On 8, Jul 2007, at 9:55, Martin Phillips wrote: > From Chateau Phillips up on top of the hill the wind seemed a bit > windy > (around force 4?) for a trip down to Portishead - wouldn't have > contemplated it. It was probably no stronger than that prevailing for > last year's trip to Lydney, so probably not bad for the short crossing. > Similar conditions this morning for the return.
The 2 cruisers on Friday set off in an alleged F4 blowing straight through the open gates of the tidal basin. They were bobbing about whilst still tied to the pontoons and had to confront some swell as they pushed out between the breakwaters some 25 minutes before high water. Then it was the "ooh err missus" moment when they hit the tidal flow and the smaller boat involuntarily changed course by about 30 degrees to starboard. Instead of compromising with nature and making best possible headway to t'other side the skipper turned directly into the tide and, although making no obvious forward progress over the ground, crabbed across to Lydney quite effectively. Do you reckon that has any merit for a narrowboat ? I remember it being very disconcerting being able to glimpse the Sharpness docks receeding into the distance over my right shoulder when I had expected they might disappear over the left one. The larger and more powerful craft left a few minutes later and gunned out of the breakwaters holding a steady course for Lydney where it arrived some 10 minutes before the smaller vessel and perhaps even before the Lydney gates were opened. Beeky
