Gosport to Gosport #1

Hi everyone,
On Sunday we went for a sail.  Awesome!  We sailed west along the Solent until we could see the Needles then sailed back again.  We had a nice 10-15knot SW breeze and the tide helped us there and helped us back.

Here's our track...

Zen Again Track

Ain't it marvellous what a favourable current can do for your "tacking angles"!

And here are the usual statistics...

• Distances/Speeds

• GPS Distance = 40nm

• Duration = 8 hours

• Average ground speed = 5.0 kt

• Weather

• Minimum wind speed = 8 kt

• Average wind speed = 12 kt

• Maximum wind speed = 16 kt

• Apparent wind angle range = 45 to 170

• Seas up to 0.5m

• Scattered high cloud

• Engine

• Total = 1 hour

• Driving = 1 hour

• Charging = 0 hours

And here are the plots...

Environment Plot 

Performance Plot

The plots are from our NMEA2000 network, YachtDevices Voyage Recorder and python script SaiLog_Plot.  There's something amiss with the Apparent Wind Direction but it shows when we were tacking.  The Speed plot clearly shows the help we got from the tide.

Crossing the Swashway outside Portsmouth

View back to Portsmouth

Initially we had a light SW breeze and set full sail.  We tacked to and fro heading west.  Our new running rigging worked well.  Gradually the wind built and we had 2 furls in the yankee from Cowes to Lymington.

RN Minesweeper

Happy Skipper

Ferry off Cowes

When we were between Yarmouth and Lymington we were running out of tidal assistance.  So it was time to bear away and head home.  By the time we reached Cowes we had a nice current with us.

Needles and Hirst Castle in sight

Running home 

Helpful current off Cowes

The small craft channel into Portsmouth is on the western side of the main channel.  Once through the entrance it's a very short distance to Gosport Premier Marina.

Approaching Portsmouth Harbour entrance

Portsmouth Harbour entrance

It was fantastic to get Zen Again out sailing after nearly two months in the pen.  Over the last week the marina has started to come to life.  We're meeting neighbours who were unable to visit their boats during the full lockdown.  The cafe has re-opened with a take-away service.

Next weekend is a long weekend.  Hopefully we'll be able to get out again!

Coronavirus Lockdown in Gosport

Hi everyone,
We've now been in lockdown here in Gosport Premier Marina since 23rd March.  Happily we secured a live-aboard contract on arrival.  There have been about a dozen boats occupied in a marina of several hundred, with others having no access.  We haven't been able to go sailing during this time.

Showing the flag on ANZAC Day

We've only been out of the marina to go shopping once a week and for exercise once each day.  We're both working from home/boat so are busy during the week.  On weekends we've been getting a lot of boat work done.

YouTube

Our initial project was assembling various video clips into a set of videos on YouTube. Currently we have seven videos covering our sailing before Zen Again, Zen Again's history,  our cruising in SE Asia, our cruise to the UK and our cruising in the UK.

Our YouTube channel is here and there's a link to it on the right hand side of the page.

Boat Work

More substantial boat work has included:

• Replaced main halyard
• Replaced old headsail & staysail running rigging - halyards, sheets & furling lines
• Replaced other old lines including boom vang and mainsail clew outhaul
• Engine service including oil, filters, coolant, impeller & V-belt
• Weekly scrubbing below the waterline using our Scrubbis Hull Cleaning System
• Planning a canvas rain-catcher
• Preparing to purchase WindPilot vane gear

SSB Minder

We updated our SSB Minder system so once again we can define a schedule for the SSB and it wakes us up rather than us having to remember to turn it on & off.  The original SSB Minder supported the Icom IC-M801(E) and IC-M802.  It now supports our new Icom IC-7300.  SSB Minder runs on a small, low-power computer.  The computer runs 24/7 and uses much less power than leaving the SSB on.  The radio is powered-up/down and its frequency, mode, filtering and audio volume set at the correct times each day.


We hear may be able to go sailing soon.  Can't wait for that!

Trust all's well where you are.