REPORT:
As tidal flows were only favorable with an early departure I slept on Heatwave overnight on Friday. The weather looked promising after a week of grey skies and rain. Up early at 05:30. Sky quite cloudy but seemed to be brightening from the north west. The winds were as predicted from the north west at about 6 knots. Had a nice cup of tea and the customary cigarette. The boat was prepped with a shot of grease in the stern gland and fuel tank topped up. When finished went below and dived into the tuck bag for a round of BLT sandwiches. These went down well and with a cup of hot coffee we were ready to get another trip off the bucket list.
O6:45 Prep the boat for sea to ensure the cabin is secure and come on deck to release Heatwave from her leash. Engine fired up and Auto helm set. Slowly pay out the mooring lines to avoid a run over and we are free. With just the Main up we are soon up to 4.5knts. I wait until we are clear of the 5knt marker buoys and hoist the Gib. Speed now up to 5.5knts so engine throttled back to tick over and neutral. I always run it now to ensure the autohelm does not flatten battery as I do not have a separate domestic battery. Just too much weight.
About half way across the harbour a black streak drops about 50 meters in front of me. Very little splash. It wasn't a shag as they tend to dive from the surface. A few seconds later to my port a huge beak erupts from the surface and massive black tipped wings start to beat to send this ocean bird aloft. I have never seen a Gannet in Portland Harbour before.
The trip to Chapmans was uneventful and the sky did clear for a brief time with lovely warm sunshine but it didn't last. Grey clouds greeted me as I approached St Aldhelms. I stayed in as close as I dare to stop being washed out into the strong ebb tide. The Navionics App on my Hudl showed my track across the notorious Kimmeridge ledges and I had to check my relative position so that I could identify my intended path into the pool. As you approach from the SSW you cant pick out the features of the pool so I went for a better approach from the South. As I came into line I could now identify the pool to make my final approach. Nothing better than the Mk1 eyeball. Got the Gib down as secured it so I could open up the anchor locker. Speed pulled back to 2 knts. I put on my depth sounder(Not done that for a long time). Set the alarm for 15 feet. This should give me enough depth for the boat to swing and cover for the drop in surface levels. I watched the depth get shallower and at 30 feet slowed to about a 1 knt. I had first been told about Chapmans pool in 1986 but I had never gone in there myself. First time always requires caution. There are many hidden rocks but they are around the peripheral of the pool and you are more likely to go aground before you hit them. Suddenly the Alarm goes off at 15 feet. All Stop. Hook is dropped around 1040 so very good run. Let the boat settle. Everythings seems to be fine.
I start to look around and I notice my position is in line with the last Stone Fishmans Hut and the Knoll on the west side. There was a lot of pool left in front of me but not available for many larger boats. Don't go past the Fishermans Hut!! The wind is fairly light so I leave the Main up to gently flap. I then hoist the Battle Flag. Lunch time. It would appear that you should have T 16 feet further in but it is more to the right of centre as you go in.
After lunch, time to go ashore and do some fossil hunting. I've been to Chapman's on foot from Worth Matravers and walked around the east side but never seen any fossils. So first I scan the beach for a good landing. The surf is crashing on the west side but the east side is full of trippers and rather rocky. So I choose the west side. The long shaft o/board is pulled up a notch to clear rocks and the landing is fine except that when i pull the tender ashore the prop is fouled with Japanese sea weed. Its really tough to brake and will foul enough to stop an outboard.
I follow the beach around to the west and not far from the tender is a large clay rock which has been split open and a lovely ammonite shell has been exposed. I break off some more and another comes to light. But they and the clay are so fragile they will just break up in your hand. Photos are best.
After I examine the cliff face to see where these fossils are. They appear to be in a bed about 10 feet thick and there are hundreds of them. They have all been crushed by the weight of the sediment above them. These clays form part of the lower Jurassic period and must be in the region of 195 million years old as the Portland limestone that sits on the top of St Aldelms finish at 145 million years.
I go as far as I can the the end of the west side and a fisherman is just packing up for the day. No bites!. I sit and rest before returning to Heatwave.
I spoke earlier about the surface crashing but it is very small. However I find it very difficult to launch the tender from a beach without swamping it with water. When the waves hit the flat back of the tender the water slops over the back. So I thought I would try a bow first. First attempt was poor as I couldn't get it off the beach. So I decided to walk it in as far as my wellies would allow. Just about to get in but the gravely sand gave way under me and I'm up to my waste in water. The tender scooped in about 2 inches of water which was a lot over 10 feet by 2.5 feet as I flung myself in. A man and his young daughter were watching me as I struggled to get the tender off shore but at last though very wet I got away. Although wet glad to be back on board.
I get out of my wet clothes and dry off. I do not have another pair of trousers or socks to change into so I use a pair of waterproofs to keep me warm.
