Setting out from Chichester to Ryde, we planned the journey with more attention than normal - the idea was to try and show Chris that it is not just a question of coming out of the harbour and turning right so tides, weather, wind, currents, engine checks, headings, clearance bearings etc - all the things I tend to do myself without the crew getting involved became shared tasks - working towards the day, no doubt, when I get the 'Can I borrow the boat ?' question.......
After all the prep though the wind let us down after about a mile out of the channel and it became a motor with the wind on the nose.
We were due to r/v with Nick P in 'Virginia', who had come out of Warsash but with the lack of wind arranged to meet at Ryde. For some reason I assumed we would be there first and made arrangements with the Harbour Master for two small yachts to berth - only to find Nick tied up and waiting - no wonder the HM sounded confused.
After a few beers we adjourned to the town for quite a good curry and an early night.
The following day we had choices - stay in harbour and take the bus to Cowes to watch the sailing or go over to Portsmouth and show Chris the bits of the harbour Adam I and I visited last time out.
Portsmouth won and we had a great sail across - just the right amount of wind, sun and some spectacular racing yachts heading east.
We made our way up to Portchester Castle for lunch and tried to anchor in the lee, without much success - too much westerly in the wind. So, after a quick snack, we made our way back down the harbour and across to the Hardway SC pontoon where we spent the night and shared a meal with Nick - Chris invented the perfect method for producing garlic bread on board - just the job with a bit of pasta - butter both sides of slices of a baguette with garlic butter and then place them into hot frying pan, turning a few times until it starts to brown.
Hardway Pontoon
The next day Nick had to leave about 09.30 to get the best of the current to sail back across to Ryde to r/v with Peter T who was coming out of Chichester.
We left just after 10.00 against the last of the flood down to the harbour mouth - hoping that this would give us the right window to get across and into Chichester before the ebb began to run too strongly against the wind. BIG MISTAKE.
I should have gone earlier - never mind a little adverse current. By the time we got to Chichester entrance the seas were big and piling up. We made it in but it wasn't comfortable and it was a marginal decision whether to head back towards Langston or across to the lee of the island. Moral of the story - don't be constrained by train times and travel plans - they tend to force your hand.
The sun came out and in the much more sheltered harbour we sailed up to the moorings at Itchenor before the strength of the tide defeated us and we motored back to the marina.
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