On a sunny September morning we left Ramsgate heading for Dover, we were hoping to get on the 07:00hrs ferry for Calais. As it turned out we made it with time to spare, the ferry eventually leaving 5 minutes early. After breakfast and a relaxing crossing we arrived of Calais an hour later, unfortunately we had to lay off Calais for ANOTHER 50 minutes due to other ferry movements around the port. Once ashore you would be forgiven for thinking it would plain sailing for the drive to Nieuwpoort but that was not the case. After about 15 minutes we managed to find our way there and duly changed the ticket details, now we were truly on our way to Nieuwpoort, eventually arriving in an 1hr and 10 minutes later.
After a quick check over PINTA I signed the contracts and PINTA was mine. We loaded all our gear aboard and said farewell to my father who had kindly brought us across. Once all the gear was onboard we began to give PINTA a thorough check over, you no, what does this switch do, what happens if I do this or that. Okay, now to some of you and especially the girls among you who are not interested in sailing might say 'boys and their toys' but seriously girls there really was a reason why we were doing this. It's a case of good seaman ship, why, well because should anything happen not only would we need to no what did what but more importantly we would be able to go directly to what ever we needed to with out hesitation.
It was now 17:00hrs and playtime was over, sorry, the investigation into the equipment onboard PINTA was complete so before preparing our evening meal we decided to have a quick scout of our surrounding area you no to find such important recourses as the showers, the local drinking facilities and the local shops etc and in that order of priority. After our meal we got cleaned up and decided it was time to visit the local club house. Little did we no how much time we would eventually be spending there.
10th September 2004 08:00hrs It was a lovely sunny morning when we arose from a very comfortable nights sleep. We had planned from the beginning that today would be a get to no PINTA day, check the sails, check the anchor, check this, check that, you get the idea by now. Come the afternoon we decided to check the weather situation unfortunately the onboard radio cassette player would not under any circumstances pickup an English radio station, we just thought we were out of range so settled for the local Nieuwpoort station. Playing such music as 'His Masters Voice' all time hits. If the locals rely on this station to get an impression of English music heaven help them for we did not even no 90% of the music played.
It was now 19:00hrs, and time once again to venture towards the club house. Now it's at this point I would like to point out that we were not becoming alcoholics, just that there is nothing to do here at Nieuwpoort. Ok, in the summer season it's very busy here but it was now the end of autumn and it was deserted. The town was some 20 - 30 minutes away, ok I hear you say it's not that far, and indeed we did venture to the town a few times but really there is not much happening in town this time of year. Once in the club house we checked out the internet access pc, unfortunately it was not working so we checked out the meteo information supplied by the harbour masters office on the notice board. This did not look good with low pressure all over us and with more to come. It was looking like we would become avid listeners to 'HMV hits'.
11th September 2004 08:00hrs After a full English breakfast we went to the Harbour Masters office to check the latest weather info. We decided to make the best of a bad situation, we fixed the few defects we could find onboard. Had lunch at the club house and, well spent a few hours there then headed back on board for a siesta. We were indeed going continental. After an evening meal we once again ventured to the club house. Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea but for those who have been to Nieuwpoort there is not a lot else to do really however on this occasion we noticed they have an internet access terminal, unfortunately it was not working. Now for someone like me who works in I.T. that`s a challenge you cannot let pass. A few minutes later we were online and checking out the long term weather situation, it did not look good with some very strong winds developing.
12th September 2004 08:00hrs To be honest every day was the same until the morning of the 15th when we decided to, well, just go for it'.
15th September 2004 08:00hrs Although the forecast did not materialise it was improving slowly, we decided to make a dash to Dunkirk. It would be a lumpy motor along the coast however looking at the chart I guessed once out of the harbour entrance and to the west we should be sheltered from the rollers coming down the main channel. Indeed this proved to be the case, a good job to, for while we were in the main channel my mind started to have a little doubt about the wisdom of leaving the sanctuary of the marina not because of the weather but this was to me new boat, how would she handle these seas and what problems might she give us.
As it turned out she handled it well and we made good progress although the sea was chucking up lovely brown spray making it near impossible to locate any of the buoys marking the narrow channel. Fortunately for us a local pilot vessel came passing by and whether they guessed our situation or were actually working we did not know. They came by a few times then headed of in the distance. At first we were not sure what her intentions were as I jokingly said to David, 'what did you get up to ashore last night'. It was not for several minutes later that we realised there intentions. They were very kindly manoeuvring at the cross over channel until we could make it out for ourselves. Once inside the sand banks the sea became more friendly as we continued our way towards Dunkirk. Several hours later we arrived, moored up and headed ashore to located the by now essential supplies.
16th September 2004 10:00hrs What a difference a day makes, by now it was a nice sunny day with a force 3 gently caressing the red ensign. We rechecked the chart, secured PINTA once again for sea. We had a lovely 4hr sail down to Calais. On our arrival we managed to get inside the gate almost straight away, this was a bonus otherwise it would mean laying up on a buoy until midnight. Not much fun with the local fishing boats going in and out at all hours.
20:00hrs: My sister and her friend would join us here for the sail back to the UK. At around 21:30hrs the phone started receiving SMS messages, we arranged for local taxi to pick them up from the ferry port and bring them to the club house. We had an entertaining evening both at the club house and then back onboard where with some nice food and drink we stayed up until the early hours.
18th September 2004 10:00hrs The weather was as predicted, a stiff force 6 blowing down the channel from the east. Having little choice but to 'just go for it' we left Calais heading for Ramsgate. A relatively uneventful crossing apart from some nice 4-5 metre rollers mid channel. Eight hours later we were moored in Ramsgate. My thanks to the delivery crew.