Little Hogs adventures continue and I suppose I am going to have to follow Lopuds lead and generate some photographic evidence. Some great shots on his you tube link.
Anyway I hope you enjoy our trip reports and please read on.
We were launched by David B, Thanks, effortlessly, we are getting better as we launched without the need to moor on the jetty. We set of down the Lune with a predicted weather of 13mph winds, for what we thought was going to be a good sail and hopefully enough time to get to see Blackpool Tower up close and personal. Yet this trip like the ones before was to become an epic in an 18footer.
As we progressed up the Channel we pretended to race the other yachts and concentrate on the give way and stand on vessels as we went. Tacking between the other yachts was fun and scary at the same time especially when taking the stand on vessel and asserting our intended line. As we approached the E7 Starboard Buoy it was clear the wind was stronger than anticipated but we pushed on and then met the big waves over the sandbar, which broke over the front of Little Hog give us a soaking, it was the first but would not be the last. We had to use our oilies for real, even had the fluorescent hoods up and they worked well plus we must have looked good.
We were soon at Lune 1 and then change course up the Channel passing Fleetwood in great time. We were soon in sight of Blackpool Tower. We could also see the racing yachts, they do move fast. We then noticed a dark evil looking cloud filling the sky and at lower levels filled the air with rain, it also increased the wind speeds, from the other report 24knts. We tried to tack but we had not got enough forward speed and hit the irons which turned Little Hog and as we came round back into wind the fishing lines wrapped around the out board. Realising my predicament we moved out of the navigation channel dropped the anchor in 5 meters of water, dropped the main and furled the Genoa. Pulled up the outboard from its well and began to remove the tangled mess from the prop. We were bounced all over and apparently we were anchored in Shell Wharf not a great place to be with the lumpy seas. Then as if things could not go any worse the skies opened the rain came and visibility dropped. As I cleared the mess with full concentration I suddenly started to feel sea sick. Engine cleared and replaced I went below to get my head down ten mins and shelter from the deluge of rain but this did not work either , I was sick, a first for me, and I had still had seven hours to wait before high tide.
After a moment of o’my god what am I doing here I composed my self and thought as the skies were now clearing we would head back to the Lune with just the genoa. This was a moment of inspiration for us. With in half an hour the skies turn blue, the sun came out I was feeling a whole lot better. In fact we were enjoying ourselves again. With genoa up we were still sailing over ground at 4.5knots against the tide and tacking was so much easier.
At about 4 hrs before high water we started up the Lune Channel but at the first Port Can I could see that waves were still breaking on the sand bank so made a hasty retreat back to Lune 1 and then to Fleetwood and return. By this time the breaking waves had disappeared and we progress down the channel all the way to E7 Starboard Can. We tucked in directly behind the buoy and anchored. The tide was moving at about 2knts and we had no waves when we anchored but I knew it would not be long before they started to build. So we put on our tea, Meat Free Bolognaise & Egg Noodles to great amusement of James my youngest lad. Feeling allot better and was fed. The waves began to build and it was time to pull the anchor, it took two of us.
Progressed back to Glasson moored on Buoy near GSC, Cleaned up and prepared for recovery. This went extremely for the second time after all our disasters, but we have taken on board all your help and ideas. Thanks Derek for the recovery. We had drinks in the Bar and told our story and received more advice plus we celebrated the recent marriage of Hazel & Jim, well done and we wish you well.
Conclusion
The weather reports are garbage they are never right in Morecombe Bay, the wind and swell were amazing and mother nature has my total respect, racing yachts look great with dark skies behind them, never concentrate on an activity that requires close scrutiny with out regular breaks, Little Hog is exactly as they said on the tin, reliable and dependable in lumpy waters and a good blow, we were never scared on the sea just other boats.
We will return to attempt seeing Blackpool Tower again and hopefully we will have fair weather and be able to wear t shirts and shorts at some point? Or is that the mythical dream in Morecombe Bay????????
. Shorts and t-shirts are usually the gear to wear during the week when we are working, wind and rain only happens weekends and bank holidays.