After nearly 3 weeks of foul weather we decided to take Blue Marlin II off the moorings and down the Dart to the fuel barge to re fuel. We do not like leaving her so long between trips but the last 3 weeks have been really foul with strong and gale force easterly winds which cause the worst sea state around Dartmouth.

Still it was not snowing and a tropical 2 degrees when I set out from home. When I reached Mikes house at Brixham the wind was light and apart from the low mist the weather was ok. I knew from the journey across that the sea was lumpy as I looked across Torbay so my expectations were low.

We completed the monthly safety checks and engine checks and slipped the mooring heading down the Dart. We had tried to refuel at the barge on the last two trips but found it closed both times. We arrived at the barge just before 1100 and found it closed again!

We decided to give the boat a bit of a run and headed for the mouth of the Dart. We managed to make it out as far as the Mewstone but as the swell was building nicely and a moderate sea state turned to Rough very quickly. It was a quick turn in the bottom of a trough and a surf back in on the big waves to the mouth of the dart before heading back to the fuel barge.

Guess what - still closed at mid day. Having no choice we headed back to our berth on Noss Marina. It was a short trip but at least we ran the engine and everything was working fine.

 All we need now is some High Pressure and calm winds and moderate seas, that would be summer I suppose!

Ships Log.

Date: Tuesday 05/02/2009

Weather: Wind N/E 4 - 5

Sea state: Moderate / Rough

Engine hours at start:268.8

Engine hours at finish:269.8

Crew: Steve , Mike

Time off moorings: 1030

Tide:High water 1330

Author: Skipper (steve)

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