MINI CRUISE TO CHICHESTER
SUNDAY 10TH JULY
Eddie ran up the engine today prior to trip and there was a problem with the water flow, but it seemed to right itself. We hope all will be OK tomorrow. We also discovered the holding tank was full to the brim when we went to fill it up with fresh water, intending to flush it out at sea tomorrow. But, oops, it started coming out of the air vent, what a pong! Washed the side of the boat down, and our first job tomorrow out at sea will be to empty tank. Not sure why it was full?
MONDAY 11TH JULY
An early start on our cruise to Chichester. We got the 7am lock along with a few visiting yachts and turned off to Beachy Head on a calm sea, blowing Force 3. Motorsailed as we had a long distance to cover, intending to go straight to Chichester. There was a bit of a swell around Beachy Head and then we lost the tide around Worthing, so progress after that was slow. The Looe Channel was a bit choppy with confused seas, but we expected that. Those Looe marker buoys seemed to take forever to reach! We had a good motorsail across Chichester approaches and would have turned off the engine but time was pressing as it was about 7pm before we got to Chichester Bar. Turned up the Channel to Chi Marina and pulled up at the waiting pontoon outside the lock. We saw the lock master who gave us a berth – A34, just inside on the right.
It was about 8.30pm by the time we tied up and were both knackered, but had time for a lovely hot shower and something to eat before falling into bed.
TUESDAY 12TH JULY
Up at 7am today as we have to go to Bosham Quay at high tide (9.20am) and dry out for cleaning the bottom. High winds predicted today so Eddie phoned the Quaymaster at Bosham to check it was ok still to come. He said it would be fine, so we left Chi at 8.30am, through the lock, saying we would return later. They are so helpful and cheerful in the locks here, they give you a rope and are always ready for a chat. It was very windy up the Bosham channel and quite confusing where we should go as it was our first time up this stretch of water. As we approached the Quay there wasn’t a definite channel to follow so we kept a wary eye on the depth sounder. The Quaymaster met us and directed us to tie up at the end of the quay with his help. He asked us to wait there as we would be moving further up the quay after they had finished launching a boat with the crane. There is an area there which is flat and concreted so we can sit down on the ground safely. We moved up there along with another yacht (Malo 34) who were doing the same as us, but they had a fin keel. The Quaymaster took our (long) forward rope and we let the back drift in so we would be facing outwards. Then we just had to wait for the water to flow away (low tide at 3.15pm), then there we were sitting on the concrete! We hired the jet washer and gave her a good hose down, Eddie changed the anode and cleaned up the prop and put another coat of anti-foul on it. We discovered the water intake for the engine was very clogged up with various sealife, so that could have caused the problem with the engine. We got all the jobs done with time to spare!
Bosham is a very pretty little place, and a very helpful Quaymaster too. We had a walk around the village while waiting for the tide, past the old Church where the daughter of King Canute (or C’nut!) is reputed to be buried. Bosham is where King Canute was meant to have held back the tide, something I didn’t know! We didn’t want to hold back the tide, and eventually floated about 8pm and left about 8.30pm. Bade farewell to our neighbours and the chap from a boat in front of us (Feeling) called out to us and asked if ours was the Westerly with a bath in the rear cabin!!? Some people have the wrong idea about Westerlys! Eddie replied only if we leave the hatch open when it rains!
We arrived back in Chi Marina and it was free flow, so the lock master beckoned us through and we went back to our berth, arriving about 9.30pm. Had a lovely hot shower in the new facilities (very palatial) before having a few beers and then bed – bliss!
WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY
A good sleep despite a gentle slapping on the rear! It was chilly and overcast today. Called into the shop on site for a paper, milk and rolls for Eddie’s bacon roll breakfast, but they only had sliced bread, so still only basic provisions here, We went to the office after breakfast and got our Premier card marked for last night and tonight. A days rest today. After a walk round the perimeter of the marina, we checked in the Yacht Club to see what time they served meals and returned later at 7pm. Had a very nice but pricey meal and drinks – £7 for a beer and small wine, and the meals were about £10 a head and desserts £7 each. We realised we paid as much for our meal as we did to hire the pressure washer and stay on the Quay at Bosham (which we could haved stayed on overnight if we wished for no extra charge). Had an early night, ready for 6am start tomorrow.
THURSDAY 14TH JULY
We made the 7am lock out of Marina after calling up the lock keeper who checked our draught with us first as it was still low tide. We crept out with very little water under us in the approach channel, but plenty after we joined the main channel. Ample water at Chichester Bar and it took about 55 mins to reach the Looe channel, which was quite calm. Forecast for today was Force 4-5’s and slight to moderate seas, NW backing W. We had a good motorsail all the way to Brighton (most of it against the tide unfortunately) then the sea and wind picked up and it was horrible going round Beachy Head even though the wind was mostly behind us. We were surfing and rolling off the waves, but once past Beachy and into the bay the sea flattened off although the wind was stronger. We got the 6pm lock which was pretty full, in fact they opened another lock as there were so many boats coming in at once. Back into our berth and a good night’s sleep.
We solved the mystery with the heads some days later when we realised the valve that controls the flow from the toilet to either the heads or outside was not sealing, in other words every time we flushed instead of all the water going out it was seeping into the holding tank. So Eddie had to change the valve, a very smelly, yukky job.