Its coming up to 15:30 and I need to get away before 16:00 to go against the foul tide and this will be slow. I pull the Anchor up which is covered in a thick black oozy clay that gets everwhere. Will clean up at Mupe. As the weather was so poor I thought about coming straight home. So as I get out into the stream the speed drops to about 2.3knt and the gecko give an ETA on mooring of 23:30. Thats it can't get back. I wouldn't mind traveling in the dark but there are so many pot buoys in the bay now it would be too hazardous for a single hander. So its Mupe bound which I achieved by 18:00
O6:45 Prep the boat for sea to ensure the cabin is secure and come on deck to release Heatwave from her leash. Engine fired up and Auto helm set. Slowly pay out the mooring lines to avoid a run over and we are free. With just the Main up we are soon up to 4.5knts. I wait until we are clear of the 5knt marker buoys and hoist the Gib. Speed now up to 5.5knts so engine throttled back to tick over and neutral. I always run it now to ensure the autohelm does not flatten battery as I do not have a separate domestic battery. Just too much weight.
About half way across the harbour a black streak drops about 50 meters in front of me. Very little splash. It wasn't a shag as they tend to dive from the surface. A few seconds later to my port a huge beak erupts from the surface and massive black tipped wings start to beat to send this ocean bird aloft. I have never seen a Gannet in Portland Harbour before.
The trip to Chapmans was uneventful and the sky did clear for a brief time with lovely warm sunshine but it didn't last. Grey clouds greeted me as I approached St Aldhelms. I stayed in as close as I dare to stop being washed out into the strong ebb tide. The Navionics App on my Hudl showed my track across the notorious Kimmeridge ledges and I had to check my relative position so that I could identify my intended path into the pool. As you approach from the SSW you cant pick out the features of the pool so I went for a better approach from the South. As I came into line I could now identify the pool to make my final approach. Nothing better than the Mk1 eyeball. Got the Gib down as secured it so I could open up the anchor locker. Speed pulled back to 2 knts. I put on my depth sounder(Not done that for a long time). Set the alarm for 15 feet. This should give me enough depth for the boat to swing and cover for the drop in surface levels. I watched the depth get shallower and at 30 feet slowed to about a 1 knt. I had first been told about Chapmans pool in 1986 but I had never gone in there myself. First time always requires caution. There are many hidden rocks but they are around the peripheral of the pool and you are more likely to go aground before you hit them. Suddenly the Alarm goes off at 15 feet. All Stop. Hook is dropped around 1040 so very good run. Let the boat settle. Everythings seems to be fine.
I start to look around and I notice my position is in line with the last Stone Fishmans Hut and the Knoll on the west side. There was a lot of pool left in front of me but not available for many larger boats. Don't go past the Fishermans Hut!! The wind is fairly light so I leave the Main up to gently flap. I then hoist the Battle Flag. Lunch time. It would appear that you should have T 16 feet further in but it is more to the right of centre as you go in.
After lunch, time to go ashore and do some fossil hunting. I've been to Chapman's on foot from Worth Matravers and walked around the east side but never seen any fossils. So first I scan the beach for a good landing. The surf is crashing on the west side but the east side is full of trippers and rather rocky. So I choose the west side. The long shaft o/board is pulled up a notch to clear rocks and the landing is fine except that when i pull the tender ashore the prop is fouled with Japanese sea weed. Its really tough to brake and will foul enough to stop an outboard.
I follow the beach around to the west and not far from the tender is a large clay rock which has been split open and a lovely ammonite shell has been exposed. I break off some more and another comes to light. But they and the clay are so fragile they will just break up in your hand. Photos are best.
After I examine the cliff face to see where these fossils are. They appear to be in a bed about 10 feet thick and there are hundreds of them. They have all been crushed by the weight of the sediment above them. These clays form part of the lower Jurassic period and must be in the region of 195 million years old as the Portland limestone that sits on the top of St Aldelms finish at 145 million years.
I go as far as I can the the end of the west side and a fisherman is just packing up for the day. No bites!. I sit and rest before returning to Heatwave.
I spoke earlier about the surface crashing but it is very small. However I find it very difficult to launch the tender from a beach without swamping it with water. When the waves hit the flat back of the tender the water slops over the back. So I thought I would try a bow first. First attempt was poor as I couldn't get it off the beach. So I decided to walk it in as far as my wellies would allow. Just about to get in but the gravely sand gave way under me and I'm up to my waste in water. The tender scooped in about 2 inches of water which was a lot over 10 feet by 2.5 feet as I flung myself in. A man and his young daughter were watching me as I struggled to get the tender off shore but at last though very wet I got away. Although wet glad to be back on board.
I get out of my wet clothes and dry off. I do not have another pair of trousers or socks to change into so I use a pair of waterproofs to keep me warm.
Its coming up to 15:30 and I need to get away before 16:00 to go against the foul tide and this will be slow. I pull the Anchor up which is covered in a thick black oozy clay that gets everwhere. Will clean up at Mupe. As the weather was so poor I thought about coming straight home. So as I get out into the stream the speed drops to about 2.3knt and the gecko give an ETA on mooring of 23:30. Thats it can't get back. I wouldn't mind traveling in the dark but there are so many pot buoys in the bay now it would be too hazardous for a single hander. So its Mupe bound which I achieved by 18:00
Chapman Gallery: Click on the Photos and paddle through.
