Weather delays start
Friday 19th May
Day 1
Position – Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport
Its briefing day; dark clouds are above and the wind is howling.
Jobs for the MBM team today include fuelling and launching the rib and moving Calm Voyager to Royal Clarence Marina.
As predicted overnight there were gusts reaching up to 45 knots. Due to the extreme weather, we start the cruise with boats scattered from Poole to Brighton. A special mention goes to ‘Ocean Spirit’, a Sealine T47 who yesterday, despite the weather, travelled all the way from Falmouth to the Solent. This morning the Coastguard issued a Gale warning for Thames, Dover and Wight areas force 8-9.
By the briefing at 1800hrs the decision had been made for the Cruise Leader, Neale Byart, we would not be departing for Cherbourg tomorrow.
We are monitoring the weather, at the moment there is a possibility of a move on Sunday. The weather is due to close in again on Monday, which has meant that unfortunately, we have had to cancel the planned Cruise dinner at St Helier Yacht Club scheduled for Monday evening.
We will be keeping a close eye on the weather, looking for a window to take the fleet across the channel and onto the Channel Islands.
