Sundowner II log – 2002


Beaucette-Herm-Beaucette
Crew: Dennis,Sandra&Brambles
Miles: 12
Weather:fog
Abandoned trip to Alderney due to fog. Accompanied Tara & D'Arcy to Shell beach where both boats dried overnight- Brambles had permit for Alderney (Bailiwick of Guernsey) due to foot and mouth. Happily ran up the beach and showed permit to worried looking café staff was told 'dogs aren't allowed on the beach'. Next day had good sail back via Tara & D'Arcy's special passage.

Beaucette-Petit Port-Beaucette
Crew: Dennis,Sandra&Brambles
Miles: 16
Weather: fair
Due to the high water time on Friday Dennis and Brambles decided to bite the bullet and take Sundowner out of the marina and onto the waiting buoy while Sandra was still at work. Rowed ashore, picked her up from work and then sailed to Petit Port where we beached at dusk. Spent an enjoyable evening with Tara, D’Arcy and friends (on two other boats) fire, drinks and music on the beach in this secluded bay. Managed to lose both the torch and the Decca arial as we pulled the dinghy on board. Alarms were set for 5 am when we were due to float again but at 4.30 we awoke to the sounds as if we were crashing onto rocks. This is when we found out that Petit Port, in the right wind conditions, is a perfect surfing beach! With wind gusting over 26 knots we tried to retrieve our forward anchor through the surf by adding extra line to the aft anchor. The knot proceeded to catch in the cleat. After a titanic struggle and blood on the decks we managed to retrieve the anchor and pull ourselves back to give enough room to turn into the surf. In the meantime just managed to hook the stern anchor line out of the rudders which luckily hadn’t caught in the prop as we turned. The bow anchor is now attached with a small string to be cut off should a similar situation occur again. We then anchored successfully for the first time in the calmer waters further offshore. Dennis then kept anchor watch and had a fag. After the recent storm the rest of the day was beautiful, swimming lessons for Brambles and rowing lessons for Sandra. We even dug up the torch which still works! Returned to Beaucette on the following morning tide (Sunday).

Beaucette–Petit Port–Beaucette
Crew: Dennis, Sandra, Brambles, Alex, Dave and Kerry
Weather: Light breeze, fair
Miles: 16
Trouble starting engine – relay switch – but eventually set off towards Petit Port. Sailed down Little Russell, a bit nervous as we had 3 visitors on board for the first time. At 3.5 knots under full sail with 2 knots of tide against us – 4 miles in 4 hours…..beautiful! Cockpit speakers working well again, crew asleep on fore deck, anchored at Petit Port. Relayed crew to shore, drenching everyone in the breaking waves – there’s a rumour it’s a surfing beach in the right conditions! Another beautiful evening under the stars, fire and food. Left early, 5am, due to work, blanket of fog descended from Alderney as we approached Petit Canupe. We nearly bumped into Tara and D’Arcy in the fairway on their outward journey to France. They arrived back half an hour after we had berthed as visibility was just a few feet. Said they would go tomorrow – they eventually managed to leave 10 days later.

to be continued……Herm, Isle of Wight, Brighton, Hayling Island and Weymouth.


Beaucette – St Peter Port - Havelet – Beaucette 3/5/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Brambles, Mike
Weather : NNW Light breeze, fair
Miles : 10
Departed Beaucette to St Peter Port local boat pontoon, rowed ashore and had a quick pint with Mike before his bus back to Beaucette. Moved around to Havelet Bay for the evening but there was a smell of smoke as we picked up the buoy, lifted the engine cover to a cloud of smoke and small flames. Sandra grabbed fire blanket but Dennis said’ no, we’re not using that it’s brand new!’ so extinguished fire with damp tea towel. The fire was caused by the relay switch loosening and shorting out on the engine and it’s mounting which burnt out the electrical loom. Our friends Tara and D’Arcy ashore saw the smoke but thought that it was only our exhaust so waved cheerily and left. Our good friend Jason arrived checked over the damage and the next day within 2 hours had replaced the loom – he’s a mighty big marine! He doubled parked his van leaving note ‘ working on fire damaged boat’ Motored back to Beaucette after watching cup final. Just goes to show to trust your instincts as we should have been crossing over to France at this time to see our friend’s new house but for some unknown reason we cried off – if we had not we could have been in the middle of the Bay of St Malo with a wet tea towel and no engine.

Beaucette – Shell Beach – Beaucette 8/6/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Brambles
Weather : SW Light breeze, fair
Miles : 12
Day trip to Herm in company of Tara and D’Arcy aboard Courtchu. Anchored off Shell Beach, Brambles was so excited by the approach of Tara in her dingy she promptly fell overboard and had to be rescued by Tara. Saw a puffin just off Percee.

