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By Nigel Barraclough Skipper, Cook & Navigator
John Moore, Skippers No 1 & Engineer
Richard Moore First Mate & Chief Food Taster
Saturday 20/8/05
A hot drive to Chichester, then a double shuffle to Brighton to meet John Alden and Janny for a crew change. After lunch, "Squirrel", alias Richard Moore was given the task of stowing the ship ready for his first snack; it also gave him the ideal opportunity to find all Fizzy's cubbyholes. Our evening meal was a Pizza Hut full works deal for four (we know there were just the three of us!). Two hours later we had to have a walk to shake the feast down.
The tides west meant we had a leisurely departure, at 11.30, bound for Portsmouth. Nigel took Fizzy out of the berth. Once past the entrance Richard had his first boat handling experience. Close to the new wreck off Selsey Bill gave the Navigator something to do. "John! Don't park it on the wreck! I have told you once already and make sure you give it a wide berth!…." " OK Nige." A couple of hours later we had to wake Squirrel so that he could see the barrier gap and the entrance into Portsmouth. Safely in Haslar, after a night entry, we were ready for one of Nigel's specials (dinner that is).
We awoke to drizzle and having bought some gas and new hanks for the main Squirrel repaired the mainsail and John prepared Fizzy for sea. At this point Squirrel thought his work was done, but alas, no. Skipper Nigel had another task for him. The look on his face was a happy combination of "what have I done / not done and what have I forgotten?" At this point Nigel told him he was taking Fizzy off the berth (this in his first 24 hours of sailing) so Squirrel's face changed to "Oh," gulp, " how? The Skipper said it would be no problem and so it proved, and by now Squirrel had a grin from ear to ear.
We went chugging up the harbour so that Nigel could photo HMS Newcastle, Glasgow, Intrepid and Fearless (he had made an Airfix kit of her once). Returning to the shelter of Haslar up went the main and we headed out into the mist and rain in a SW direction. The rain cleared for lunch, followed by black clouds that emptied SW of Cowes. As we entered Yarmouth, bright sunshine reappeared and we moored up just behind Stephanie's "Joyful", taking care not to kiss her stern. 17.00 hours, another of Nigel's specials, and we managed to fit JVA's new cockpit table and enjoy the sunset.
The next morning's forecast was NW 4/5 and Poole was our next destination. Once through the Needles, we had a great sail to Poole, surfing the waves after having put a reef in. Just beforehand Squirrel's face had become slightly green. This was not good! So the Skipper sent him back on deck and gave him a pack of ginger nuts. Half an hour later the ginger nuts had disappeared into his stomach and normal service had been resumed (ie he was hungry). Squirrel joined Nigel, helmsman John, and Fizzy in the enjoyment of surfing the waves in Poole Bay. Thus we arrived at Poole Town Quay in the evening twilight.
The whole quayside seems to have moved East since John's first visit 19 years ago, the washing facilities are a great improvement (which shows how bad they were then) The supermarkets are open all hours.
On Wednesday the forecast was W F6/7, and increasing, so we took a bus ride over Sandbanks, using the ferry, and on to Swanage. The lifeboat was called out to a yacht in trouble by Old Harry's rocks. The rain didn't let off until early evening. Back at the marina we met the German skipper of "Rob Roy" the yacht that had been in trouble - his hydraulic steering had failed so the lifeboat had towed him in. Later the Skipper of Rob Roy asked if we knew anything about the buoyage in the Solent, Was it good? Slightly taken aback we said we thought it was OK but be careful of the big sandbank in the middle. Thus re-assured, he carried on with his passage planning. It was only later that it dawned on us what he was doing: a single handed trip from east of the Kiel Canal, round the north coast of Scotland, through the Irish Sea and home via Lands End and the North Sea!
On Thursday we became two men in a boat - Squirrel having been recalled home. While moving from berth to berth we discovered we had no forward gear. Several phone calls later JVA said he would see us that evening and fix Fizzy in the morning. JVA was as good as his word. By lunch time on Friday he was on his way home and Fizzy was fixed. The plan now was to leave Saturday for the Solent knowing the whole Ashdown tug fleet would be close by if needed.
We arrived at Yarmouth, to be welcomed by a happy Kiwi harbourmaster who gave us the important information of the day: England was beating Australia! We had barely got our ropes ashore as Spirit and another Nigel were alongside, quickly followed by Pelagian and Layla. We had a quick beer, (courtesy of Spirit) followed by boat juggling to fit Swift Nick, Lucrece and Dyak and then more beer and more juggling with Opalesence, Blue Scherzo and Taransay Mhor. Lots of time to meet boats and crews alike.
Gerry, fixing his new wind instrument to the top of the mast, led Sunday's entertainment. There was the temptation to keep the instrument on deck and leave Gerry up the mast but we thought that was a less reliable option. Legend has it that most pirates climbed to the top of the mast so they could seek out their next prey.
We had little wind as we drifted with the tide to Cowes. We had to motor as powerboat racing meant that Cowes was busier than the M25. We repeated the process of tying up outside the Folly with more juggling and beer followed by BBQs and Gerry's homemade boat swing, what sort of knot is that? The kids all enjoyed the swing especially those aged 50 plus! Gail and Mike Duke, who now run the Medina Valley Centre, also joined us.
Alan, who gave a Master class in the noble art of crab fishing, led Monday's entertainment. Nigel learned, to his cost, just how good Alan was when having bet a pint on Alan's chances of catching a crab using the remains of a bacon sarnie. Seconds later the tiniest of black crabs desperate for food was duly pulled from the river. Having graciously conceded defeat, we said our goodbyes and opted for a 9 mile hike to East Cowes via Newport and West Cowes taking in the old railway line and the turbine blade factory along the way.
One of the best kept secrets in the area is the church at Whippingham, just above the Folly where Queen Victoria worshipped. The visitor centre serves excellent cakes and tea!
The next day our departure was early - 5am to be precise, watching the sunrise over Portsmouth with hardly a vessel in sight. The first ferries of the day were only just beginning to take commuters to work. And the best bit ? We were still on holiday!