The North Sea Crossing

24th June 2009
Ramsgate to Den Helder

The Pegasus (and her crew) have achieved their first goal - crossing the North Sea. We left Ramsgate at 10pm Monday evening and arrived 38 hours later in Den Helder which is on the top of the dutch mainland coast.

The crossing began quite benign - calm sea and a clear evening turning into a starry night. The crew were organised into 2 watches - 10pm to 2am, 2am to 6am then 6am to 12 noon and 12 noon to 6pm. 6pm to 10pm and around again.

The first watch needed to dance around the shipping as we motored north along the coast. The wind was against us so we could not sail, although we did have the mainsail up (but reefed in) to provide stability to the boat. We were to learn later that stability is a relative concept.

The second watch took over and turned the boat east towards the line of rather large ships moving right to left. This was the western traffic lane. "How do you cross?" we asked. "Well it's like crossing a dual carriageway onto the central reservation: you pick a boat and aim behind it". Which we duly did. While they are large and move quite quickly, they are very well lit and predictable.

It was a lovely starry night, with a soft glow along part of the horizon. We slowly realised that it was getting lighter and the stars began to go out. First, the softness of impending daylight gradually took hold then a shout from the lookouts up at the box and we saw the sun peeking above the horizon - very very orange. Pictures to follow. It takes only a few minutes for the sun to reveal itself fully, a pulsing ball of energy, so very far away, and very soon too bright to look at. It was Tuesday morning.

The next watch continued motoring across the central reservation. It was now Tuesday morning, a gloriously sunny day. Was this a typical crossing of the North Sea? Probably not but is it ours. We progressed along at a steady 6 knots. We had changed direction slightly from East to North East and had got up level with Ijmeiden. The afternoon watch continued the progress but now the sea was also against us and getting a little lumpy which began to slow us down.

During the evening watch, 6-10pm, the sea began to get difficult and progress became much harder. We slowed to 3-4 knots with a headwind of force 4-6. The next two watches had a difficult time, trying hard to find the balance between making progress towards the Netherlands and not bouncing the boat around two much - not just for the benefit of those on deck but also those sleeping below. The 2-6am watch suffered worst, at times making little progress at all! Despite the tough going, the sunrise was again spectacular as we motored into Wednesday. By around 9am we sighted the dutch coast and by a little after noon, we arrived in Den Helder feeling quite a sense of achievement.

We will now overnight here and press on early tomorrow (Thursday) morning. The forecast for tomorrow is for less wind (although still against us) and possible no wind on Friday. We aim to reach the Kiel Canel and then Kiel itself by Saturday. Wayne and Phil are now cooking dinner (with a special surpise desert!) and we all look forward to a good, and long, and undisturbed, (and very well-earned!) nights sleep.

Next news probably from the Kiel Canel.

Portsmouth to Ramsgate

Monday 4.45pm.
Pegasus (who is a she) arrived in Ramsgate following a continuous 23 hour passage from Portsmouth. The crew formed 2 watches of 5 people each. The first watch began at 6pm after leaving Portsmouth. There were 3 overnight watches - 6-10pm, 10pm-2am then 2-6am. This gave everyone the opportunity for at least 4 hours off to sleep which most managed. The going was very calm with little wind. We put the sails up after leaving Portsmouth but had to take the foresails down during the second watch. The engine ran continuously.
The watches then changed to 6am to 12 noon then 12 noon to arriving in Ramsgate (a shortened watch).
The crew are now showered and looking around the town. Phil is due to arrive about 5.30pm. Dinner is at 7pm.
The plan now is to leave with the tide at 10pm and go north a little way and then accross to Den Helder. This is expected to take around 36 hours. The forecast is for the wind to continue to be against us so it's motoring all the way.

Sunday morning: the calm before...

Lovely sunny start to the day. Very quiet in the marina. Pegasus looks very smart and tidy. Only 3 on board last night. Now waiting for the rest of the crew. The Lads from Liverpool are due around 10.30. Vanessa arriving mid-afternoon. Complications with Phils visa means that we will have to divert to Ramsgate to pick him up tomorrow. Does help to reduce the choice of route to take.

The general plan is to go up the English coast from Ramsgate then cross over to Holland. Then work our way up to the Kiel Canel. Ramsgate is just an overnight passage. Aiming for Den Helder by Wednesday then the canel by Friday. Weather currently looking good but not very much wind and what there is, is against us.

Further posts as and when we get a signal.

Getting ready for the off

The crew began to assemble on the Saturday. Weather warm and sunny so a picnic lunch on the boat. Diggory making a brake for the reefing gear - not so much a last minute job but rather something he'd meant to do for a while. Amy and Phil went off to do the final (ultimate!!) shopping trip then we stowed it all away, filling up every nook and cranny of storage space.
Phil then went off for the final concert of the Show of Hands tour, at the New Theatre over in Portsmouth. They were on "home turf", having played many gigs in the area when starting their carear as a duo. It's quite an intimate theatre and the audience were in good voice. Many stayed behind afterwards to talk and wish Phil "bon voyage".