prove to be, but I would have joined in had it been the fun, 'last one past the bouy is a rotten egg', type racing.

See you all on Thursday.

[Camelot]

If concerned about the night time temperature why not take a 240v extension lead and a small heater. Why not make the most of being in a marina with shore power!

You'll just need an adapter for the plug end, which is available from any camping shop for around £3.

[Viv]

On the other hand, enough beers in the pub and you won't notice if it's cold!

[Deleted]

Hello all

I'll be crew for Mat on Sunbeam for this trip. Hugh? Just wondering where you got your tide times / heights (as posted earlier) Having no up to date printed tables at the moment, I'm using 'easytide' - which is VERY different....?


I'll be at the club tommorrow night - happy to help / confuse? anybody I meet.

Cheers,
Peter

[Deleted]

Hello all (again)

Please ignore last comment. As usual the lesson is - for all navigational exercises ....make sure you start off in the right place! I was looking at THIS weekend, not NEXT. 'Easytide' won't allow you to look more than 7 days in advance. Where can I get current tide tables, extending at least a few months in advance, for free obviously! ?

see you all tomorow night

Peter

[allan]

Peter,
I use www.fisica.uniud.it:8080/zones/:Europe/London you can get pretty much all tides from there.
Allan

[charlieskipper]

Huw, Providing I can get the mast painting finished early next week and have bended the main sail back onto the gaff, Dennis and I will sail Charlie to Portishead and add a bit of style (well at the very least brown sails and very freshly painted spars and bowsprit) to the flotilla. First trip to Portishead for me but Dennis been before. Style aborts when we get in the bar, sorry about that. Dave.

[ishtar]

This looks like great fun. Louise and I may be moving house next week, so things are busy for us, but we may manage it.

Has anyone let Portishead know? Seems like there may be quite a few boats turning up.

[Viv]

I phoned Portishead last night and said that we would be around 5 to 8 or ten boats. The guy said OK but to let him know nearer the day. He said he would fit us in anyway. Was just going to say this tonight.
Sheila

[Viv]

Peter, you could also borrow someone's 2010 almanac and photocopy the tide time pages for Avonmouth, which is the probably the most useful, and for Cardiff times these are also in the CYC handbook!
Sheila

[allan]

I hope to be there tonight and will bring a chart and Almanac. I am happy to go through the passage planning with anyone who would like it. One thing I would say is that, I think you can get too tied up with the detail. My normal passage plan is, if the lock goes down a long way, turn left, if it only goes down a bit, turn right. Some time ago I decided one passage plan for Portishead is to sail/motor from the barrage to Flatholm at low tide, go to sleep and when you wake up you should be outside Portishead! On a more serious note, proper planning, using all the information available is undoubtedly the way to go but don't forget, sailors were doing passages hundreds of years ago with very little outside help.
Allan

[Deleted]

Ha - I plan to do both. Enough beers in the pub AND a heater!

Actually I already have a heater although I find that you really notice the fact that heat rises. If you stand up your head cooks but your feet still need defrosting! :-)

See you all tonight.

[Camelot]

i had already phoned to let them know. I have agreed to phone as we're leaving, to give a more precise number. They say they have plenty of space for us.

[Viv]

Allan, I was intending on bringing some stuff as well. I do agree with you about not getting too bogged down with the passage planning for such a trip, especially when you have done the trip a couple of times, however, it is a very useful exercise to do, especially for those of us who might have just done our YM DS or whatever, to put it all in to practice. Don't forget, if you don't use it you'll lose it! And as you well know, I have almost totally lost it! (The plot!)
Cheers
S

[Camelot]

Not really asking you to give a full YM passage plan lesson complete with course to steer etc, more just 1 to 1 advise for the less experienced on getting to Portishead safely, channel 12 listening watch, inshore and outer route, the crossing point, the fact that we are using vhf channel 77 instead of our usual channel 72, timing the tide, etc

[Viv]

Yes, I understood that Huw, if above is in reply to mine. Just saying that I often like to do it for myself to keep my hand in! I don't retain "new" knowledge very well and have to keep on practicing, so any opportunity I get is good for me. Anyway, I could never give a lesson! Plus, it's all academic anyway, because we can hardly ever manage to actually sail the course I want because the wind won't let us!
S

[mike]

Hi Guys
Lynn and I would like to tag along as well.
Lets hope there's no need for heaters!
Cheers MIKE

[Camelot]

You're very welcome Mike. The more the merrier.

Peter - check your email for tidal info.


Huw.

[paul]

Huw,
Missed last night as I didn't find out in time - not looking at the forum enough...

I'm keen to do this trip to Portishead but I need a crew as Wissit is in Uganda and it's a long way for her to come back for the weekend. If you know of anyone looking for a trip could you get them to email me on [e-mail], or on this forum?

Plenty of room on the boat - Westerly centaur with a new genoa and a nearly new engine .- and I've done the trip before.