Frostbite 2010 by Dusty Miller, Skipper
Headlines – Mist/Fog – 33 knots of wind – Up at 4.30am and out at 5am – Great sailing
Visited - Gosport – Cowes (Sun) – Lymington – Poole (Mon) Poole – Weymouth (Tues)
Weymouth – Yarmouth (Wed) Yarmouth – Cowes (Thurs) Cowes to Gosport (Fri)
Crew
Dave Mallon, Ron Nevitt, Owen Poplett, Kevin Claxton,
Dave Cherry Chris Sparks, Andy Hobbs, Dusty Miller,
An exciting week – the feature I will remember is that every one combined to work in a true team spirit to bring about an exciting, absorbing sailing week - with
shared roles on the yacht providing the opportunity to
those wanting to undertake the increased responsibility of skippering the yacht in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
It was a shared experience from which we all gained in seamanship, sailing experience and enjoyment of each other’s company.
Gosport – Cowes (Sun)
We met at the Commodore Yachting base at Gosport to find Adelaide Star was out of the water being repaired in Guernsey following an expensive miss-hap between Herm and St Peter Port.! We had made available to us an identical Bavaria 44 ‘Emerald Star’. Ron had provisioned the yacht and we were off and away early in the evening motoring to Cowes for a meal in the infamous Anchor Inn – we all supped the Real Traditional Ale -. having enjoyed a hearty meal and went back to the yacht for some additional fortification of the soul.
Cowes – Poole (Mon)
The following day we were off down the Solent with Owen Poplett skippering the yacht -destination Poole. The wind was such that two reefs were placed in the main sail and the headsail reduced in size. It started as a sunny sail taking lunch in a much civilised manner at Lymington town quay. Then with the tide flooding out through the Needles we sailed into the mist making track for Poole. With no sight of land it was for all an experience to sail by navigation chart and instruments alone – a challenge the skipper was more than a match for – and on time at dusk we sailed into Poole harbour entrance leaving behind rough seas and high winds.
An enjoyable full days sail ending with a very good chilli meal prepared by Kevin Claxton after which it was clear the events of the preceding late night and the chilli meal followed by a continuation of additional onboard fortification made for an excellent evening aboard ship and an early night.
Poole – Weymouth (Tues)
In the morning we were greeted with a thick mist and fog that greatly reduced visibility which slightly improved as we sailed out of Poole Harbour. The skipper Kevin Claxton took us out into the murky Channel on route to Weymouth. It was sails up duly reefed down to sail in a 30 knot wind that shot us along the coat, if we could only see it!! We changed course to have the wind behind us and then with the reef’s out and rolling waves we got up to a speed of over eight knots. Although sailing in the mist all day, Kevin placed us right at the entrance to Weymouth Harbour. It had been an exhilarating sail in exacting conditions that concluded with a late afternoon sail into Harbour. Ron Nevitt provided us with his special stew a much appreciated enjoyable evening meal after which we were off to a local hostelry for a continuation of our local ale tasting. Having moored up at the town quay we were joined by a Clipper Training Yacht from its base at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport - this sixty foot Clipper Yacht crew were undertaking ‘Round the World’ Training. The Clipper rafted up to us, but explaining to the skipper we would be up at 4.30am and needed to be off at 5am, he was more than happy to give his crew the additional training of getting up in the early hours of the morning!!!
Weymouth – Yarmouth (Wed)
With Owen at the helm we motored out at 5am heading for the Needles, an early start was required to ensure that we had the tide with us.
The wind was against us and we motored onwards into a calm day able to view and appreciate the Dorset country side when it eventually got light!!
As we arrived at the Needles we were in sun, blue sky and a very flat sea, with many of the crew hunting for their sunglasses, arriving in Yarmouth at lunchtime – giving us all the opportunity for a late afternoon tasting of local ale – followed by a Dave Mallon original spaghetti evening meal. The early start plus local ale bought about the crew having an early night!!
Yarmouth – Cowes (Thurs)
With a brighter morning with little or no wind we agreed to enhance our pontoon mooring skills within Yarmouth Marina. We were engaged ourselves in the little used touches on the engine throttle and steering in confined spaces. The star of the mooring was Dave Cherry who undertook perfect manoeuvring without any practice or guidance. An absorbing morning for all of us seeking to increase our confidence in this particular skill!!., in the belief we could make use of the better wind to sail up to Cowes we motored out of Yarmouth.
The clouds came over and the heavens opened and from a pleasant morning it developed into a rain storm of epic proportions!!!
Ron helmed the yacht whilst we all took cover!
We arrived at Cowes in the early afternoon for us all to dry out and then undertake an amount of shopping – visiting Ocean World to view the clothing available with the SPOSC logo – purchases were made.
We moved into a warm environment that sold liquid refreshment intending to move the yacht up the Medina for a final evening meal at the Folly – however, the liquid refreshment took its toll and we made plans to remain at Cowes and eat at the Fountain Inn – following a great meal it was back to the yacht where we used up the rest of the on board liquid refreshment
Cowes to Gosport (Fri)
It was a windy morning 15/20 knots of wind and out we went to be reefed down initially on a single reef with Chris at the helm we were soon tacking round racing buoys outside Cowes. The wind did not abate and we went to the second reef and the headsail reduced in size. With the yacht more manageable we continued swapping helms to practice tacking whilst travelling back towards Portsmouth!!
Come lunchtime we returned to Gosport Marine where we refuelled the yacht and decided to use up the remaining stores, hot bowls of stew were the order of the day, and then we were soon into cleaning the yacht and removing all our gear. Come 4pm we were all off and away.
