October 2014 Brief - Overdue Update...

Having returned to SA at the end of October, and reflecting on our trip, our 2014 season sadly didn't turn out as we had hoped or planned.... best laid plans and all that sort of thing..... weatherwise the European summer certainly didn't disappoint, in fact it was probably one of the best for quite a while. 

Our initial problems came from quite an unexpected area, namely the UK Passport office! Skip needed to renew his, and neither of us were prepared for the chaos and time wasted in trying to get this sorted out.  Thousands of people were affected, some losing their holidays altogether.  At least we didn't have that to deal with, but it did delay our departure for 7 weeks, and meant that our joining crew Clare and Rod from Cape Town had to meet us in Southampton and not Roscoff, and this in turn meant a complete rethink on the plans for the trip to allow for their timeframe.

However, the delay did have a positive side in that I was able to see much more of my Mum and I spent happy times, chatting and listening to her reminisce about her experiences during the 2nd World War when she became a balloon operator, and then an air raid warden in London during the Blitz.  All this before joining the RAF and becoming a radio operator, involved in the plotting of the D Day landings.  She was particularly passionate about her memories at this time because June 6 this year saw the 70th anniversary of that day.  She celebrated by going to a concert locally with friends from Challoner that evening to see the Southampton Brass Band and the Thornden Wind Orchestra play music from that era.  She was incredibly excited and thrilled that she, with another couple, were spotlighted and acknowledged by the audience as being the Veterans of the War who were there that evening.  All this is relevant to me because having eventually been able to leave the Solent, we had taken a couple of days to get across to the Channel Islands, before heading on to Binic, where we locked in and met up with "Azuree" with Phil and Michelle.  Then on June 19, 2 days after arriving in Binic, I had a call from my sister Jen to let me know that she was cutting her holiday short as Mum wasn't well.  24 hours later, I got the call again from Jen to get myself home, so on June 21 Elly and Louis kindly fetched me from Binic and got me through to St Malo for the early morning ferry.. This arrived in Portsmouth at 6.30 that evening, but sadly I was too late.  Mum had passed away at 6pm..........

Looking back, I shall be quietly grateful that the Passport office was in such disarray because my extra weeks available for my visits to Mum have now taken on a far more valuable place in my thoughts and memory.

With all the obvious affairs and details to sort out, it became impossible for me to consider sailing further this season, so we regrouped and planned a more local trip, some of which I will detail in the next post.

Mum with Zoe and Gary when we all met up at The Ship, in Lymington

My Lovely Mum 6 May 1921 - 21 June 2014

  

Arriving....

Just a quick update having arrived safely at the Hamble a week ago.... my how time flies when you are hectic!!  Firstly, the sun was shining which was an enormous bonus and complete surprise, Freedom was looking good on her berth, and Skip prepared a lovely lunch for me!

First evening we got together with great friends Andy and Jeannie at The Ferry Restaurant, then next day it was straight into opening up lockers, checking out previous stores, and making long 'things to do' lists before heading for the shopping emporiums.  

 At one stage the whole boat looked rather like this, and I wondered if I would ever get it together!!  However, out of chaos comes order so eventually I got it down to the ability to see the mattress.  Mind you, the car now looks like a depository for second hand clothing and various bits of small furniture!!!

 The rest of the boat now looks ship shape as you can see from the various pics, and we managed to get our first day out onto the Solent yesterday.  

Earlier in the week, Skip and I went down to Somerset to see my Sis and hubby who have just moved into their lovely new home.  They have wonderful views across the English countryside ... all excellent!


 

 These views from Jen and Allan's garden 

Not forgetting Dylan

Jen, Al and Charles

 My fab Sister..... hubby also!

  Caught up with William and Claire on Mellos last night, and visiting our old club today for lunch with Sarah, John, Derek and Diana.  Soooooo, we have not been hanging about, no time to just sit back and relax yet!!  Waiting for Skip's passport to come back from renewal, and a weather window some time this week to head off towards Guernsey........ will 'chat' again soon. 

Farewell to 'Windward'.....

"Starfire" with Skip, Robin, Michelle and Bert on board

Early morning to catch the tide from Port Owen, "Windward" left her jetty and trundled on down the Berg River towards St Helena Bay and the open sea.....  seeing her off was the good ship "Starfire" and "Shoestring"

"Windward" on her way.......

Ursula, "foredeck Goddess" with Rob crew

Set the alarm for early start to get down to 'Pinta's jetty to see "Windward" off....... rest of the mob were due to be on 'Starfire', with others going on down to the harbour by car.  (Had builders coming in, so couldn't get that far!).....

 however, Jules, Andrew, Toni and Laetitia were with me, so we were all able to shout and wave our goodbye's as "Windward" and her crew came past us.... Al at the helm, with crew and "crewbabe" Ursula on the foredeck here on in referred to as foredeck goddess!!!   We all sighed with a degree of relief that they had made their start, as well as sadness with love at their departure, and excitement for them on the beginning of a definite adventure.... will watch out on their blog for the future news.  Lotsalove from us all here and safe sailing xxx

Part of the mob: Andrew, Jules, Laetitia and Toni

 

Thinking about 2014 Season.......