I slowly crawl past the tout and round up to drop the Gib. I go forward and prepare the anchor for a quick drop. The Bay has a few boats already in but a nice space is available closer to the shore. Drop the speed and this time set the depth alarm to 20 feet to give me space. When I drop the Hook I think I am a bit too close to the shore. The water is very clear and you could just make out the bottom. Everything seems settled so I drop the main and secure it. Time for a cuppa.
OVERNIGHT IN MUPE: Click as above.
As I am enjoying my tea amd cigarette a voice calls out "Heatwave". Is it some I know so I surface and there in a rubber tender are two lads. "So what are you guys doing there". "My friends have come over on a post wedding stag do. We have come down from Bristol to party in MUPE bay". They have put up two tents on the beach and have got a fire going along with BBQ and music. I invite the two on board. Their yacht is a classic style of wooden construction and kept in Portland Marina. I apologise for the untidy cockpit as I have just arrived however you are welcome to a beer. One lad declines the beer as he is drinking out of a plastic bottle and starting to show a 'worse for ware' status. This is not the way to act safely on the water. We chat about the EU ref and it is interesting to hear a younger person's view. I explain mine. The one that is a bit worse for ware gets board but the younger one is interesting and wants to stay longer. He works as a video camera man for advertising and travels around EU so he wants to stay in. Now the older one comes back in the tender to get the lad left with me as they have to eat. Something then happens and the guy in the tender seems to be deliberately going to ram Heatwave. This looks bad and very dangerous. He has lost control. The tender is now speeding to a head on broad side collision with throttle wide open and the guy is looking for the stop switch but it's too late. I wait to hear the smash and cracking of GDP but silence. The rubber tender absorbed the impact but I was expecting the guy to be flung forward against the hull but he manage to stop himself. He was lucky. Finally he found the kill switch and got the tender under control. I do hope he realizes the stupidity of getting into a boat whilst intoxicated. The other lad climbs into the tender and despite protests takes control of the tender and they get back safely to shore. When they have gone I start to tidy up the boat. I realize I have far too much junk on board and l must review it and write down where everything is and restore according to need. Boat is now tidy and I decide to try out my steak burgers. In the safety of MUPE I cook them up in my new pan. They taste so good after I slipped them into some French bread. Time for bed.
THE RETURN HOME:
Up early on Sunday. Plan to leave about 10:30 so the Tide won't be foul. Refueled last night so only need about half an hour to make ready for sea. Today weather is due to break down but not until late afternoon. At 09:30 put radio to see if I can get a quick update. Luckily I got one. Rain,coastal fog spreading from West by late morning. I check gecko and up date it for waypoints to Harbour and Mooring.
I immediately get boat under way. Wind is from West so leave down sails and will motor back. Grey clouds in distance and progress painfully slow against tide. However as I go the S.O.G steadily starts to increase. Kept resisting the urge to pack sails away on rout to save time as sea was lumpy and too risky. About 4 NM off entrance I see a white cloud develop above Portland but then dissipates. Clouds are getting darker. I am going to get wet. I have a word with the big man up there to keep me dry. 0.9Nm to Harbour entrance. Chesil bank is now obscured. Throttle back to 2knts and get sail cover over Main. Adjust autohelm to take me through the Harbour entrance. Once clear I go forward to wrap up Gib Sail. The racing dinghies are clear to starboard. Vis now down to 0.5Nm. I look over to my rear starboard qtr and see to my horror the dinghies have lined up and rushing to the start line. They are on a course closing on me. The safety boats don't seem worried. The dinghies are fast and I am on engine. Need to get back to cock PDQ. I get there in time to swing Heatwave through 180 and wait for them to pass. I then follower them up the course. I know they will go around the top mark and come back North so they will not cross my course again.
I am very wet now even with my waterproofs on but the sails are stowed so all I need is a good pick up. Vis improving and catch the buoy on first pass. Secure.
I immediately get boat under way. Wind is from West so leave down sails and will motor back. Grey clouds in distance and progress painfully slow against tide. However as I go the S.O.G steadily starts to increase. Kept resisting the urge to pack sails away on rout to save time as sea was lumpy and too risky. About 4 NM off entrance I see a white cloud develop above Portland but then dissipates. Clouds are getting darker. I am going to get wet. I have a word with the big man up there to keep me dry. 0.9Nm to Harbour entrance. Chesil bank is now obscured. Throttle back to 2knts and get sail cover over Main. Adjust autohelm to take me through the Harbour entrance. Once clear I go forward to wrap up Gib Sail. The racing dinghies are clear to starboard. Vis now down to 0.5Nm. I look over to my rear starboard qtr and see to my horror the dinghies have lined up and rushing to the start line. They are on a course closing on me. The safety boats don't seem worried. The dinghies are fast and I am on engine. Need to get back to cock PDQ. I get there in time to swing Heatwave through 180 and wait for them to pass. I then follower them up the course. I know they will go around the top mark and come back North so they will not cross my course again.
I am very wet now even with my waterproofs on but the sails are stowed so all I need is a good pick up. Vis improving and catch the buoy on first pass. Secure.