Life is pretty tough aboard – eking out the stale ships biscuits and tainted water, and always with the lurking spectre of scurvy and having to drink your own urine.
Not only that, but the relentless wash in Gosport Marina has worn through this mooring line in under a week!
But there’s always someone worse off, and as I was approaching Wootton Creek on a long tack from Gilkicker Point I was keeping a close eye on two crossing ferries to make sure I didn’t become the jam in a ferry sandwich!
I was feeling confidently on top of things until the ferry exiting Wootton Creek gave a single blast on her horn and sharply turned broadside right in front of me.
Moments later a Mayday Relay was broadcast about a capsized yacht just outside the Creek’s entrance and scanning around I could see the upturned hull..
Kicking the donkey into life, I got to work lowering the sails, though before I got near a couple of fast RIBs had arrived at the scene.
Meanwhile one ferry had successfully launched a bright orange sea boat and the other was starting to lower one from it’s top deck – which looked awfully high up.
This second launching was not so successful with the sea boat being repeatedly hoisted up and down the side of the ferry – one minute with it’s bows up 45 degrees, then down by the same amount.
It looked rather like a fairground ride except the squeals of delight were replaced by angry shouting and frantic arm waving directed towards the operators of the lowering winches.
I could only make out a few of the shouts which I took to be prowords for ‘steady as she goes, old chap’ !
By the time it actually hit the water the casualty had been scooped up by a harbour workboat with a landing-craft bow and was on his way ashore to dry out.
Post-rescue everyone dispersed and I continued on to anchor in Osborne Bay where the 12 hour forecast was for a gentle 5 knots… but guess what!
25 knots, rocking and rolling, and little sleep wondering if the anchor would drag.
Happily all held and I awoke to see ‘The World’ anchored – it seemed to me – uncomfortably close to the Bramble Bank.
This Sailing Life 
How very exciting and all ended well. Glad you staved off the scurvy with your meagre luxury rations 😂😂
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Many thanks for your updates. Glad to know you are safe. One of those ferry skippers needs to be fined for being reckless when smaller boats are around. What happened to the rule that they should give way to sail?! However, good that everyone was safe. Happy sailings!
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Hi – thanks for your message – the ferry turned in order to help with the capsized yacht. I think it may have been the ferry that first spotted and reported it. But there was plenty of room really.. though you have to keep a good lookout off Portsmouth for the ferries, high speed fastcats, hovercraft, plus big ships and loads of yachts! It’s surprising there aren’t more collisions really 🙂
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Oops! Misread your earlier narration and thought the ferry had turned across the bow of the boat that then capsized! Apologies to that ferry captain. Still glad to know all are safe. As you say, the harbour is a really busy area. Take care. Sail safe! Many blessings.
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