A Weekend Sail to Weymouth
14th September
2002 Crew: Martin & Grant
Richmond-Coggan
Friday
Arrived in good time to catch the boat service to Alize on
a wonderful sunny evening with very few people at Ginns Farm. We soon moved onto
the pontoon where we were on our own; the peaceful silence only broken
occasionally by birdcalls. In the dying rays of the evening sunlight we checked
the boat over and stowed our provisions. This weekend had been carefully chosen
to allow us to get to Weymouth with a morning of west going tide and return with
the east going tide in the afternoon the next day. The forecast was for North
easterlies of 3-4 going north on the Sunday, so we fully expected to get there
and back in the weekend. Having made our preparations we retired to the
clubhouse for a few drinks and a fortifying dinner.
Saturday
At 4am we were up and keen to get off in order to catch as
much of the tide as possible. It was a fairly easy trip down to the river
although quite dark as the half moon spelling out Neaps had set. Once passed the
sharp turn in the river to the east there were an amazing number of yachts at
anchor, all carrying the traditional hurricane lamp in the rigging instead of
the usual electric anchor light. We should have realized it was a Cruising Club
Rally.
Clearing
the river took some care as the light at the entrance was still out of
commission but after remembering to pass the inshore port channel marker and
using the millennium light we were soon out into the Solent. Here it was
difficult to find our bearings until we realised that the ominous dark patches
were very localised areas of mist that were quite disorienting, At one stage we
could see Yarmouth and Hurst very clearly but not Lymington amongst many other
lights on the northern coastline.
There was sufficient breeze to get the sails up and we
ghosted down with the tide in the darkness to Hurst only making a couple of
knots through the water but over five over the ground. Unfortunately at Hurst we
had to put the engine on as the wind went dead astern after the slight change of
course; progressing swiftly by 7am dawn had broken and we were off the Needles
in clear daylight. Here we could change course for St Albans Head which was a
more favourable point of sailing, more importantly the wind strengthened,
allowing a brisk sail through some seas that had become moderately rough. After
another two hours we were past Anvil Point making a steady 5 knots under full
sail in 15 kns of wind. Shortly afterwards we took the inshore route to avoid
the race off St Albans Head but found there was hardly any disturbance at all,
only a little to the west in the direction of the tide. Chapmans Pool was just
around the corner providing excellent shelter in a Northerly or easterly; there
was plenty of time so this was an opportunity that was not to be missed.
Hardening up around the rocky headland we kept close inshore until we saw the
little bay a mile to the north, being quite small and surrounded by craggy hills
it was not clear until quite close in. With sails down we motored directly into
the bay with the wind dead ahead 
watching
the depth, which suddenly shoaled past the entrance allowing us to anchor in 3m
of water right in the centre. All alone this was an idyllic spot reminiscent of
Scotland and not at all typical of the South coast; surrounded by rough rocky
hills and a deserted beach it was a quiet, remote spot. The only signs of
habitation was a fisherman’s cottage with a few small open boats outside, that
is until the steady stream of walkers climbing over the hills like ants were
noticed. For over an hour we were on our own in this idyllic spot until we
finally decided to move on to Lulworth for lunch. With a tinge of sadness that
the moment was over the anchor was raised only to find an old lobster pot
impaled on it, fortunately a few swipes with the boathook engaged it an it was
off allowing us to make our departure. Once seemingly clear of the bay the sails
were up and we were off following the coastline westwards. Unfortunately the
small rocky outcrop to the northwest was further out than expected and only the
depth alarm saved us from
some real embarrassment. Once well off shore and clear of any hazards good
progress was made towards Lulworth with the wind now on the starboard beam – a
perfect broad reach in bright sunlight, brisk winds and a moderate sea.
Following the coastline we past Kimmerage Bay with its unusual tower on the
eastern side, then on past the excellent anchorages in Worbarrow bay and on to
the narrow gap in the limestone where we could enter Lulworth Cove just in time
for lunch at 1pm.
The little round bay was quite crowded despite being out of
season, a Sigma 38 that had overtaken us had taken the prime spot so we settled
down to anchor in three metres of water closer to the entrance but still well
protected from the wind. The anchor winch makes life so much easier and is a
real enticement to dropping the hook; anchoring twice in one morning would not
have been a pleasure in any of the other boats we have sailed in!
