I'm more of an Armchair Sailor these days, but believe me, I have hundreds of hours of cruising as Skipper under my belt, both day and night with some legs over a hundred miles.
Sailing can be a time consuming and pocket draining business, so much so, that is the reason I haven't taken an Ocean or Instructors ticket, I never found the time to do the qualifying passage of 1000 miles as Skipper.
My Boat "Nonaim" Jaguar 25’
 |
| With Sue, the girls were about to play on the beach |
I bought "Nonaim" in August 1985, from Keith Tiffany; he had found her in a ‘sad state’ and worked hard to bring her back to her former glory.
My wife Sue, Myself and my Daughters, Sally and Lisa, were at Emsworth Marina, looking at far smaller Boats.
We passed ‘Nonaim’ on the way and we all stopped to admire her, it was as if it were meant to be, Keith was on the pontoon tidying up, and said "she’s for Sale, want to look her over".
I said that She’d probably be far too expensive for me, and that I was looking for a 22 footer,
"She’s a real bargain", said Keith "Come aboard", I was curious so we did.
His Family were also aboard and were not expecting anyone, we all chatted about the boat, they obviously loved "Nonaim" and would be sad to loose her. But they were about to get a bigger boat.
Keith explained he was buying a 'Konsort' and would let "Nonaim" go for £7500, I gasped, this was a lot of Boat for that Sum, but it was still beyond my price range.
But Keith, at the time, being the Financial Director of ‘The Body Shop’, explained ways of raising the money, it was easier than I thought, but I was still a little nervous as I had just taken on a new Mortgage, for my House and was buying a Car, double glazing etc.
But they took us for a ‘Sail’ around Chichester Harbour that evening, it did the trick, Sue, the Girls and I discussed the pro’s and con’s on the way home that night, there was no doubt, If we were going to have a Yacht, it must be "Nonaim".
We had "Nonaim" for seven wonderful years, then recession started to set in and affect me badly, so sadly 'Nonaim' had to go. My Daughters are now in thier Thirties and have families of thier own.
Sue prefers quiet weekends at home, but it has'nt stopped me sailing; from time to time I will Charter a Boat and take few friends to Sea.
Below is an old text of a Sailing plan from Jupiter Point (Plymouth) to Penzance, I did back in 1995 taking some work friends on a weeks break, I chartered the 'Hawk of Lyner' from the RNSA for this trip.
Sailing Plan
Hawk
(a sailing plan of my 1995
Cruise, a Charter of "Hawk of Lynher" from The RNSA)
On arrival at Plymouth top priority will be to get an up to date weather report. Tide on the 29th July 1995 will be at low water at 1400, when we take over the boat, "Hawk of Lynher".
Decisions of destinations will be based on favourable tidal streams, wind direction and strength i.e. force 3 to 5 with wind for'ard of the beam on intended course. (SW winds will mean wind over tide Conditions going west) It would be best make plans for downwind destinations (above force 5, wind aft of the beam),
This gives the following options: -
1) DECISION WEST, Sail immediately after settling onboard 'Hawk of Lynher', and get used to her handling, down Harbour and in Plymouth Sound, making prior Berthing Arrangements (VHF) at Mayflower or Sutton Marina's to stop overnight, then sail 1030 Sunday morning.
2) Should the wind and weather be exceptionally in our favour, i.e. wind in N, E or S force 3 to 5, with a good weather window of 2 days minimum, then we could sail around 2200 Saturday night. But this will depend on whether I am tired after a long day, as night watches will be required, and my crew has little experience.
3) DECISION EAST, the tidal atlases for this area give us little time to do much, except again do some late afternoon sailing around the sound, though it could be possible to continue on to yealmton to wait for the east going tide.
Hopefully (Weather permitting) we will sail west, bound for the Falmouth/Helford area, then on to Penzance, updating plans as we go (Anchorages etc. if need arises).
I have determined some Waypoints that will allow us to call at other ports should conditions deteriorate.
The first of these being 1.4nm SE of Rame Head allowing a decision for a long sail to Falmouth or a shorter sail to Fowey if the decision is Fowey, then another waypoint will allow us to change to Looe or Polperro.
WAYPOINT 1: 50 21.02N 4 9.57W
This will be at the small boat channel buoys at Drakes Island (Check GPS)
WAYPOINT 2: 50 17.77N 4 11.64W
At the 26-meter line 1.4nm SE of Rame Head (Light 330(M)), for use as a turn Point for Fowey or Helford
a) 281(M) for Fowey 17.5nm
b) 258(M) for Helford 35.0nm
WAYPOINT 3: 50 18.35N 4 21.44W
At this point we have four options continue on course for Fowey or to change for Mevagissey, Looe or Polperro.
a) 280(M) for Fowey 11nm
b) 268(M) for Mevagissey 16.3nm
b) 289(M) for Polperro 6.1nm
c) 314(M) for Looe 4.25nm
WAYPOINT 4: 50 7.32N 5 1.40W
At this point we have the option of a short trip to Falmouth or continuing on to the Helford River.
a) 003(M) for Falmouth 1.4nm
b) 245(M) for Helford 3.1nm
Entrance Locations (West)
Plymouth
(See waypoint 1 and 2)
Looe
50 20.91N 4 26.96W
Polperro
50 19.73N 4 80.77W
Fowey
50 19.05N 4 38.65W(turn 014(M) 0.5nm)
Mevagissey
50 16.12N 4 46.76W
Falmouth
50 8.70N 5 1.50W
Helford River
50 5.70N 5 5.53W
Waypoints Heading East
WAYPOINT 5: 50 18.99N 4 9.79W
This is the waypoint just outside Plymouth Sound, turning on to Course 122(M) takes us SE along the Coast with the following options: -
a) For Yealmton, 122(M) 2.7nm to Waypoint 6
b) For Salcombe, 122(M) 16.5nm to Waypoint 7
c) For Start Point, 122(M) 20.5nm to Waypoint 8
WAYPOINT 6: 50 17.78N 4 5.97W
a) For Yealmton turn to 055(M) 1.25nm
b) For Salcombe, 122(M) 13.8nm to Waypoint 7
c) For Start Point, 122(M) 17.8nm to Waypoint 8
WAYPOINT 7: 50 11.72N 3 46.54W
a) For Salcombe turn to 007(M) 1.85nm
b) For Start Point, 122(M) 4nm to Waypoint 8
WAYPOINT 8: 50 9.99N 3 41.09W
Turn to 063(M) for 9.5nm possibly altering course to clear 'Race' to Waypoint 9
WAYPOINT 9: 50 14.92N 3 29.00W
a) For Dartmouth turn to 338(M) 6.2nm
b) For Torbay turn to 014(M) 9.5nm to Waypoint 10
WAYPOINT 10: 50 24.32N 3 26.89 turn to 330(M) into Torbay
Entrance Locations (East)
Plymouth
See Waypoint 5
Yealmton
50 17.78N 4 5.97W
Salcombe
50 11.72N 3 46.54W
Dartmouth
50 20.32N 3 33.60W
Torbay
50 24.32N 3 26.89W.
Both East and West plans were fine and thanks to reasonable weather we were able to Sail West. Sailing overnight as well, it took about 3 days to get to Penzance via Falmouth, then returned via, River Helford and Fowey. The final leg to Plymouth got rather rough with force eights gusting nine at times, but the 'Hawk of Lynher' reefed right down managed it well. We had some exciting Sailing, but while monitoring Channel 16, there were some pretty frightened people out there talking with Coastguard.
How to Sail a cruising Yacht
I've written a short book on the subject which I'll shortly publish here in pdf format
