Our strategy appears to have paid off. Stargazer finds herself poised to make the, tide critical, passage from Eastbourne, around Dungeness to Dover, as the winds turn fair and the tide times come to suit.
The easterly to north easterly airflow, of the past three weeks, did not relinquish its hold without a struggle. Spectacular sheet lightening and resonant thunderclaps by night. Sea fog this morning.
But now, warm autumnal sun bathes the shingle, of the beach, and a gentle breeze has set in, from the south. Tomorrow it is forecast to build, from the south or south west.
Predictions vary, with regard to the final wind strength. Anywhere between eighteen to twenty eight knots. Fortunately precision is less vital than usual, in this case, because it is a following breeze. Meaning that the apparent wind speed will reduce, by five or six knots, for Stargazer, as she sails away from it.
A benefit, of having the wind aft of the beam, is that the full range of sail plan options is available to us. From jib only, through to full main and cruising chute. Stargazer is therefore able to adapt to the widest possible range of wind speeds, on this point of sail.
In order to carry a fair tide around Dungeness and up to Dover, the section where it runs most strongly, Stargazer will have to sail against the tide, for the first fifteen or twenty nautical miles. We therefore plan to leave at first light tomorrow and to make full use of the day. Our next post is planned for Saturday.
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