We left our berth at Weymouth at exactly 11.30 BST, Bella's first time at the helm of the new boat whilst I brought in the fenders etc. Not enough wind again for the sails initially but about 1/2 hr out we were out of the lee enough for the north westerly to reach us. Only about 10kts over the deck so about 15 over the water but enough to fill the genoa and with the mizzen enough to improve the motion. Our CTS (course to steer) was 99 and the COG (course over the ground) was averaging about 92 - the tidal set was more than a match for our leeway from the wind. Cloud cover was about 35% and mostly high and thin but in the distance we could see occasional low, heavy rain showers.
We headed for the inshore route around St Aldhem's head with a view to arriving at 13.30 BST but I failed to take account of the range firing. It is not normally a factor for us because we tend to travel at weekends or in the summer when the range is closed. We got as far as Durdle Door, about .75nm off shore when we were intercepted by the range patrol boat. He told us they had just reduced the restricted area to 1.5nm off shore so we headed slightly east of south on 75 for about 1nm.
At 12.50 BST we were able to head east again on 110 for the next 50 mins. At 13.40 St Aldhelm's head bore 15 degrees at a range of about 3nm and we turned further north onto 53 degrees with the tide still pushing us east and heading for Durlston Head. Thus far the tide had improved our SOG by about 2kts.
We could see a big squall following us but always heading in land slightly more quickly than it was heading east. The low cloud and rain could be seen obscuring the view of the shore - working its way from Lulworth to about half way between St. Aldhem's and Anvil Point. As we turned round Durlston head it seemed to get lost behind the land, the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the journey home.
Staying just to the east of Peverill Ledge buoy and then close to Old Harry we still got a boost from an increasing westerly wind so that over the deck the wind rose to about 25kts on a broad reach. This meant the approach to and passage down the Swash Channel were much more fun and we only luffed up just outside the entrance to get the genoa down because it would have flogged unhappily as we turned towards the west to pass the chain ferry. We passed through the entrance at about 15.25 BST just 5 minutes short of 4 hrs from harbour mouth to harbour mouth - 30nm or so, just about 8kts avge - logging 6kts but plus 2kts of tide.
The familiar run through the harbour is of course similar for both Crosswinds and MonArk because of the harbour speed limits - about 1hr from mouth to mooring. Bella helmed part of the way to let me tidy the sails and put out the fenders. At Ridge our mooring is full of boats passing from launching crane to their swinging moorings in Poole Harbour so we have a temporary berth alongside the yard office's catwalk.
A great day for me, first voyage for Bella and all in all a very pleasing journey for Crosswinds.
Now we MUST get that name sorted so that I can get on with registrations etc.
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