01Oct13
Waiting patiently for the easterly wind to veer, at least south east, so that we could cross Lyme Bay and round Portland Bill in the remaining daylight hours and with a fair tide – Portland Bill is notorious for its strong tidal streams and steep and violent seas; this is a passage that needs full attention.
The forecast came good and we slipped lines just before dawn for the long haul across Lyme Bay — some interesting reading for the anoraks among us [
Notes on the physical conditions existing within the line from Start Point to Portland]. As we exited Torbay the wind direction had a little more east in it than forecast which would leave us close-hauled all the way with one tack to correct the course to leave us at least 3nm off The Bill. The visibility was reduced with low cloud and mizzle but we made good progress against a foul tide as expected. Half way across the bay a rubicon moment: press on, turn round and go back, anchor or pick up a mooring buoy at Lyme Regis which would be totally exposed to the forecast strengthening onshore winds. The wind had been constantly veering and backing but we convinced ourselves that we could still meet our tidal gate so we pressed on.
The wind kept backing.
The track our course was drawing on the plotter was a gradual curve as we tried to sail as close to the wind as we could. Our planned tack was getting longer and it was a balance between sailing faster off the wind and having to sail further – our velocity made good. We threw in some early tacks to make best use of the favourable stream when we could. The more we tacked away the more we would be late for our tidal gate and the more the daylight was disappearing. The sun set though twilight lasted longer than expected as the misty conditions held a subtle glow from the sodium light polution on the mainland. Then, darkness. We have sailed many times in the dark and usually find it quite relaxing when out in clear water with reasonable weather but approaching a major headland it was not a moment to savour. The rain came through the black and the sea began to build, unpredicatable and rough. We needed the last of the flood tide to make our destination but this was now picking up the sea state in the backing wind. Arbalest powered through the conditions and we always felt secure in our centre cockpit despite the occasional 'surprise' wave and trough. Portland Bill lighthouse eventually appeared and guided us along to confirm our indicated position as it had done once before during a near gale from the Channel Islands. The east cardinal mark around The Shambles was our last waypoint which we gave plenty of room before our turn so as not to get swept towards it by wind and tide. 'Lee-ho' and it all went quiet, with the wind behind us we surfed into Portland and could finally relax. A few tankers to avoid, a number of unlit yachts on mooring buoys we had to dodge within the harbour and we were soon moored in Portland Marina, a 16-hour passage but The Bill was behind us.
