During the first day of June 2010 I set sail in 'Equinox' my 24ft 6' Cornish Crabber from Chichester Marina and headed West down the Solent on a once in a lifetime adventure. Three and a half months later I completed my challenge; having sailed solo around the entire UK; visiting the Scillies, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the Hebrides; going with huge trepidation over the top via Cape Wrath - the 'big right turn', before the next 'big right turn' heading south, at John o'Groats. This blog is my diary, written most evenings as I took stock of the day's progress; often with a huge lump of Cheddar cheese in hand and a pint of Speckled Hen to keep it company. Sometimes I was almost in tears; tiredness and frustration having taken its toll. Other nights exhuberant after breathtakingly beautiful passages along our stunning coastline with favourable following winds. It describes the ups and downs; the tears and laughter; the extraordinary kindness shown by complete strangers who offered a tired sailor in their midst refuge, solace, warmth and company; their generosity often humbling. My hormones were, I'm sure, in a mess making me perhaps rather vulnerble; as just six months earlier I'd endured the surgical removal of a cancerous prostate gland; laprascopically - a six hour procedure that left me physically weaker than before. You can read the background to the illness and the reasons for the challenge - to raise awareness of this terribe disease; that could have so easily have killed me elsewhere on this blog.

I am indebted to many; and recorded their names elsewhere; but as I reflect on the voyage many months later, I have not fully sung the praise of Cornish Crabbers, the builders of my sturdy little yacht and Roger Dongray the yacht's brilliant designer who drew upon a hull shape that had developed over hundreds of years by men who worked and fished at sea and whose very life depended on their vessel's seaworthiness. It's long keel, sail configuration and weight distribution in seemingly monsterous seas; quite incredible for a yacht so small. A Crabber 24 is not the swiftest yacht to be had for her size, for sure. But what she lacks in that respect she makes up for by her abilty to take heavy weather and harsh conditions in her stride. Built solidly without compromise, Equinox delivered me safely home after a voyage of well over 2500 miles in some of the most hostile and dangerously tidal waters you can find anywhere in Europe. In Wales, for example, the RNLI were phoned by an experienced commercial fisherman watching Equinox from his harbourside office; reporting to them, that a yacht was struggling in heavy seas and a F7 a mile outside the harbour entrance. By the time the lifeboat had been launched, I was tucked up in Aberystwyth marina; a little bruised and battered it has to be said, but safe and sound; I never even saw the lifeboat!

I've recently set up the blog so that readers can cover numerous diary entries in one go. To access earlier diary entries just click on the link 'Older Posts' at the foot of each page. Only a few clicks are needed to get to the entries at the beginning of the voyage and my preparation beforehand.

I hope you enjoy reading it; and if you do, or have done, please be kind enough to leave me a message. For which, in anticipation, I thank you.
The voyage also raised over £10,000 for the Prostate Cancer Charity - not my main goal but those who donated on my 'Just Giving ' page made a huge contribution too; as I was notified by email of each donation as it was made; each raising my spirits immeasurably. My main goal was to encourage 2500 men to get PSA tested - one for each mile sailed; and I beleive that goal was achieved too. And finally, I would also like to thank the growing number of men who have, both during and after the voyage ended, taken a PSA test, as a result of the publicty the voyage attracted; been diagnosed with the disease and taken the time and trouble to email me.

Thursday, 26 August 2010

Ballycastle - Antrim - NI - August 26th

I finally managed to get my thunderous head together and made my way up to the facilities block and had a scorcher of a shower, looking, it has to be said, rather worse for wear! Once scrubbed, I paid my dues, having first topped up the water tank and cast off at 10:45, motoring past some huge salmon cages before the promised Northerly wind had found its way into the bay. Finally a zephyr from the North made a stab at giving the engine a helping hand.
   For the next five hours, with the tide doing nearly all the work, I sailed or rather drifted past the most beautiful coast I think I’ve ever seen. Antrim is simply stunning; particularly so on this sunny but chilly day. Sailing a couple of hundred meters from the shore in 70 meters of water is an odd sensation; and one I find hard to come to terms with. So deep were some stretches of the passage, that my depth gauge gave up and started offering me silly shallow readings! The first couple of times this happens, there’s a mad dash to the chart table to see if you’ve missed something; but once you’ve checked you’re still in 150+ meters of water you relax, just a little!
   Passing Cushendun Bay then finally Torr Head the wind finally found another gear (12Knots )and we had a spectacular sail into Church Bay on Rathlin Island at 8-9 knots SOG, before turning South and dashing back across the race back into Ballycastle Bay, paying a stiff penalty for doing so, by being carried too far West by the tide. But it was worth it, as we scudded back into the calm bay and sailed to within a mile of the tightly packed marina, located at the far end of the bay, before dropping sails. Once moored to berth 9 on ‘C’ pontoon and connected to shore power, I headed off to the harbour office to make introductions. Kindly they have waived their fees, so the Charity will benefit by the same amount. Codes given, I wandered around town and checked out the shops that tomorrow will fill Equinox’s larder and fridge. Not a bad choice and all close to the marina.  
    Back on board and still feeling a little below par, decided a fish supper was in order, I could not help notice the odd whiff of cooking fish waft over the marina and with it my appetite returned. Morton’s fish and chips are a legend. Using lard is part of their secret, but they must have others. The queues speak for themselves and it’s said some regulars drive 100 miles for the experience. Having only just managed to finish a Jumbo Cod and Chips, I can safely say their reputation is well deserved. The batter so crisp it defies description.
   Port Ellen on the Scottish island of Islay tomorrow! So its time to bury my head it in tidal flows, Admiralty charts and GPS waypoints to ensure the passage is safe. An initial look leaves me rather perplexed!
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)