Going Going ...

Chichester is a huge natural and normally protected harbour but with a big spring tide and a westerly gale howling across the harbour the moorings were taking a pounding.

This dinghy was gradually filling and by the time we passed on our way back to the car it had disappeared.

This one had already sunk, just about held up by the closed buoyancy.

Valentine

So where else would your love one take you for a romantic valentine's day lunch but a restaurant in a boat yard?

I booked a half day off work to take Erica out for lunch and she booked the Ferry Restaurant which is located on the Old Floating Bridge Ferry in the Elephant Boatyard.

Our stormy weather brought another howling gale through in the morning, so we arrived in pouring rain to find that we were the only people brave enough to venture out for lunch. No matter, we were looked after royally and the food was excellent, so good that we struggled to drag our selves away in time to collect Joseph from school.

If not exactly a hot date, more of a wet and rainy one, we talked about all the things we've done in the past 19 years together, enjoyed the food and the attention and each other.

Good food, interesting old boats and the one you love, doesn't get much better.

Breezy Weekend

If not quite the hurricane force winds which were being predicted in the media, it's been a bit of a breezy weekend, most of Saturday afternoon it's been blowing at an average of over 40 knots with gusts over well into the 50's.

The recordings above are from Hurst Castle wind data for Saturday, which is one of the more exposed points in the Solent, forecast winds along much of the south and south west coast were similar, fortunately we're on a neap tide with lower, high water levels than a week ago if that makes sense, but I'm sure it's been a challenging day at some of the more open and exposed places along the coast.  

Overnight the winds have been stronger, with gusts in the high 60's and touching 70. The average sustained wind speeds between 40 and 50 knots makes this gale force 9 possibly 10  

Model Sailors

What could be nicer on a clear and sunny winter's day than going sailing, the problem is that the good weather is brought about by high pressure and a lack of wind. Down at Emsworth members of the Slipper Sailing Club have just the answer with a fleet of radio controlled model yachts.

Sailing often takes place on the mill pond right outside the club house, but these boats were sailing out in the main channel off the town pontoon.

Most were 1 meter class they are feather light but even so catching the tiny zephyrs and making way against the ebb tide was a challenge at times.

Haul Out

While our roving reporter (Mrs BB) was out and about she spotted this classic yacht being hauled out at a local yard.

Knowing my interest in such things she took a few pictures and had a chat with the owner. The boat is apparently a Heatherington Smyth design, built in Flushing in Cornwall, she didn’t get the date but my guess would be 1960’s or early 70's.

The boat has been Portsmouth based for many years before moving to Hamble where she was laying on an exposed mooring during the recent storms and sustained some damage to the rail. When I was passing through the yard at the weekend she was ashore and propped up ready for work. Hopefully the damage is only superficial and we will see her back in the water soon.

The Shingles

The waters of the Solent are generally regarded as safe and sheltered, but in the western approach the Shingles Bank should not be underestimated nor taken lightly. Running parallel to the coast of the Isle of Wight the Shingles form the northern boundary of the needles channel between Hurst Castle and the open water beyond the famous Needle rocks.

The channel is wide, but facing south west the direction of the prevailing winds it can become very treacherous in strong winds and gales. As the Solent empties on the west going tide, some really nasty wind over tide standing waves are set up on The Bridge which really have to be experience to be believed. I recall Angelina our 16 ton cutter literally being thrown around unmercifully when we miss timed our departure with a bit of a sea running. Perhaps the most dangerous conditions are inward bound with a following sea and wind. Some years ago a yacht was capsized and thrown up on the Shingles by a following sea which had built up in the shallow and narrow channel.

Normally the Shingles can only be seen at low water springs, but with the recent gales the shifting shingle banks have piled up and where clearly visible. Local kayak blogger Paddles with an Anas acuta took the opportunity of settled weather to land on the exposed banks which must have been a great and rare experience.

Roving Reporter

Work has been full on (again, when did it stop) since the start of the year, which finds me in central London most days and nice as that is keeping up with things local has been difficult. Fortunately the Bursledon Blog's roving reporter (AKA Erica - Mrs BB) was out and about early on a spectacular morning to record the scene.

The sun was out early causing mists to swirl above the saltings across the somewhat oddly names Bunny Meadow

It's a great habitat for local wildlife, cut off as it is from the river and surrounding woodlands, oak trees seem to grow like weeds along the banks of our tidal rivers, these two (above) perhaps are the exception, bit too close to HW mark.

Two local residents taking in the scene and enjoying the winter sun and the respite from all the rain we've had recently.

Now if she could just row down, check the mooring and maybe give the bilge a quick pump out.....