Trip to Lundy or rather Watchet!!!

[Camelot]

Well our trip didn't go too well. Camelot, Xanadu and Katy set out for Lundy. The forecast said Force 5-7 with 8 around St Davids. But as the forecast for the previous couple of days had been worse than the actual, we hoped it would be ok, and planned to go as far West as we could towards Lundy.

However, by the time we were just past Aberthaw the swell had increased and we were experiencing force 6 gusting 7, and Angie being very sick. I had to try my best not to let it show I was enjoying myself so much as Ange didn't seem impressed with my grin!

It was clear she really wasn't keen to go on, the other crews were also suffering so we decided to head for Blue Anchor Bay. Xanadu having an extra long sail as she was a couple of miles ahead when we turned.

Matthew my youngest, aged 5, really impressed me - he said he was scared, so we tried to reasure him that Camelot is a safe and capable boat, he said "Don't be silly, I know Camelot will look after us, I'm just scared I'll go outside the lines and spoil my picture!" He spent the whole trip down below colouring in - which would definately have made me feel ill! He'll be in high demand as crew in a few years!

Once in Blue Anchor Bay the swell abated and we settled down for a rest for a few hours before we locked into Watchet at 2150.

The sun set over Minehead from Blue Anchor Bay.

[Camelot]

The following day two of the skippers were threatened with mutinous crew if we heading out! Force 5-7 once again forecast, though with hindsight we could have done as the weather remained placid.

Instead, after cleaning the Blue Anchor Bay mud from the deck, we bused and walked to a local cider farm to return with 'anti-freeze' bottles full of good scrumpy, and enjoyed a pub lunch.

Today we returned home having an absolutely awesome sail. Unfortunately I had to motor from Lavernoch point, though Xanadu managed to sail right up to the Outer Wrach.

Xanadu passing us at Lavernoch point (they left 20 mins after us!).

[Camelot]

We didn't get anywhere near where we wanted to but had a great few days (Angie enjoyed the day in Watchet and the sail home at least!).

It wouldn't have changed the amount of swell, but when planning that trip again, I think I'll probably head round to Barry the night before. Getting that far did waste quite a bit of the Ebb, and we were behind schedule when we decided to turn for Watchet.

[Xanadu]

Rhiannon & I also had a great time. As Huw said, we got a bit further than Breaksea by the time we had decided that Lundy was not on. At this time I was feeling a bit under the weather as well, and had a couple of hours of extreme discomfort. Still, perked up a bit and enjoyed the great sail, 2 reefs and only about half my newly modified number 2 Genoa out and doing about 6 through the water - fantastic.

Not sure I like this anchoring lark (which at least held well this time), hard work pulling it up and very muddy when it arrived.

Motoring into Watchet in the dark was a new and slightly scary experience for me, especially as I was looking for a pair of lights, one red one green as shown in Reeds, but could only see the green one. Got moored up and straight to the pub for a quick one before dinner, which we ate at about midnight before an amazing night's sleep.

Trip to cider farm was fun but reality did not live up to the expectation generated by their leaflet. There were a couple swings, a bit of grass and the children's farm consisted of a few chickens and a pig (only one on account of "pork pie platter" being top item on the cafe menu?). Getting there was a laugh, with confusing directions from a couple of local ladies who seemed to suggest that a triangular course was required as this was shorter than the straight line road between the 2 points. Ange and Rhiannon must have been quietly amused at the sight of 2 Yachtmasters trying to navigate on land with four lines and a cross "Cider Farm Here" on a piece of paper for a chart and a temperamental GPS phone for guidance - so we took a bus. And thanks to Matthew we did not miss our stop on the way back with his loud and clear instruction to the driver "I want you to stop - now!"

Then dinner - pub - sleep - breakfast (the usual routine).

Perfect sail back with the wind on the beam at 15knts and between 6 and 7 through the water most of the way. Got into serious tide around Lavernock and the wind died a bit and moved round so that we were beating and tacking. But the sailing was so good I didn't want to motor. We were hardly making any ground at times, like sailing on a treadmill Rhiannon said.

I know the trip didn't go quite as as planned but we had a great time none the less and managed to experience a couple of new things (particularly sailing/motoring in the dark). Many thanks to Huw for setting it up.

[Xanadu]

Katy heads for Blue Anchor Bay

Attachments:

[Xanadu]

Another of Katy heading to Blue Anchor Bay

Attachments:

[Xanadu]

Katy safe in Watchet harbour, although as we discovered when trying to leave, stuck in the Watchet mud

Attachments:

[Xanadu]

Huw does washing up on Camelot. I couldn't publish a picture from the reverse angle!

