Blustery Blues - the blustery conditions continue in Portsmouth and prevent a move to Cherbourg
Position: 50°48.12 N 001°07.36 W
A 9am radio briefing confirmed that the fleet would be staying in Portsmouth for another night. The Force 6 in the Channel was blowing hard throughout the night touching Force 7 at times. In Portsmouth the wind is still up but it’s not all bad, the sun is out and the forecast looks good for a Monday departure.
Photo – In the shadow of the Spinnaker. The MBM fleet at Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport
Today many participants headed across the harbour to the Spinnaker Tower for some spectacular views on this bright clear day. Cranchi Zaffiro 34 Get Passionate II headed over to Cowes for a spot of lunch. Meanwhile, Sealine S34 Free Spirit II successfully detached itself from a lump of fishing net it had picked up on its passage round to Portsmouth from its home berth in Littlehampton.
Photo – Nick from Free Spirit II with the remains of a fishing net
The fleet consists of 24 boats. The accolade for the largest boat in the fleet looks like a tie between a 46ft Grand Banks 42, Endura, and a Sealine SC47, Budman. The fastest (and also the smallest) boat in the fleet is a Windy 25 Mirage called Sophie.
Nine fleet boats will be undertaking their first Channel crossing on this cruise, these boat are: Sunseeker Martinque Santana IV, Sealine S34 Free Spirit II, Nimbus 310 Coupe Puffin, Beneteau ST34 Bluebell, Trader 42 Kukup Lady, Sealine F37 Marjorie May, Cranchi Zaffiro 34 Get Passionate II, Grand Banks 42 Endura and Maxum SCR3000 Breathless.
MBM’s latest version of Blue Fin, a Jeanneau Prestige 38S, is bedding in nicely after a blast round from Swanwick and we’re looking forward to seeing how she handles her maiden cross-Channel voyage.
The wind is due to drop overnight and the plan for tomorrow after a weather check is for the first boats to depart at 9am.
