Ad Lib 32

 Tom, the friendly viking, six foot something of flowing beard and braids, brings his floating home, Eio, alongside. Leaving Stargazer visible only by the orange fender perched upon her pulpit. Eio, on closer examination, sports much new hardware: windlass, rigging, deck fittings, windows and electronics. Signalling an imminent intent to wander.

Maybe the mercurial early May weather has deterred the Northney denizens. Or perhaps it is the late high water times. Either way it is a soporific Bank Holiday Sunday in harbour. With few boats stirring.

A chance for Stargazer's skipper to scrutinise the weather forecasts, for a window in which to sail west. The indications are that the breeze may shift easterly, and pick up to passage making proportions, on Wednesday.

Some tidal dexterity is needed. For Stargazer requires: depth in the Northney entrance and on Chichester Bar, plus a fair tide at Hurst narrows. Preferably depth in the North and Looe Channel short cuts too. There are also bridge lift times to consider, once in Poole.

Fortunately, the spring tide is today. Meaning that depth constraints will reduce through the week. Whilst the wind, we hope, prepares to turn fair.

Ad Lib 31

Amorous Oystercatchers respond to the hormonal tick of nature's clock. As April turns to May, with the season yet to settle.

Rhythmic rowers glide past Stargazer's sunfilled cockpit. On a warm windless breakfast-in-the-cockpit morning.

Wind whipped white horses race toward the Tidemill during a wild afternoon walk.

Whilst warm jackets ward off the chill for the black box bearing pilots. . . .

. . . .of diminutive yachts. Which dance, to the tempo of swirling gusts, across a heaving Emsworth Mill Pond.

Fields and foreshore are cloaked in spring green, freckled with blossom and bright wildflowers. Days grow longer. The sun's heat stronger.

But still the four winds hold to unruly wintery ways: alternating gales with calms. Stargazer must bide her time, whilst they steady into summer moderation.

Ad Lib 30

'A View From The Bridge.' Of the Starship Enterprise, is how this feels to Stargazer's skipper.

Ensconced at the helm of an ocean roaming Broadblue Rapier 550, costing almost three million pounds.

 Fifty five feet of rakish ocean roaming catamaran. Capable of thirty knot speeds. Presently at rest on the mud in Thornham Marina, which dries below half tide.

Alongside her, is the more modestly proportioned and priced Broadblue 346. Despite her name, thirty three feet overall. Just two feet longer than Stargazer.

Yet sporting an agoraphobia inducingly spacious cockpit and deck saloon. All sail controls are led to two centrally placed winches within reach of a well sheltered helm. For ease of solo operation.

Quirky sleeping accomodation is the price for those compact dimensions. The hulls have been kept fine. For this is a design drawn by multihull performance guru Darren Newton.

Founder of the 'Made in Cornwall' Dazcat yard in Millbook. Purveyor of bespoke racer-cruisers. The Dazcat 1195 Spirit of Freedom is of similar age to Stargazer.

And now on brokerage, with Multihull World, here in Thornham. A business owned by Mark Jarvis. Who is in the process of winding up the Broadblue brand (which he also owns). In favour of becoming the UK Seawind Catamarans agent. (See Ad Lib 21)

Spirit of Freedom's lithe looks come at the expense of headroom. Which is of the stooped to sitting variety below. Whereas the less athletic aesthetic of the Broadblue 346 buys abundant head space throughout. As, Mark assures me, do the chiselled lines of the Seawind 1170 (pictured above). Of similar length and beam to the Dazcat 1195. His purpose in including her in our tour.

Picture Credits

2-6 courtesy of Multihll World & Broadblue Catamarans

7&8 courtesy of Dazcat and Multihull World brokerage

9 courtesy of Seawind Catamarans.

 

Ad Lib 29

 

It is a stay-in-port day across Emsworth harbour. Especially if you are the owner of a wooden gaffer with leaking decks to re-pay. "Last time it took me two weeks, just to rake the seams out. Re-caulking was nearly a month. I'm going to epoxy sheath them. I want to be out sailing!"