Attachments:

[Xanadu]

Xanadu at Watchet

Attachments:

[Xanadu]

Camelot nears final destination (sorry, not Lundy)

Attachments:

[Deleted]

I would call the trip a success despite not getting to Lundy - and despite injuries aboard Katy. Jean & I were hooting with delight as the swell picked up and we were heading straight into it. Especially when the boat climbed one of the larger waves and bow continued straight up towards the sky with nothing underneath until the crest passed under the boat's centre of gravity and the bow came crashing down into the trough with a loud smack, sending spray everywhere. Jean said it was like a fairground ride.

Luckily there was no sea sickness aboard, although Jean said she did feel a bit queazy when she was in the cabin, but felt OK when she came back up on deck. Unfortunately we had to travel across the swell after diverting to Blue Anchor Bay and at times Katy was rolling from side to side quite dramatically. During one of the more violent rolls Jean lost her balance and fell against the back of the bench in the saloon at a time when it was coming straight back at her due to the motion of the boat - resulting in a broken rib.

However Jean is incredibly blase about pain and waves it aside - she always reminds me of the knight in Monty Python's 'Holy Grail' who wants to carry on fighting when he hasn't got any arms or legs left. - 'Come back you cowards, 'tis but a scratch!'. She would still have been happy to continue to Lundy in the morning despite her injuries and the weather forecast predicting severe gale 9 in the Lundy area! (6 knots with no sails but a handkerchief tied to the mast?). As Huw said, the gales didn't materialise, so we could have gone after all - but that isn't the point!

I agree about this anchoring lark. I have been spoilt in the past. This is my first venture into yacht ownership. I have only chartered before - and as far as I can remember they have all had electric windlasses. I just took this for granted. Oh God, I simply didn't know how lucky I was! Hauling it up manually is really hard (and messy) work. To make matters worse I had to do it twice as the first time Katy's anchor was gradually dragging through the goo at the bottom of Blue Anchor Bay. To make matters even worserer (I'm not sure how you spell that, but I heard it on an advert somewhere) I had to join Jean in the injury stakes (not to be outdone, of course). Although sheltered slightly there was still a fair amount of swell in Blue Anchor Bay. While hauling up the anchor the first time Katy rolled more than usual, causing the pullpit to bang me in the bum and shove me forward. As I put my hands out to stop myself going overboard I didn't quite hang on to the so hard worked for anchor chain and it started wizzing back into the water - over my thumb! From the trail of blood all over the deck, on the sail where I grabbed it for support as I worked my way back to the cabin, all the way down the companionway and into the cabin you'd think my thumb had been torn off - but after cleaning up it turned out to be only a flap of skin that had been lifted. 'Tis but a scratch - but I'm a bloke and I can make as much fuss about it as I like!! Man flu and all that!

As you can imagine, I was a little reluctant to put the anchor out a second time. For a little while the idea of motoring around in circles for the remaining hour and a half while we waited for the Watchet gates to open almost seemed appealing.

Jean was groaning, I was bleeding, and our dry clothes, thought to be safely stored in holdalls had somehow got themselves loose and were swimming around in a pool of water that had magically appeared during the storm and was flowing around the cabin floor like a river.

Watchet was the most welcome place on Earth. A nice warm pub, and after an abortive attempt at finding a chip shop open, a bacon sandwich - or six - back on board. Followed by the most wonderful nights sleep. 'We do this for fun?', we mused as we difted off into the land of nod. Yeah..... Great, isn't it?

The day at Watchet was a lazy one. Just a bit of wandering and watching the steam train(s) come and go - and of course everyone to the pub in the evening. The journey back was enjoyable (a beam reach all the way across) and uneventful, apart from taking longer to begin than expected. The three yachts, Camelot, Xanadu and Katy were on the hammerheads of A, b and C pontoons. For those unfamiliar with Watchet this effectively meant that we were already in a row, facing the exit, with Katy at the rear on 'A' pontoon. As soon as poss after the gates opened Camelot and Katy untied our moorings and put our engines in gear at the same time. Strangely enough Camelot was pulling ahead so I increased throttle. Only to watch Camelot disappear through the gate while our pontoon still remained by our side. Full throttle didn't make any difference. That pontoon stubbornly stayed next to us. After getting both crew members on one side in an attempt to tip the keel out of the mud and even a bit of rocking the boat it became apparent that waiting for a little more water to lift us off was the only option. Xanadu kindly waited with us to see we got off safely, but I suspect there was also an ulterior motive. The racing spirit wants to see if they can still beat Camelot back after giving her a head start. Well success on that one Xanadu!

It was a really enjoyable trip. Injuries will heal and memories will remain. I'm sure we will make it to Lundy another day. Let me know when you want to try Huw!

[Deleted]

Xanadu starting to hoist the sails after leaving Watchet

Attachments:

[Deleted]

Sails up - now let's catch Camelot!

Attachments:

[sheila]

Lovely account Julian! Hope you are both recovering from your injuries - sounds horrendous to me! Don't think I would have like it very much.