02 December 2010 by Tristan Gooley
After many woeful noises in the news about snow in the north, it finally hit us properly in the South Downs last night. More of a faint thud than a bang, as cakes of snow slid off the roof and hit the ground. Most of the snow in this picture fell last night.
We live off a road that becomes totally impassable very quickly: no ploughing, salt or grit has been seen in these parts! All journeys will be on foot for a couple of days I suspect.
Fortunately I managed to get out to my Contessa 32 yesterday and turn a heater on. I’m hoping to go sailing this weekend and if I can get to Chichester marina it may prove possible. Whilst at the marina yesterday I noticed that the northerly wind was corralling the flakes of snow that were settling on the surface down into the southern…
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Tags: chichester marina, contessa 32, snow navigating, south downs |
29 September 2010 by Tristan Gooley
A weekend of sailing has just passed, one that was full of meteorological kindness.
Nature was generous in two ways over the weekend – perhaps as a reward for my having set up a page of weather lore?
Firstly, blue skies, fair winds and warm sun ruled over the Solent. Secondly, an approaching warm front signalled its intent, in line with meteorological science and common folklore, by sending a team of mares’ tails ahead. These cirrus clouds would be followed by cirrostratus, altostratus and then the rain-bearing nimbostratus. A show was being promised, and then put on.
Our good fortune continued on Sunday, when we were given a ringside seat to watch the nimbostratus, but never had to get too close. The dark grey clouds advanced slowly and pressed down to the west of us. The rain fell barely a mile from our small Contessa 32, but by the…
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Tags: altostratus, chichester harbour, chichester marina, cirrostratus, cirrus, clouds, contessa 32, nimbostratus, sailing, warm front |
30 November 2009 by Tristan Gooley
I had hoped to sail to the Isle of Wight on Saturday with some old friends. We slipped Chichester marina at eight in the morning in my Contessa 32, fully aware that the forecast was a bit spicy. The sense of foreboding increased slightly when the Chichester marina lock-keeper called down to me, ‘Have you seen the forecast?’ I said ‘Yes. Force 6 gusting 9.’ He replied, ‘OK, well when the lock gates open you will need to gun the engine full throttle and hold your line otherwise you will be blown straight onto the piles.’ I thanked him and felt a small surge of adrenaline.
We made our way out into the harbour and at times it was hard to hear each other speaking as the wind whistled past our ears. After an hour I decided that we ought to swallow our pride and return to the marina…
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Tags: chichester marina, contessa 32, Isle of Wight, south downs, wind |
15 March 2009 by Tristan Gooley
The Gooleys were out on the water this morning on our Contessa 32, Golden Eye. It was one of those spring days that exceeded expectations. It felt like a summer holiday as we moored back up at Chichester Marina and walked to the Spinnaker Cafe for lunch. The beach feeling was completed when my younger son picked up a fistful of sand from the cafe sandpit and, before I could intervene, sprinkled it all over a plate of scampi.
The photo is of a fellow Contessa 32 anchored off the beach at East Head, enjoying the rays.
Tags: chichester marina, contessa 32, east head, spinnaker cafe |
After many woeful noises in the news about snow in the north, it finally hit us properly in the South Downs last night. More of a faint thud than a bang, as cakes of snow slid off the roof and hit the ground. Most of the snow in this picture fell last night.
