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We recently delivered a new Hanse 385 from Hamble to Ipswich. Having waited at home for a few days for the weather to settle (Gusting Force 8) we joined the yacht on Monday the 18th of March. Unfortunately by this point the wind had dropped right down to almost nothing - it was going to be motor sailing at best...
We set off on the low tide just before sunset... It was a very calm evening with clear skies as we gently motored east past the Forts and down towards Nab Tower. When sailing at night along the south coast I always favour being further offshore to avoid the risk of getting tangled with a fishing pot, so we initially tracked south east to get closer to the shipping lanes.
The 30hp Volvo ticked along at 1800rpm giving us an average speed of 6 knots. As she was brand new, we varied the revs occasionally to help her to run in. As the day broke we were well passed Beachy Head and approaching Dungeness. The rain filled in, but still very light winds!
We stopped briefly at Dover for a top up of fuel and then pushed on with the tide to take us all the way across the Thames Estuary and up the Orwell. It was a freezing night -- the wind had picked up slightly but only enough to get a tiny bit of help from the main.
The yacht was light, responsive and easy to manoeuvre. She has a drop down bow thruster which really helped when parking up (and avoiding all the Oysters) in Fox's. The bow thruster was impressively powerful -- the shortest of blasts would get her moving! It was very easy to crab sideways when leaving the fuel dock in Dover... Right hand wheel, tick over ahead and left on the thruster -- no need for springs!
The excellent music is performed by Humphrey Milles; A cover of Mr Brightside by The Killers.