Although, the only people out sailing, for the past several days, have been the wind surfers. Slashing to and fro, between the half tide sand bars. Riding thirty to forty knots of (surprisingly warm) easterly breeze. 

An option which Stargazer's skipper prefers to sit out. In favour of enjoying the sunshine in a more sheltered spot.

Where I share a picnic table, with a member of the Emsworth Yacht Harbour crew. Learning, in the process, that the marina is run as a workers' co operative. Because the founder, Admiral Gick, was keen to keep it out of the hands of the corporate marina chains, after he retired.

The Admiral had created the marina by converting the log pickling ponds of a sawmill. Which was powered by the Slipper Mill Pond and stood on a site now occupied by waterfront housing.

In the silence, after my lunchtime confidant has returned to duty, I hear a 'ping' from my phone. Purbeck Marine Mike has answered Stargazer's cry for help, with her fuel filler (see yesterday's post). He knows Stargazer well, from her Poole days. Our next port of call is thus confirmed. If not our day of arrival.

Ad Lib 28

The curse on Stargazer's diesel tank (see Winter Work 1&9) continues. A simple five litre top up turns sour, when the cap retaining wire parts. Its tail, complete with end fitting, dropping down the filler aperture with an ominously echoing 'plop.'

The sound suggesting that the (lower) horizontal leg of the pipe run is full of diesel. Which will complicate its disconnection, to recover the potential engine fuel feed blocker. Fortunately, at the time of the incident, the valve (blue handle, left of picture) which guards the tank itself, was closed.

With a Bank Holiday in prospect, and relaunch season in full swing, help is in short supply. But I suspect that two pairs of hands will be required to: muscle the pipe off; minimise the escape of diesel into Stargazer's bilge; and extract the errant attachment. Several tides may pass before such hands can be enlisted. Enquiries, as they say, are ongoing.

Ad Lib 27

 

 Langstone Quay is left high and dry. Its trees bedecked in blossom. The drinkers outside the Royal Oak baring winter white legs. Breaking out their summer shorts in the afternoon heat.

Whilst the Tide Mill surveys a sylvan scene, across its rolling seaweed lawn.

At the end of which a flock, of native Chichester shoal draft sailing cruisers, roost on their mud berths.

Rising waters hasten my footsteps along the, fast disappearing, shoreline path. For the flood tide is on the march. Canoeists launch from their gardens.

It is now but a short haul, for the Slipper Sailing Club gig rowers, up the ramp and into the bar.

On a tranquil Emsworth Quay. Serene as its resident swans. Both enjoying a peaceful respite, before the gathering of seasonal hoards.

Ad Lib 26

 

The sharp edged colours of a crisp spring day. . . .

. . . .take over from the pyrotechnic golden palette of dawn.

As Stargazer rounds Beachy Head at the turn of the tide.

Striding west with sixteen knots of north east breeze on her quarter.

The Newhaven ferry leaves for Dieppe. Arcing wide across our bow.

Stargazer routes inshore of the Brighton wind farm. Urged on by a willing tide.

With the sun's rise, and the warming of the day, the breeze begins to veer. Stargazer angles inshore to fill her genoa.

By mid morning she is running goose winged, to restore her rhumb line course. Slower speed but shorter distance. Faster in the long run.

For the afternoon watch, the wind settles into the south east. Restoring Stargazer's pace, on a port gybe

With the tide turning against us, off Selsey Bill, Stargazer cuts the Mixon reefs as fine as her skipper (crouched over the chart plotter, tide tables in hand) dares.

An obliging twenty knot squall powers Stargazer through 'Shingle Street.' A narrow pass in the subsea continuation of the low lying Bill. Through which the contents of the Solent are seeking an east going exit.

Stargazer gybes for the Chichester Bar. Her skipper once more intent on the chart plotter. For we are several hours ahead of our expected arrival time and it is low water. We follow a Sigma (of similar draft to us). Finding nigh on two metres beneath our keel.

Stargazer arrives amid the birdsong, buzzing dinghies, sandspits, lagoons and labyrinthine creeks of Chichester Harbour. As weekend sailors enjoy one final Sunday evening spin. How fortunate we are to be free to sail as the spirit dictates.