Sailing report 29th June -3nd July 2023  Ocean Flame IV  (OF)

Skipper Phil Steele  , acting skipper Geoff Norwood  and Sue Fowle  , and from GSA Aiden Hobbs, Johnathan Cavan, and Nathan Cavan on Ocean Flame, a Bavaria 36 berthed at Shamrock Quay Southampton.

After arrival at the marina late afternoon Geoff and Phil checked over the boat and carried out necessary paperwork before tea and a skipper’s brief which included handing over to Geoff for his passage plan and weather. Geoff’s plan was to sail to Lymington the next day (Friday) and to come out early Saturday to see the start of the IOW Round the Island race. This was to be followed weather permitting to sail to Northney and return Sunday to Shamrock. Marina berths were booked ahead of the trip. That evening we had a meal on board which proved timely and easy even though it was not raining.

The next day we departed Shamrock Quay with an easy exit by walking the boat backwards off the berth, and headed down Southampton Water with a reef in the main and full genoa on close reach F4 SW, but as we progressed the genoa required reefing also. There was not much traffic as we reached the Solent but the wind increased further and became a bit choppy and more reefing. We plugged on making little progress as the tide turned which is pretty well standard for the Solent. By this time the crew were getting a bit tired, chilled and some of the crew a bit seasick. Before long we headed under engine across to Newtown Creek and crept along the lee coast of the IOW towards Yarmouth finally taking a course back across to Lymington entrance. Dropping sails we progressed up to the town quay for a late lunch of hot pasties. The exhausted crew had a little nap before awakening for après sleep drinks before departing to the Ship Inn having missed most of the heavy rain. Point of interest for those who have not been to Lymington for a while, there are pontoons for berthing on the town quay.

Saturday was race day so it was an early start returning to Lymington entrance about 8:00 then sailing on the mainland side in a F4 SW with calmer seas running on genoa only. We could see the race leaders very soon approaching Yarmouth with more than a thousand boats following stretching up to Egypt Point. We progressed to Cowes at a speed that ensured the fleet had passed. The weather and sea picked up so we considered dropping anchor for lunch at Osborne Bay because we would arrive at Northney a bit early to cross the bar safely. It looked a bit exposed wind going NW so off to an anchorage outside Bembridge for a leisurely lunch. We had anchored shallow and after a while needed to move as a potential 0.8m under the keel was not in our comfort zone, this was a piece of cake with OF having an electric windlass. As no surprise the racing fleet could be seen returning giving us a grandstand view. The radio was alive all day with Maydays of dismastings, a catamaran capsized and a helicopter recovery of an injured crew member.

Before long the smaller yachts approached and with their shallower draft the fleet was all around us and other anchored vessels so we raised the anchor and made for Northney a little early with the need to stooge around outside. We entered over the bar in strong westerly winds (F6) with sails down increasing F7 causing OF to heel without sails. On reaching Northney Marina for a possible hairy berthing we found the marina was very sheltered and berthed easily. Now it was time for après sail and a meal on board.

Next morning, we departed with less rush and enjoyed the trip down to the bar observing a variety of birds and 12 seals, including pups, basking on the marsh land. On reaching the bar we were greeted by an international Laser dinghy race (looked to be about 100) with boats sailing over the bar to their start line. Although the wind was F4-5 with mod seas we sailed back to Shamrock Quay under genoa only as like many yachts OF sailed to wind well without the main. On arriving in the Itchen, we found that the fuel berth in Itchen marina was closed and could not top up the tank, the other option did not exist either at Kemps, we had to come to an arrangement with the next skipper. The tidal flow and wind blowing us off the berth and a current required a crew ashore on the outside pontoon to walk to the berth, whilst stopping short on the berth because of the obstructing pylon supporting pontoon, a perfectly executed berthing ensued with a short walking of OF4 forward. The later than planned return due to looking for fuel meant that a training session of bumps and scrapes was missed but a promise that next time an opportunity would be generated.

Finally, a point of interest re safety, the raw water filter was partly blocked by green slime and had to be cleaned each day, this slime was present in the water sprayed on the decks making it very slippery for anyone going forward underway. Thank goodness for the safety lines because feet or hands did not grip the gel goat.

Secretary’s note: After this trip as acting skipper, Geoff Norwood was successful in his assessment as a GSA skipper the following month. Having skippered this trip very satisfactorily with Phil, and obtaining his Yachtmaster Coastal in May, Geoff has also become a BSA Authorised Skipper.