Air tickets are booked, and Skip is pouring over various Pilot Books and various chart-type pieces of paper..... the yachting magazines are open at assorted pages of information, and are occasionally being thrust under my eyes so that I can 'see' where we are heading!!!  

"Freedom" still has to have her tent removed and lifted out, but Skip will be in UK in time to check out the anti-fouling, and get the sails back on, and generally de-winterised!!  The Elephant has managed to stay fairly safe and cosy despite the terrible winter storms that has crossed the UK, so we are pretty confident that the good ship will be fine when we get there.

It will be the French coast again this season, via the Channel Islands.  Binic is a must at some point, either on the outward or return journey.  Roscoff, possibly Morlaix, on through the Chanel du Four* and The Raz* again, down to Benodet, and taking time before aiming for The Morbihan is the general plan, maybe further depending on time and weather etc.

As previously, when looking at the 2 tidal gates* of infamous proportions, The Morbihan an inland lake/sea ..... the pilot books and various articles do not suggest that it is going to be a "relaxed" affair..... far from it, tides whooshing of up to 9 knots or more, whirlpools where steerage is lost....... bla bla, doesn't fill yours truely with heaps of confidence, but on the other hand, the pictures do look quite nice!!! ...........


 

The Sun does Shine!

I was just remembering a special day back in May last year, which started off with the alarm at 7am (mainly for crew who was getting concerned about skip's emotional stability having been cabin bound for longer than 24 hours due to very inclement weather, and having checked wind guru, was hopeful that the sun might be shining)..... it was ..... thank goodness.  Sure enough, regardless of wind conditions, skip was up, out of the bunk, into gear and getting the boat organised for a day on the water ..... no matter what!

What a difference the sun makes to one's day.  The wind can be screaming, but we all smile because it "looks nice"!..............  Having reached the Solent, and hoisted sails, we head off east towards Portsmouth because there is a huge shape on the horizon which is one of the US Carriers, apparently now known as "The Coalition Warship, The George W Bush" and skip fancied a look.  Unfortunately, as we tried to make against the tide, the apparition was picking up anchor and leaving so we didn't get to see it up close and personal.    In the meantime, the wind had picked up so that when we turned back towards the west of the Solent, we were beating into it.  Crew suggested reefing practice and this was done, much to her relief!


I do need to mention that this was supposed to be one of our first relaxed sails in the season, generally getting it all together with the boat etc, etc......... however, at this point we became aware of a loud noise coming from above.  Her Majesty's Coastguard (Portland) Helicopter was doing a 2nd pass over us and stupidly we waved ...... like you do ....... this obviously encouraged said Coastguard because to our, or at least my horror, the helicopter did a steep banked turn and headed back, low in our direction with one of the crew displaying a Ch71 card from the open doorway.

 The radio crackled into action, and the next thing I know is skip has agreed to join in an "exercise" gees.... you cannot hear a thing ...... the instructions were generally along the lines for skip to get the boat onto a port tack and stay steady (despite a rather strong westerly now blowing) and for me to grab a line, and pull a man on board! ...... at this point reluctant crew nearly had heart failure, not knowing what was going to happen.  How the heck a 5ft3 little person could haul in a coastguard person was beyond me.  


However, there was no time for nerves, because the next thing I know is Skip is SERIOUSLY concentrating on keeping 'Freedom' tracking nicely and the helicopter is coming - very, very low and on top of us. The noise was deafening, and it became very cold with the sea spray.  The weighted line incredibly floated gently down, almost to my hand. I had to haul in a long length of it and then became aware of a chap about to leave the helicopter and follow the line I was pulling in!....... what a nice bloke he was! ..... he waived his instructions to his crew above and wafted onto our deck, whilst skip watched the shore on the other side of the Solent coming up rather fast.    The tall, rather handsome young man arrived on board, congratulated us on our efficiency and told us he "wouldn't be stopping long" to which Skip replied "No that wouldn't be a good idea, because we will be Exbury Gardens in a minute"!!


With that the young chap left, rather as he had arrived, gently and without fuss with yours truely paying out on the long line until he was safely back on board the helicopter.   Wow... what a rush, ........ both of us were pretty hyped at the end of it, but what a fantastic experience.  We were so glad to have been in the right place at the right time and to have had the chance to join in the exercise.    The wonderful handling by the helicopter crew was gobsmackingly good and if that was a hint of what they are capable of, then the Governments everywhere should be supporting them hugely, and not trying to minimise them.

When we had calmed down and had lunch, we continued to enjoy a lovely day on the water, getting back into the Hamble towards early evening...........

 (Whilst we were doing our exercise, there was no time at all to photograph it, but I was able to take a pic of the next yacht they went on to).

As they left us!