For additional photographs - please click here
Visited - Gosport – Cowes (Sun) – Lymington – Poole (Mon) Poole – Weymouth (Tues)
Weymouth – Yarmouth (Wed) Yarmouth – Cowes (Thurs) Cowes to Gosport (Fri)
Crew
Dave Mallon, Ron Nevitt, Owen Poplett, Kevin Claxton,
Dave Cherry Chris Sparks, Andy Hobbs, Dusty Miller,
An exciting week – the feature I will remember is that every one combined to work in a true team spirit to bring about an exciting, absorbing sailing week - with
shared roles on the yacht providing the opportunity to
those wanting to undertake the increased responsibility of skippering the yacht in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
It was a shared experience from which we all gained in seamanship, sailing experience and enjoyment of each other’s company.
Gosport – Cowes (Sun)
We met at the Commodore Yachting base at Gosport to find Adelaide Star was out of the water being repaired in Guernsey following an expensive miss-hap between Herm and St Peter Port.! We had made available to us an identical Bavaria 44 ‘Emerald Star’. Ron had provisioned the yacht and we were off and away early in the evening motoring to Cowes for a meal in the infamous Anchor Inn – we all supped the Real Traditional Ale -. having enjoyed a hearty meal and went back to the yacht for some additional fortification of the soul.
Cowes – Poole (Mon)
The following day we were off down the Solent with Owen Poplett skippering the yacht -destination Poole. The wind was such that two reefs were placed in the main sail and the headsail reduced in size. It started as a sunny sail taking lunch in a much civilised manner at Lymington town quay. Then with the tide flooding out through the Needles we sailed into the mist making track for Poole. With no sight of land it was for all an experience to sail by navigation chart and instruments alone – a challenge the skipper was more than a match for – and on time at dusk we sailed into Poole harbour entrance leaving behind rough seas and high winds.
An enjoyable full days sail ending with a very good chilli meal prepared by Kevin Claxton after which it was clear the events of the preceding late night and the chilli meal followed by a continuation of additional onboard fortification made for an excellent evening aboard ship and an early night.
Poole – Weymouth (Tues)
In the morning we were greeted with a thick mist and fog that greatly reduced visibility which slightly improved as we sailed out of Poole Harbour. The skipper Kevin Claxton took us out into the murky Channel on route to Weymouth. It was sails up duly reefed down to sail in a 30 knot wind that shot us along the coat, if we could only see it!! We changed course to have the wind behind us and then with the reef’s out and rolling waves we got up to a speed of over eight knots. Although sailing in the mist all day, Kevin placed us right at the entrance to Weymouth Harbour. It had been an exhilarating sail in exacting conditions that concluded with a late afternoon sail into Harbour. Ron Nevitt provided us with his special stew a much appreciated enjoyable evening meal after which we were off to a local hostelry for a continuation of our local ale tasting. Having moored up at the town quay we were joined by a Clipper Training Yacht from its base at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport - this sixty foot Clipper Yacht crew were undertaking ‘Round the World’ Training. The Clipper rafted up to us, but explaining to the skipper we would be up at 4.30am and needed to be off at 5am, he was more than happy to give his crew the additional training of getting up in the early hours of the morning!!!
Weymouth – Yarmouth (Wed)
With Owen at the helm we motored out at 5am heading for the Needles, an early start was required to ensure that we had the tide with us.
The wind was against us and we motored onwards into a calm day able to view and appreciate the Dorset country side when it eventually got light!!
As we arrived at the Needles we were in sun, blue sky and a very flat sea, with many of the crew hunting for their sunglasses, arriving in Yarmouth at lunchtime – giving us all the opportunity for a late afternoon tasting of local ale – followed by a Dave Mallon original spaghetti evening meal. The early start plus local ale bought about the crew having an early night!!
Yarmouth – Cowes (Thurs)
With a brighter morning with little or no wind we agreed to enhance our pontoon mooring skills within Yarmouth Marina. We were engaged ourselves in the little used touches on the engine throttle and steering in confined spaces. The star of the mooring was Dave Cherry who undertook perfect manoeuvring without any practice or guidance. An absorbing morning for all of us seeking to increase our confidence in this particular skill!!., in the belief we could make use of the better wind to sail up to Cowes we motored out of Yarmouth.
The clouds came over and the heavens opened and from a pleasant morning it developed into a rain storm of epic proportions!!!
Ron helmed the yacht whilst we all took cover!
We arrived at Cowes in the early afternoon for us all to dry out and then undertake an amount of shopping – visiting Ocean World to view the clothing available with the SPOSC logo – purchases were made.
We moved into a warm environment that sold liquid refreshment intending to move the yacht up the Medina for a final evening meal at the Folly – however, the liquid refreshment took its toll and we made plans to remain at Cowes and eat at the Fountain Inn – following a great meal it was back to the yacht where we used up the rest of the on board liquid refreshment
Cowes to Gosport (Fri)
It was a windy morning 15/20 knots of wind and out we went to be reefed down initially on a single reef with Chris at the helm we were soon tacking round racing buoys outside Cowes. The wind did not abate and we went to the second reef and the headsail reduced in size. With the yacht more manageable we continued swapping helms to practice tacking whilst travelling back towards Portsmouth!!
Come lunchtime we returned to Gosport Marine where we refuelled the yacht and decided to use up the remaining stores, hot bowls of stew were the order of the day, and then we were soon into cleaning the yacht and removing all our gear. Come 4pm we were all off and away.
For additional photographs - please click here