2021 Late Summer Cruise, Days 25 & 26, & some Statistics.

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Force 6 winds were forecast for Friday but then the 07:00 inshore forecast replaced the F6 with F5 and I considered moving on, but 6 different models from the 08:15 download from Predictwind, including the met office model, were predicting gusts around 28 knots so instead I just moved out to the Portland Harbour anchorage saving a days berthing fees and making for a quicker and easier getaway on Saturday.

It was still blustery (F4-5 all the way) on Saturday but I was away at 05:30, half an hour later than planned as I did not hear the alarm for some time. The broad reach past St Albans ledge was very pleasant, starting in the pre-dawn and I made quick progress under Genoa alone. Unfortunately the next leg was dead down wind (again) with the sea conditions  uncomfortable. With tidal gates to make for the mooring I switched on the engine and motor-sailed at, and with the help of the waves, often well over the theoretical maximum hull speed of 6.8 knots, frequently making 8 - 9 knots over the ground.

I went through Hurst Narrows at the peak of the spring tide, for better control I went through under engine alone and unfurled the genoa once past the worst of the broken water. After dodging an awful lot of boats, many of which were clearly over canvased and not fully under control, I made it to the mooring with 20 minutes to spare before the local high water, the ideal time to arrive, although with a strong wind it took a lot of effort to get the stern line on. And I found someone had chopped up one of the two stern lines, presumable with their propeller.

Broken water with the strong wind and tide, this would be really evil
wind against tide. I was making better than 10 knots over the ground.

56 miles in 9 hours.

Summary:

129.6 hours sailing
544 Nautical miles over the ground.
14 days sailing
9 Days weather bound
13 Days at anchor
6 Days in a marina
6 Days on a buoy

Average sailing day, 38.9 GPS miles in 9.3 hours.

Day by Day:

		Day #	Hrs	GPS Miles
Tue 17 Aug 2021	To Hurst	1	5.75	20.0
Wed 18 Aug 2021	To Studland	2	5.00	19.0
Thu 19 Aug 2021	To Portland	3	4.75	20.0
Fri 20 Aug 2021	To Pilchard Cove	4	16.05	56.0
Sat 21 Aug 2021	To Cawsand	5	7.50	33.0
Sun 22 Aug 2021	To St Mawes	6	8.75	37.0
Mon 23 Aug 2021	St Mawes	7
Tue 24 Aug 2021	To St Michaels Mount	8	7.00	36.0
Wed 25 Aug 2021	To Hugh Town, St Mary's	9	9.00	41.0
Thu 26 Aug 2021	Hugh Town	10
Fri 27 Aug 2021	Hugh Town	11
Sat 28 Aug 2021	To St Mary's Pool	12	1.75	4.0
Sun 29 Aug 2021	To St Michaels Mount	13	9.50	38.0
Mon 30 Aug 2021	To Newlyn	14	1.25	3.0
Tue 31 Aug 2021	Newlyn	15
Wed 01 Sep 2021	Newlyn	16
Thu 02 Sep 2021	Newlyn	17
Fri 03 Sep 2021	To St Mawes	18	10.25	40.0
Sat 04 Sep 2021	To Fowey	19	6.00	24.0
Sun 05 Sep 2021	Fowey	20
Mon 06 Sep 2021	To Salcombe	21	8.50	38.0
Tue 07 Sep 2021	Salcombe	22
Wed 08 Sep 2021	To Portland	23	19.50	79.0
Thu 09 Sep 2021	Portland marina	24
Fri 10 Sep 2021	To Portland anchorage	25
Sat 11 Sep 2021	To Hamble	26	9.00	56.0
	Totals:	26	129.6	544.0

Statistics for the year:

	Days	Hours	GPS Miles	Days Sailing	Weather Bound	Marina or Buoy	At anchor
Round GB	79	437	1,881	47	24	34	40
Summer cruise	10	86	319	8	1	1	7
Scilly Isles	26	130	544	14	9	12	13
2021 total	115	652	2,744	69	34	47	60

Summary 2017 - 2021:

Includes some estimates of day sailing in 2017 & 2018 but the total GPS miles is the same as that recorded by the instruments. Excludes time on the "home" marina or mooring. The Marina berths, Buoys and Anchorages were in a total of 77 different locations. 

Year	Days	Hrs at Sea	GPS Miles	Days
				Sailing	Weather Bound	Marina or Buoy	At anchor
2017	14	-	238	13	-	-	1
2018	46	-	1,559	31	-	7	14
2019	49	485	2,282	41	5	15	24
2020	64	372	1,685	32	18	36	24
2021	115	652	2,744	70	34	47	60
Total	288	1,509	8,508	187	57	105	123