Mupe Bay | 6 - 7 August 2022
What a super weekend, really there is no other way to sum it up.
In nearly perfect weather, Seraphim, Thirisia, Sunset, Phoenix, Shogun, Silver Girl, Varne 1 and Cwac, spent the weekend 6/7 August on the beautiful coast of Dorset. If you are on the ball you will have spotted the odd boat out here. We had amongst our number long-time sailing members, recently converted to iron sails, stopping by in their superb launch, to join us for the evening while en-route for a longer passage to the Solent. The weekend was an organised mini cruise, part of the cruising programme put together by Mike Conroy and Monica Wolff for cruising keelboats.
Each boat had made their own passage, one arriving the day before, some having spent the night on the moorings at Castle Cove so as to make an early start, and some making the relatively short trip (around 10 miles) on the day. Thirisia has yet to improve on 4 hours for the trip, without using the engine, perhaps we are just not trying hard enough. Just outside of the Northern entrance we met a swell fetched up by the early and brisk NE wind that had started the day, frustrating efforts to sail the east bound course in what became a dying breeze. No wind mid-bay meant motoring for an hour until a gentle south westerly took us the rest of the way to Worbarrow Bay and Mupe. Winds kept south westerly and, though light, gave a surprisingly rolly anchorage into the afternoon and early evening. My crew, like many on other boats, decided the most comfortable place to be was in the water and a fair bit of sociable inter-boat swimming ensued. Day tripping ribs, jet skis, the odd yacht and a few motor boats left as the early evening arrived. Thankfully, as the breeze eased, so also did the motion of the anchored boats.
As the sun went behind the cliffs, most of the 26 crew members from the 8 vessels, met on shore for a 'non barbeque' barbeque. Concern for the potential fire hazard led to some creative picnic thinking. There's potential for a new Chef's night cold platter challenge there Mike, fine dining for when the gas runs out.
Picnicking over it was back to the boats by rubber dinghy before darkness fell completely. (Not all in the same rubber dinghy you understand, we had each brought our own, just to be clear). Now, on Thirisia we have a superb distribution board as part of the electrics, honestly, I have thought of offering guided tours. One of the breaker switches (none of your fuse business for us!), is temptingly labelled 'Anchor Light'. No need for that I thought, we had laid our anchor in the daylight! And so, blissfully to sleep on a calm and very peaceful evening. How did we fit 5 people into 4 berths? The answer is below. Next time we'll put the bunk back on the boat before we leave!
Sometime around 1am I learnt the proper use of 'Anchor Light' and quickly switched ours on, to match those already twinkling and gently swaying on the mastheads of boats around us, set against the brilliant starlit canopy of the enfolding night sky. I can't wait to find out what 'Steaming Light' does...
On anchoring. I'm sure I missed and now regret missing, a cruising talk last winter on anchoring; something I am coming to believe is an art rather than a science. Arriving, dropping the hook some place you think gives room enough, shortly later to decide we really have ended up a little too close to that lifeboat-come-cruising-launch (it is in the picture), and then moving, (Anchoring drill is always good for the crew I believe especially with a manual windless!) only for the lifeboat-come-cruising-launch itself to move to a new position later is one thing. Turning through 180° in the middle of the night (yes 1am again) and somehow not joining the crew of the boat next to you, is another. Finally, raising the anchor (morning exercise for the crew) when it must surely lie beneath the keel of the boat next door (and having raised said crew to be on standby for imminent disaster), only to find it is in clear water 50m away (we never put it there) - what is going on! (Apologies Shogun)
Sunday morning, another fine day, vague smell of bacon from somewhere, or was I dreaming. My dictionary describes Katabatic winds as 'Downward flowing wind that blows because high land loses heat by radiation quicker than low-lying land. Can reach gale force'. Strong gusts yes, gale force, probably not, just enough to keep us all lively.
Thirisia set off just after 8am, under full genoa in a fresh easterly breeze that lasted about 10 minutes. The journey home for us was direct, in glorious sunshine, partly tide assisted and a little short of wind.
We were determined not to use the engine, and were in no hurry (try harder I hear you say) and a few miles out from the breakwater the wind picked up from the South to give a glorious reach through the northern entrance to our mooring. We were only passed by a few Castle Cove boats on the way home, (how do they do it), no doubt with their own happy memories and tales to tell.
Thank you, Mike, and to my crew on Thirisia, for a very enjoyable weekend.
Penmanship: Ian Green (Thirisia)
Pics: Ian Green (Thirisia)
