Maximus- From Plymouth to Sardinia

by George Hendy on 2 Sep 2005 Maximus left Cowes just two days after returning from Plymouth heading for Sardinia, on the delivery from Plymouth to Cowes we averaged 20.77 knots reaching in moderate seas. Small Gennaker and a reef in the main very pleasent and fast sailing.

We departed Cowes on a sunny Tuesday morning at 9.30 fully fueled (800 litres) knowing some motoring was on the cards looking at the weather maps for the coming week.

Day 1
Day 1 brought very little in the way of excitement having to motor the entire length of the English channel and passing the Channel Isles at night so we didn’t even got to see them.
We had the traditional happy hour, drinks at 5 pm in the afternoon, followed by some nibbles and a well cooked steak BBQ meal by our Scottish guest Shreck, in the cockpit then continued to motor into the night hoping for some breeze.

Day 2
As we entered the Bay of Biscay the breeze showed some encouraging signs of it filling in so up went the Racing Code 0 to give us some horsepower and at last be able to turn the motor off along with it saving some fuel. This all took place just after dawn next to happen was a thick bank of fog rolled in on us just as everyone wanted to take a look at the French coast.

We put a radar watch on due to the number of craft in the area, most of the time we managed to track all the boats in a safe manner until we picked up a craft coming at us faster than we had seen before, a little panic in the voice set in while it was on collision course. The next voice from above informed of a low flying aircraft that passed overhead at about 250 knots, say no more ...
News is that we are hoping to travel at 10-15 knots all night straight down the track, but as we know it does not always work out like that and again the main came down and the motor went on.

Day 3
Flat seas clear skies breeze swung and we are moving along at 12-15 knots with the code 0 up for most of the day towards Cape Finisterre in beautiful sailing conditions, some of the boys are getting into the job list and ropes are being spliced in preparation for the next event - the Maxi worlds.
An eventful day until the wind finally swung south then it rained which made the last 60 miles to Finisterre a dead beat, nobody onboard was that fussed about that change so we had a few drinks at 5 pm and crackers to follow, then slowly it backed and we laid. the Cape.

Day 4
Quiet night everyone now settling into their watch systems and adjusting to life onboard with ten other guys is not easy sometimes, but everyone is getting on fine and in good health. Norm and Duncan one of our English guests have made new pen pals well that's what we used to call them, there seems to be a lot of communication going on and a lot of laughter, they seem happy anyway. As the dawn broke the wind started to fill in and from behind which was even better.

By 9.30 am we had 30 knots and a medium sea starting to build, the weather maps showed 40 knots plus was coming our way all from behind, by 10.30 Charles had already claimed a speed of 26.8, soon to be broken by George at 27.2knots putting B watch on top of the board. By 1520 Charles had regained the record speed for the day at 28.1 knots by this time the sea was becoming large and the surfing on the 30 meter Maximus was becoming a more than eventful day with the boat screaming along at speeds well into the 20knots all day made for some great long surfing rides.

The bad news for Charles was that at 1608 hours George put the boat through 30.2 knots and once again claimed the speed of the day for B watch, then again though 30.4knots claiming 60 not out. All this with a cruising main and a delivery Jib, not long after that the wind started to drop and the title was safe.

Maximus covered nearly the whole length of Portugal in one day that gave us a 443 miles 24 hour run not a bad days run on a delivery voyage!

Day 5
No wind again, main down motoring, everyone seemed a little flat after the huge previous, day, so we rounded Cape Cobo in the morning motoring heading for the straights of Gibraltar, we did a few sums and worked out the fuel needed to make the journey and decided against trying it on anyway we were to close for comfort. so we decided to head for what I thought was a little fishing village 17 miles away on our beam to get fuel, as we approached the little fishing village it become obvious that it was more than that it was Portimao a tourist town on the coast hotels. beaches sun, and all the things that go along with those items. Spent the afternoon there getting some supplies, fuel veg, vodka, McDonalds for Max, George, Neville, had showers a couple of drinks on the boat in the sun that evening then off to sea a local regatta that day and amazing to see how many Portuguese sailors recognised Maximus came by took photo and congratulated us on our Fastnet result.

That evening we had the full kiwi BBQ in the cockpit on the back of the boat as we motored towards the straits all we lacked were some real kiwi lamb chops. Murphy's law as we now had plenty of fuel onboard... later that evening the wind filled in and we had a reach at 10-12 knots down the line towards the Straights of Gibraltar.

Day 6
As the sun came up we still had 30 miles to go before entering the straits, pushing huge current and once again motoring, looking forward to seeing the famous straits we had to wait a further five hours not entering before 11.30 in the morning, however It was worth staying up just to view the scenery most of us will may never have the chance to see again.

Then finally.... the famous Rock of Gibraltar . and Bill and captain Charlie decided that we needed to go see it closer, onto customs and off we go. It was a very easy procedure and by 1500 hours the crew were off sightseeing and having a walk around Gibraltar. We departed that evening around 1900 headed into thick fog and a busy shipping lane on our way towards our next destination not yet named!!

Source: www.supermaxi.co.nz