The Cove had a delightful seaside feel to it even though it
was out of season. The bright sunny day had invited lots of sunbathers and
swimmers, the ice cream shop was doing brisk business and a big Rib had a steady
stream of people wanting a trip around Durdle Door. After a rather civilised
lunch and a glass of wine the tender was
inflated and a quick trip ashore made to revive memories of earlier visits.
Everywhere there are signs of the geological formations that have resulted in
World Heritage site status being granted to this coastline; immediately in front
of us was an amazing cliff with the soft strata exposed reaching out to the hard
limestone of the barrier to the seas progress.
By the time we set out for the last eight miles along the
coast to Weymouth the wind had dropped so we had to motor. In no time we were
passing the RFA Fort George anchored in Weymouth Roads then entering the harbour
itself passing the fishermen on the pier and weaving amongst a small flotilla of
boats going in and out. It seemed unusually busy, and for good reason – it was
Weymouth Festival weekend. Up by the cove every boat was decorated overall,
there was bunting all around, tents and lots of activity.
Despite this we had no difficulty in mooring alongside a
motorboat rafted well out with a splendid view of the proceedings. Against the
background music from several bands there were birdman contests, Gig races and
raft races. The new lifeboat gave demonstrations of 
its
equipment and was the centre of the proceedings, which was only fitting as it
cost over £1m and they were trying to raise as much as possible to support it.
In the evening we had dinner at Perrys, some excellent seafood was on the menu,
which could not be missed. Returning to Alize we were just in time to see the
extensive firework display which marked the end of the evening. A trawler had
moored in the middle of the harbour off the Cove and set off a low level display
which was followed by a second high altitude display set off from The Nothe, all
very impressive and accompanied by many oohs and aahs from the crowd.
Sunday
Slightly apprehensive due the forecast of a NE force 4-5
wind we were anxious to get off on time at 6am. Unfortunately the Sigma we had
seen earlier had moored outside us and although had said they wanted to leave at
first light were a bit slow in departing. Never the less we set off in
reasonable time and motored out into Weymouth bay to find the wind as forecast
on the nose. With a reef in the main and slightly shortened Yankee we made a
steady 4kn across the bay in the general direction of St Albans Head but not
able to make it. Eventually we had the sails as good as we could get them, all
in quite tight, but the best we could manage was 45 degrees off the wind which
was between 15 and 20 Knots. Fortunately the sea was not that rough as it was
blowing off the land, this allowed Alize to maintain a steady, if rather sedate,
progress. After an hour and a half we were off Durdle Door where the Sigma 38
that had delayed its departure by a good half hour sped by, hard on the wind,
much to our disgust. The only consolation was that they had new sails, the main
alone cost £3000 and needed a full crew to manage it.
At
11am we had reached St Albans Head and were struggling through a surprising
amount of rough water close inshore where the passage was meant to be; offshore
it all looked calm! Hard on the wind we retraced our steps past the cliffs
riddled with caves to Anvil Point and the pretty white Lighthouse. Here the grey
sky’s had cleared and once again we were in bright sunshine, which always makes
the most difficult of sails easier to undertake. Reaching Poole Bay the sea
state changed, now there was some real fetch and the seas showed it, becoming
moderately rough. One long tack took us south of Needles fairway in what was now
an increasingly favourable tide; here faced with a headwind all the way up the
channel and anxious to get back in time for the boat service we took the only
option and motored. If only we had good upwind sails!. After several crossing
situations with “Creightons” one of the Chay Blythe round the world yachts we
were passing Alum bay and heading to Hurst in more sheltered water.
A late lunch in the comparative calm and we were going
through the narrows where the water was disturbed due to the tide, now at full
flow. Avoiding the ferries we made our way past the many yachts out for the
weekend back to the entrance of the Beaulieu River, where we passed a few of the
yachts still at anchor. Back at the mooring there was a minor problem, Vagabond,
a neighbouring yacht had taken our place. Fortunately this was soon resolved
with Roy, the boatman’s assistance, by moving her back into her rightful place
allowing us to moor as usual just after 5pm.
The trip back had taken over ten hours and covered 49 miles
through the water against the 41 miles the previous day including several
diversions which took less than eight hours. Overall pretty close to plan and a
very satisfying sail.
