Ad Lib 19

 

Waiting for the tide to rise, beyond the Sovereign lock.

Waiting for a fish, upon the shingle shore.

Waiting for the wind, outside the sailing club.

Waiting for fresh gelato. . . . .

. . . .in Old Eastbourne Town.

Waiting, in soothing sunshine. . . .

. . . .for our breeze to come.

Ad Lib 18

 

I shall not repeat the rash predictions (Ad Lib 16) which preceded, perhaps precipitated, Stargazer's auto-pilot problems (Ad Lib 17). Instead I shall repeat the words of Bob Marley: "We know where we're going. We know where we're from......" (Exodus 1977)

Following a Friday evening visit, from PTmarine Paul, a glorious green glow once more bathes the darkness of Stargazer's bilge. Emanating from the nine-axis motion sensor, come compass, which informs the pilot's actions.

A poor connection, in the single cable which provides power to and conveys data from the sensor, was the culprit. Quickly identified and corrected, by Paul. Thus restoring Stargazer's second crew member to active service. That is "where we're from."

As to "where we're going:" The movements of the moon mean that the tides are at peak springs. Bringing depth constraints to the Sovereign entrance (Ad Lib 16).

As well as swingeing flow rates, particularly on the French side of the Channel. Where the tide will drift Stargazer two and a half nautical miles sideways for every five she travels forwards. Meaning that we will travel at forty five degrees to the direction in which our bows point.

Simply steering into the tide would halve our speed. Instead, the trick, for a fast crossing, is to find a passage timing during which the East and West going tides (more or less) cancel out. On a day on which wind direction and strength allow us to steer thirty degrees to either side of south.

Picture Credits

‘Admiralty Tidal Streams Atlas: The English Channel’ page courtesy of The United Kingdom Hydrology Office.

Ad Lib 17

 

  

Stargazer revels in the breeze that she has waited for so patiently. Her skipper delights in having cheated the Sovereign harbour bar. Slipping out with the keel lightly stirring its silt. We are hard on the wind, headed for Dieppe.

Until our trusty autopilot utters a plaintive electronic bleep. Before falling silent. Stargazer rounds up into the wind, sails flogging. Her skipper tries a system power on power off. Several times. With increasing urgency. To no avail. At Beachy Head, we turn and retrace our steps. Reluctantly.

Back alongside, investigations begin. The system's black box brain is mounted below the stores stacked in Stargazer's aft cabin 'garage.'.

Once accessed, it shows a reasurringly steady green LED. As it should. All appears well, with this part of the system.

However, beneath the sole boards of the saloon, the gyro compass lies dark. With no sign of a green glow from the LED on its top surface.. Indicating that this is the likely seat of our problem. A theory corroborated by the three dashes, instead of a compass angle, on the cockpit display, 

Psi Paul has thus far led the diagnosis by phone. Stargazer's electronically illiterate skipper doing his bidding. But we have now reached the limit of this approach. 

Fortunately (Chatham based) Psi Paul is able to recommend (Brighton based) PTmarine Paul. To determine whether the compass malfunction is due to component failure, communications discontinuity, or power supply interruption. He hopes to take a preliminary look, on the way back from a pre booked job, tomorrow evening.

Ad Lib 16

 This afternoon's low tide is the same height as it will be at six o'clock (an hour after low water) tomorrow morning. I take the opportunity to reconnoitre the Eastbourne entrance. Where the fishermen appear to be favouring the green cans.

As does a local Beneteau of (potentially, dependant upon keel option) similar draft to Stargazer. A change to previous years. When it has generally paid to hug the reds, for best depth.

Today's southerly is forecast to veer south westerly by morning. Blowing sixteen to twenty knots, somewhat forward of the beam, until we come under the lee of Normandy’s Côte d’Albâtre.

Ad Lib 15

 

Running boots pound the wooden pontoon. Basso profundo engines rumble. Twin propellers thresh. “Lines clear.” The Eastbourne lifeboat swiftly transits the lock. Dimly registered by Stargazer's skipper, deep asleep in his bunk.

By mid morning, two of the crew return to shampoo the salt from Esme Anderson, after her night at sea. In search of a missing person off Beachy Head. Later reported safe and sound, ashore all the while. Allowing the search party to return to their berth at three in the morning.

After the shampoo, a fresh water rinse.

Under the beady eye of a basking Cormorant. Enjoying the warmth of the midday sun whilst digesting a writhing fish dinner.

Light polishing ensues. The results so gratifying that a selfie is called for. Whilst, aboard Stargazer, washing wafts in a light breeze. Strung from a line stretched above her foredeck.

Ad Lib 14

 

"What a diff 'rence a day makes," goes the song. The morning is still and glassy. With just a suspicion of a breeze; blowing directly from Dieppe, sixty nautical miles to the south east.

The smooth seastate has the powerboats scrambling for the lock. Singular, for the next several days, because one of the pair is undergoing annual maintenance. A factor to consider for Stargazer's departure.

As is the arrival of spring tides. Low water will coincide with Stargazer's preferred dawn departure slot. By the time that the wind swings south westerly (or, if our luck is in, fully westerly) and attains passage making strength, later in the week.

Winter storms seem, judging from our soundings on the way in, to have created a bar at the mouth of the entrance channel. 'Soon' it will be dredged clear. But, for now, it forms another element to contemplate in our planning jigsaw puzzle.

Ad Lib 13

 

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Is Bob Dylan's view. And he has a point, when forty knot gusts swoop upon the Eastbourne shore from the south.

A direction from which it is open. The chalk bulwark of Beachy Head unable to offer a sheltering lee, without a more westerly slant.

Dieppe lies more or less directly in the eye of today’s wind. As does the shortest route home for Kindred Spirit. At least until she rounds Beachy Head.

Where she can hoist sail for a blistering reach to Brighton. Whose entrance is likely to be on the lively side.

Although Meteo Consult suggests that, by the time she reaches it, the breeze may have abated to a more manageable twenty knots.

 Perhaps a new sentry was on duty, at Meteo Consult, this morning. For I was granted full forecast access at our dawn check. Sparing Stargazer a lengthy beat in uncomfortably boisterous conditions.