Beaucette – Shell Beach – Beaucette 14/7/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex, Brambles
Weather : NW 11/15, fair, mist
Miles : 12
Day trip to Herm to scrub down bottom. Mist approached Shell Beach and we were unable to see Sark and thought we may have to spend the night but it cleared in time for our departure.

Beaucette – Braye Harbour, Alderney 20/7/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex, Brambles
Weather : W 11/15 fair
Miles : 16
Invited to a wedding at Hayling Island so we decided to sail there! Left Beaucette at 3.45 am, cross seas from port side, Alex’s digital camera jumped ship at dawn and we picked up buoy at 8.00am. Slept for a few hours due to excesses from the night before ‘ never sail with a hangover!’ Water taxi to shore, hired mini moke, Alex’s first driving lesson in farm lanes. Clutch control brilliant, full revs, standing start he controlled it very well in a single track lane at 30 mph……………..considering Dad had put it in reverse! Fantastic views overlooking Braye, all fell asleep until rudely awakened by a gaggle of girl guides. Early night for channel crossing tomorrow.

Braye Harbour, Alderney – Bembridge, Isle of Wight 21/7/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex, Brambles
Weather : NNW 16/20 Heavy chop, veering wind
Miles : 64
Left Braye at 5.00 am and sailed for 3 hours – the longest ever. It included a close encounter with a ferry. All instruments failed after the 3 hours of hard sailing, decided to keep heading north rather than turn back, sighted IOW 12 hours later and called up Solent coastguard for a radio fix. Sandra’s dead reckoning and Dennis’ helmsmanship found us just 5 knm east of fix. Alex brought us up through channel to Bembridge, surfed for a while when fast fishing boat overtook. All prepared to anchor fore and aft when told by marina staff that pontoon was ok, came alongside completely unprepared ‘ Alex, ropes in port locker’ …… ‘ just loads of chain in ‘ere!’ ….. more expert helmsmanship as Dennis held us off the pontoon as warps and fenders were attached much to the bemusement of the German crew aft. After walking Brambles, a few beers in clubhouse but they closed early ‘ I’ll pick your glasses up in the morning’ the steward said as he left us sitting on the patio. Time for rowing lessons for Alex and Sandra.

Bembridge - Brighton 22/7/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex, Brambles
Weather : SW 11/15 small chop, fair
Miles : 33
Got up early and took Brambles for nice long walk to town and then departed at 12.30. Not much wind, prepared cruising chute, not hoisted as wind changed. Just made it around Boulder fighting tide. Goose winged, buckled pole mounting, afternoon reefed genoa. Still no GPS so getting fixes off land, not going to make Eastbourne so changed course for Brighton. Difficulty making out entrance to Marina, sea state very rough, following breaking seas and wind also behind us, couldn’t take down full main. Decided we have to enter this unknown marina turning broadside to the wind and waves, darted into total peace, took down main as seas broke over the wall – this is not a natural harbour. Pizza.

Brighton – Northney Marina, Hayling Island 25/7/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex, Brambles
Weather : W 11/15 fair
Miles : 37
Stayed in Brighton for 3 nights, bought hand held GPS, Dennis and Alex played pool and had Budweiser, movie and Chinese while Sandra went to visit her Dad in Eastbourne. Departed Brighton 11.15, looking back at the marina from a distance it is still very hard to see properly even though we know it is definitely there. Motor sailing wind on nose – what’s new? Had serious difficulty getting around Boulder and Stone, it took an hour, sometimes going backwards with 2000 revs, half an hour with Boulder alongside, in hindsight dropping the anchor wouldn’t have been a bad idea. After rounding Boulder we were swept towards the shore with the tide, Sandra later showed Dennis the green bits on the chart where we had been. More lobster pot dodging, strange how just when you have beaten the tide and are on course a fluorescent bobber appears in our path with meters of rope attached. Picked up lights for Chichester only to find an hour later that we had been following a ship bound for Portsmouth – at last moment spotted static lights and turned in over Chichester bar. A couple of hours interesting motoring picking out channel markers and lights arrived Northney at midnight – couldn’t believe it when someone answered our radio call. Unlit port marker to entrance kindly marked our port side with red paint, it’s ok, the pole just looks a little shorter from the office - the 3 ft bend is in the right direction.

Northney Marina – Weymouth 29/7/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Brambles
Weather : WNW 11/15 small chop, fair
Miles : 59
We could see the wedding hotel from the boat at Northney where we spent a few great days including visiting the Victory in Portsmouth. The best man and groom’s Dad visited our boat the night before the wedding, stayed late and got locked out of their hotel. We had some beautiful walks around the area including fields – a rarity in Guernsey. Fantastic sail from Chichester Bar to St Catherine’s Point then becalmed. We were thinking of making for Poole, which we couldn’t see due to the fog so stayed out to sea. By midday fed up with engine so sailing again even if it meant going backwards. Fog cleared 14.30 very long trip to transit line and still a very long way into Weymouth. Rough at times, constantly looking for unlit hazard markers mentioned on VHF navigational warnings – we never saw them but were greeted by fabulous firework display and when we phoned Alex we discovered that he was watching the same display from the beach. Just before midnight we tied up at the waiting pontoon below the bridge and went straight to the Sailor’s Return.

