The West Country Cruise
(photos of the Cruise can now been seen here)
7th JUNE 2006
Hi All just an update on the cruise so far, Day 1 Ramsgate Hot and
sunny, Power boat grand prix and fireworks, Day 2 good early morning
run to Brighton Hot and Sunny, Day 3 another early start in fantastic
weather to run to Cowes Isle of wight spent day island hopping on the
bus, Day 4 yet another early start in fine weather to run to Weymouth,
Very nice place spent time strolling round the town and some of us went
for a paddle in the sea, Day 5 up at 0500 ready for the passage across
Lyme bay to Dartmouth, The sun had deserted us overcast, grey and bad
visibility, But we had to go, 0530 we set off out to the East Shambles
buoy then down 3 and half miles south of Portland bill clear of the
infamous race and straight across the bay for 42 miles to the Mewstone
and in to Dartmouth, never saw a thing all the way apart from a couple
of yachts and a large container ship, which provided a light hearted
moment when Frank called me on the VHF to say he had seen it on the
radar a voice came back ' I can see you too ! ' During this crossing
we experienced a slighty choppy sea at first with wind of force 3 on
the nose against a westerly running tide but halfway across the sea
calmed out, but thoughout poor visibility, Once at Dartmouth we
decided to chill out for a few days, Which coinsided with freshening
south westerlies, This resulted in us going to Salcombe on the Bus !
Still it was a very pleasant trip seeing the devon countryside instead
of the coast, We intend to move to Brixham on Saturday for a couple
of days where we expect to stay untill the forecast of south westerlies
up to force 7 on sunday have passed, On monday there is apparently a
tall ships event in Torbay which we hope to see something of before
weather permitting setting of back across Lyme Bay for Lymington for a
couple of days and then on to Eastbourne, Ramsgate and Home, Looking
at the long range forecast we are not expecting such a smooth passage
back to the Medway as the forecast is mainly 3 to 4 but from the
West/South west, Any way must call it a day for now as we are off on
the Kingswear to Paignton steam train and coming back down the River
Dart by pleasure boat (That'll make a change )
See you all soon
Graham Newman
'Fleighty'
Dartmouth. 7.6.2006
12 JUNE 2006
Hi Again All
Moved on to Brixham Saturday stayed there during the Strong Winds
Sunday, Moved on Monday Morning To Lymington in not very pleasant
conditions ( See the next bulletin)
Dense Fog so we did not see the tall ships in Torbay before we left,
We moved on to Eastbourne Tuesday and decided to make for Ramsgate on
Wednesday due to the North Easterlies 5 or 6 expected from Thursday
afternoon onwards, Will very likely return to Medway on Thursday
morning a couple of days ahead of schedule rather than get caught in
Ramsgate, Be sure to read the bulletin report on this cruise, Our
return crossing of Lyme Bay was quite eventful with a mixture of
weather conditions, Dense Fog at first, Then Southerly beam Swell and
short chop and rain making for a rather unpleasant few hours.
Graham Newman
Fleighty
14 JUNE 2006
Hello All
Well as reported last time we made our way to Ramsgate on Wednesday
12th and decided that with the North easterly 5 or 6 still forecast for
Thursday afternoon and right through the weekend we would have to cut
short the holiday cruise by a couple of days and return to the Medway
on Thursday morning, Frank had decided to maybe stay at Ramsgate until
Saturday in the hope the winds would ease but eventually decided not
to, We left left Ramsgate 0700 Thursday and with the wind freshening
all the time arrived back at Rochester at 1030, Deanna & Myself bid
our farewells to John & Annette, Whilst Frank & Sandra awaited the tide
up to Allington, I believe they are staying on their boat for a couple
of days chilling out and reflecting on the cruise.And with Frank
Proudly flying his Devon Flag just to prove to all around he had
actually 'Done It'
As I am writing this looking out over the Estuary the wind is blowing
at Least Force 6 from the East, So the decision to come home early was
definately the right one.
All in all I think this cruise was very successful, We reached our
intended Destinations had a few days in Devon Harbours and enjoyed very
good weather most of the time, We experienced varied weather conditions
during the Cruise, Sun, Rain, Fog, and uncomfortable bumpy sea
conditions at times, On reflection I feel maybe a cruise this far
away should be spead over say three weeks so that the ports of call on
the way and return could have more time spent in, I think all of the
cruise participants will be contributing to the bulletin piece on the
cruise which will make interesting reading, Many photographs were
taken, My only regret is that there were not more members with us to
enjoy it, From comments made to me by the others the memorable
moments were our time in Weymouth, The few hours spent in Lulworth
Cove where we were in fifteen feet of water and the bottom clearly
visible, The Steam Train journey at Kingswear and cruising in waters
that were more blue than green For me the whole thing was an
experience worth doing, After all the passage planning it was great
that everything went well and we all arrived back in the Medway safely,
More in the next bulletin..................
Graham Newman
Fleighty
Friday 14th July 2006