Brixham to Portland

Hi everyone,

On Wednesday we sailed from Brixham to Portland.  It was a 52m sail in varying conditions.  We had the tidal current with us until the Portland Race when it turned against us.

Chesil Bank shingle

Here are the track and graphs...

Zen  Again Track

Zen Again Graphs

The sail started in light WSW winds as we broad-reached SE from Brixham.  More wind came in from the SW and we gybed east.  The wind gradually built to about 20 knots, gusting 25.  Dolphins escorted us for short periods several times during the day.  The WindPilot did a great job steering Zen Again in quite difficult conditions with multiple wave trains.

WindPilot in action

We reached Portland Race about an hour after the tide turned against us.  We went around the race and west of the Shambles shallows with about 1 knot against us.  The seas were about 1.5m and quite steep but only a few breaking heavily.  Zen Again took them in her stride under double-reefed (trisail size) main and double-furled yankee.

Portland Ahead

Approaching Eastern Entrance to Portland Harbour

For two nights we anchored in the SW corner of the harbour.  This put us close to the Royal Navy base and the National Sailing Academy.  The former houses Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and is also used for naval helicopter training.  Twas fun to watch Merlins and Sea Kings doing circuits, including in some nasty weather.  The latter is a very busy place with lots of high performance dinghies, including many foilers.  Fun to watch too.

Portland Harbour sunset over Chesil Bank

On Thursday we moved to the NW corner of the harbour since the wind was moving around to the North.  This put us close to beaches where we could land the tender and access nearby shops and walks.

Early Morning Zen Again

On Friday we went ashore for the morning.  We walked south along the Rodwell Trail (part of the SW Coastal Path) to Chesil Bank.  The bank is amazing, with interesting wetlands behind it and surf roaring on the shingle on the seaward side.

Wetlands 'behind' Chesil Bank

Chesil Beach

We walked back via the Tesco supermarket in Wyke Regis.  By then thunderstorms were starting to build upwind so we headed back to the boat for the show.  As the afternoon progressed the thunderstorms built up amazing cloudscapes which reminded us of our time in Darwin.

Thunderstorms growing

Thunderstorm approaching

It was our turn to get wet around 1700.  We saw the rain coming across the water.  When it hit we realised it included hail stones up to about 8mm in diameter.  Nic caught several in her G&T.

Rain incoming!

Rain and Hail

We'll be staying in the Portland and Weymouth area for a few more days.

Trust all's well where you are!

River Dart to Brixham

Hi everyone,

Last Sunday we sailed from the River Dart to Brixham, or more accurately Fishcombe Cove.  On Monday we moved into Brixham Marina.

Entering Brixham Marina

Here are the track and graphs...

Zen Again Track

Zen  Again Graphs

The trip was only 4nm 'as the crow flies' but it was 11nm by sail.  We had a great sail in a 8-15 knot W wind.  The reach north to Berry Head was godd and the short beat to Fishcombe Cove was even better.  Zen Again loved the real sailing breeze after so many light airs passages.

Departing the Dart

Sailing towards Berry Head

Passing Brixham Harbour breakwater

Fishcombe Cove is just outside the Brixham Harbour boundary and anchoring there is free.  However it is open to the west which didn't suit the incoming bad weather.  We stayed there Sunday night and it's a nice anchorage while there's south in the wind.

At anchor off Fishcombe Cove

View into Fishcombe Cove

On Monday we moved into the marina to escape incoming bad weather, to do our laundry, and to have our first showers for a month!  We were glad to be inside the harbour as the bad weather came through.

From the marina we walked to Berry Head which has marvellous views along the coast.  From there we walked into Brixham which is a pretty town while also being a working fishing port.  The latter prevents it feeling like a tourist town despite there being plenty of them!  We had a good pub meal at an 'eat out to help out' price (that's a UK government program to encourage people out following Covid-19 shutdown).

