⛵ Sailing Yacht Decision and Crew

  For some years now we have to have ship identification, as well as SSR (small ships register) any UK vessel regardless of it mooring location, whether in a port, harbour, marina, estuary or river has to carry an identification plate, these  have to be located at the stern of the boat on the port side, every year they have a different colour, this year it’s a rather unattractive chocolate brown. The are several reasons why this identification is necessary, largely for security and based around protection of our borders.

  Another blustery day, which seems to be our lot in life, sailing in these constant excessive winds is becoming a constant feature at sea, finding gaps with winds in the right direction with a semi comfortable sea state to move on is becoming an art form

Redclyffe sailing club .6 of a mile down the river Frome from Wareham, I posted on Redcliffe last year but it’s well worth another mention. £30 a night including electric, water, shower & toilets, a lovely location with a passage up river from Poole on the rising tide through the reed beds, a nice break from being on anchor which can be quite bouncy.

  After a very long sail up from Portland early this morning, we are now on the river Frome a half mile down from wareham at Redclyffe sailing club, a pontoon mooring plus electric showers and toilets

  A blustery evening on anchor but calming late night so we did get some sleep, early morning 04:30 start our way back to Studland and then Poole, hoping to go right up the Frome to Wareham and Redcliffe sailing club for a couple of nights on the river visitor pontoon Low cloud in the fading evening sun covering Portland

Weymouth one of our favourite traditional harbours, having a great time here, so much so we are stopping for a 4 night break before heading on, as ever with limited berthing spaces we have to raft up but it’s never really a problem walking across a neighbours boat, sailors are by and large a breed of likeminded people. Portland fromThe Nothe Weymouth 

Despite our first night at studland which went off with no dramas, the second night was very uncomfortable, the easterly wind was blowing straight onto the beach, kicking up the sea state, rolling waves onto the beach was lifting the bow up, we hardly slept, plus we had an early start to catch the easterly wind and tide to take us onto Weymouth, hauled in the anchor at 6:30, arriving in Weymouth at 10:30, a tricky sail to start with navigating, they gave us D2 berth but unfortunately we had to raft with 5 other yachts. All very pleasant people