NCI Watches: Jan – Jun 2018

1st April: the Yarmouth Lifeboat returning after escorting a damaged yacht to the Hamble. The yacht had holed its bows in collision with the East Lepe buoy and was towed back stern first by the Hamble Lifeboat with Yarmouth in attendance. Meanwhile a parade of yachts celebrating the centenary of the RAF (from the RAF Yacht Club?) passed the Tower and made their way back to the Hamble.

22nd April: 18ft skiffs returning to Calshot after racing – one capsized during the tricky manoeuvre of coming into land! The survey/research vessel Edda Fonn operated by the Norwegian “Reach Subsea” inbound. A Swedish racing yacht with spinnaker set, and a fishing vessel near Solent Breezes.

10th June: A yacht with a very high mast outbound; and a Wayfarer about to land, the previous day a fleet of Wayfarers had sailed around the Isle of Wight. Also a patch of foam! The photos show that wakes were leaving foam trails, presumably following a plankton bloom during the hot weather.

Date	No.	Time	With*	Comment
1st Jan	123	11-14	560, 380	380 (still training) acted as Watch Leader while I supervised
7th Jan	124	11-14	440, 560	Ultimate 20 racing yacht capsized [diary entry]
14th Jan	125	11-14	440,180
21st Jan	126	11-14	530, 560	copied photos from the Tower camera, grey day!
28th Jan	127	11-14	440, 220
4th Feb	128	11-14	440, 380
6th Feb	–	–	–	met RS before 1400 watch to get photos from camera; ended up going up Tower to explain camera settings
11th Feb	129	11-14	440,560,500	440 instructing 500
18th Feb	130	11-14	560, 640	fishing boat trawling close inshore.
25th Feb	131	11-14	560,700,430	As I arrived two Fisheries Officers were entering the Tower and I went up to the ops. room to chat with them. Then (to my surprise) was given annual assessment .
18th Mar	132	11-14	560,220
25th Mar	133	12-16	700,560	(photo of a racing yacht passing the Tower)
30th Mar	134	12-16	130,610	middle watch on Good Friday
1st Apr	135	12-16	560	(click for comment)
6th Apr	136	08-12	290	needed a watchkeeper for first shift on a Friday so decided to step in
8th Apr	137	12-16	540,640,430	drizzle, quiet, instruction for 430, fishermen protesting off South Sea
15th Apr	138	12-16	560	grey, rain, RNLI exercise on previous watch, BC23 53, and wayfarers [diary entry]
21st Apr	–	–	–	Incidents with VHF trial training course
22nd Apr	139	12-16	275,560	18′ skiff capsizes during landing; survey ship Edda Fonn (click for comment)
29th Apr	140	12-16	220,640	“Prolific” both outbound and inbound. “Inspiration” (SU10) looking very smart. A UASC Container ship the “Al Nefud” and the RV “Callista”
6th May	141	12-16	530,560
13th May	142	12-16	560,565	The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin inbound and a low tide?
20th May	143	12-16	560	A smart cruising yacht, an 18′ skiff, and a new? junk rigged yacht.
27th May	144	12-16	470,640
3rd June	145	12-16	560	A photo of BC23 sail number 53
8th June	146	08-12	155	1st watch on Friday morning
10th June	147	12-16	560	A tall masted yacht, Round the Island Wayfarer, and foam on the water! (click for comment)
15th June	148	08-12	205,330	1st watch on Friday morning, Blade Runner Two, Jolie Brise, and the new “junk”!
17th June	149	12-16	530	Offshore Model Racing Association at Calshot [diary entry] and the City of St Petersberg – a “shapely” car carrier!
23rd June	150	12-16	410,272	Middle watch on Saturday. Thundercat racing and a YM Senior [diary entry] . Also an “Oppie” regatta at Warsash and coaching Oppies at Calshot – 97 oppies counted!
24th June	151	12-16	530	Quiet watch except at end when cat with twisted spinnaker, and a pan-pan from someone possibly in the water!
29th June	152	08-12	440,115	1st watch on a Friday! A rather unusual “square rigger” and Seafin outbound from the Hamble

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