Weymouth - Beaucette 3/8/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex, Brambles
Weather : SE 6/10 veering
Miles : 60
Delayed our departure until today as forecast gave more wind and we wanted to sail. Left at 8 saw basking shark mid channel again motored all the way to Casquets, wind picked up so instead of our usual stop over in Alderney we kept going to Beaucette. Spotted Mellow Yellow trimaran ahead but could not catch up. Our first approach to Beaucette at night. Arrived after 14.5 hours at 22.30. But what Dennis hadn’t told us was that due to the good forecast he decided not to fuel up! Wondered why he looked worried but the good wind from Alderney to Beaucette eased the pressure. We were only to find next day that we still had half a tank.

Beaucette – St Peter Port 23/8/2002
Crew : Dennis, Alex, Jim, Brambles
Weather :
Miles : 4
Friday found Dennis phoning Sandra who was at work to check tide times to take Sundowner to town. A successful journey, Sandra happily greeted them by water taxi. BR>
St Peter Port – Gorey 24/8/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex , Brambles
Weather : Fair
Miles : 32
Waved goodbye to Jim on Condor, played with cruising chute, spotted Jason the 74’ Aqua Star south of Guernsey, amazing how the wind takes you off course when you are having fun! Ricky wind surfed out to meet us as we neared Gorey Bay, Bobby, Mair and Claude were also there. Had a visit form holidaying family from England – Darren, Karen and boys.

Gorey - Beaucette 26/8/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex , Brambles
Weather : N 20 gusting 30, NE rising wind, strong wind warning, heavy chop,
Miles : 26
Plenty of sailing on this journey – 2 reefs in main and Genoa, back to Beaucette in 5 ½ hours. Huge seas, 7.4 speed over ground at one stage. In order to avoid southerly tide via Little Russell went east coast of Sark and around Humps. Not the wisest choice with shallow Sandwaves area NE of Sark and 7 tides all meeting around the Humps. It’s incredible how high 3 waves coming from different directions combined can lift 3.5 ton of boat! We now believe in mermaids…..We surfed through the entrance in 1.5 meters of water, the wind F5/6, peace-haven.

Beaucette – St Peter Port 11/9/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex , Brambles
Weather : NE 0/5, Glassy, Fair
Miles : 4.5
Porpoise off Petite Canupe, about 8 very dark in colour – extremely hot, local boat Pontoon, Ship and Crown, Man Utd v Bolton.

St Peter Port – Herm Harbour 12/9/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex , Brambles
Weather : NE 16/20, Glassy, Fair, Rising wind
Miles : 6.5
Watched Battle of Britain air display from cockpit of boat listening to commentary on Radio Guernsey. Took Aligande Passage, dried out on buoy outside harbour, went ashore, moved into harbour 23.30.

Herm Harbour – Creux, Sark 13/9/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex , Brambles
Weather : N 11/15 Small chop, Fair, rising wind
Miles : 6.5
Woke up broad side to beach a yard away from rock and harbour wall. Wind had changed. Walked on deck and boat rocked as one hull was on small rock in sand, tide is out, embarrassing. Next time must use stern anchor, but who would see you at 7am on a week day in September? Only ‘the’ Mr Prout, original designer and builder of Prout Catamarans on a pre-breakfast walk along the quiet and deserted harbour front. Impressed with Sundowner and took photos – very interesting man. Floated 10 am arrived Creux 12.30 and tied to wall.

Creux, Sark – Beaucette 16/9/2002
Crew : Dennis, Sandra, Alex , Brambles
Weather : NE 16/20 Moderate chop,rising wind
Miles : 10
Departed Creux at 12.30 having spent an extra day due to the strong winds. In the early hours of Sunday morning we had found ourselves nearly in the middle of the harbour, the gale force wind straining the ropes as the tide had risen nearly to the top of the wall, in the darkness we hauled her back to safety. Fantastic walks and cycle rides across this timewalk island and to Little Sark – magical. We had an awesome ride up the Little Russell with wind over tide creating some very large seas. It was so rough that a yacht over to starboard turned back to St Peter Port. We entered Beaucette at 14.45 in a by now force 5/6. The only problem being it was high tide so once through the entrance the wind still had it’s strength, making stopping and manoeuvring very difficult. We should have stopped at the fuel pontoon but continued to our berth and Sandra picked a strange time for a swim. Dennis had her out of the water before the water was past her waist but by this time Sundowner was pinned into the corner – we are still unsure of how we made it into our berth a few minutes later. Our friend Willy commented on how rough it must have been out there as Sandra was so wet! Easily remedied with Billy’s red grape cure.