In the afternoon we did the laundry - several weeks worth.  While attending to that we chatted with the crew of sv Cygnet who had also sailed around from Dittisham.  We also met the crew of sv Cadoha.  They're a young couple (and Hank their dog) who have bought a boat and are embarking on cruising adventures.  Good on 'em!  They have an impressive YouTube channel 'Sailing Cadoha'.

Brixham Marina

On Tuesday we explored Brixham a little more before having a long, lazy, very tasty and discounted lunch at Rockfish restaurant.  Rockfish is located above the new fish markets and overlooks the fishing boat harbour.  Very nice spot.

Salcombe to River Dart

Hi everyone,

On Tuesday (18th) we departed Salcombe for Dartmouth.  We ended up sharing a mooring upriver at Dittisham, rafted alongside sv Cygnet from Langstone.

Greenway opposite Dittisham - home of the Raleighs and Agatha Christie

Here are the track and graphs...

Zen Again Track

Zen Again Track Detail

Zen Again Graphs

We had a very nice sail.  The winds were light but sufficient to keep us moving nicely.  We also had assistance from the tide.

Departing Salcombe

Entering the Dart

One of the fortifications guarding the Dart River mouth

Kingwear on the E side of the Dart

Noss on Dart Premier Marina

Rafted up on a visitor's mooring alongside the lovely Frers yacht 'Cygnet'

We stayed put aboard Zen Again on Wednesday as bad weather came through.  We collected 50 litres of rain water on Tuesday night.

Collecting from the raincatcher

On Thursday we rowed ashore and walked the Dart Valley Trail into Dartmouth.  Some of the hills are pretty steep, but with views making the climb worthwhile.

Dittisham jetty at low tide

View downhill towards the Dittisham jetty

On the Dart Valley Trail into Dartmouth

Another part of the Dart Valley Trail

In Dartmouth we had a good walk around the town's centre before deciding to lunch at the Royal Castle Hotel.  Very nice lunch indeed.

Dartmouth town square

Dartmouth 'Boat Float', where they don't at low water, with Royal Castle Hotel in background

Excellent lunch at the Royal Castle Hotel

After lunch we took the ferry back to Dittisham.  Twas very nice exploring Dartmouth, as we did 20 years ago with my Uncle Ian.

Dittisham FBI (Ferry Boat Inn) - pretty in pink

Thursday night was very windy with heavy gusts.  Cygnet and Zen Again were spinning on our mooring in tidal eddies and wind gusts blasting up the river.  On Friday afternoon we had lunch ashore at the FBI, a very nice pub adjacent to the town jetty.

On Saturday we had an excellent lunch at the Anchorstone restaurant in Dittisham.

If you're visiting Dartmouth by yacht we'd highly recommend going up river to Dittisham!

Yealm River to Salcombe

 Hi everyone,

We've had limited internet access for a while so here's the first post catching up on our recent travels.  On Friday 14th we sailed from the Yealm River to Salcombe.  Twas a grey day with misty rain.

Here are our track and graphs...

Zen Again Track

Zen Again Graphs

We managed to sail for the first half of the passage.  The track shows we were gybing downwind.  Sadly the wind died and we motored quietly into Salcombe.

Misty sailing

For two nights we stayed on a visitor mooring near town.  This allowed us to get into town easily and also watch the comings and goings.  We could also watch the dinghy racing which started and finished on a line 100m upstream.

Dinghy racing in the Salcombe Ria

Friendly seal

We spent most of one day ashore.  We had a good walk around the town, stocked up on some provisions, and had lunch at the Salcombe Yacht Club.

Zen Again on visitor mooring in the Ria

We'd had enough of the powerboat wash after two nights so motored upriver to find a more peaceful location.  We anchored off Halwell Point, at the mouth of Frogmore Creek and spent two nights there.

Passing Salcombe on our way upriver

Quiet anchorage upriver

Foggy morning upriver

Peaceful morning after the fog

We enjoyed our visit to Salcombe and recommend the upriver anchorage - a very nice spot.