Longest Day cruise - Monday 22nd June to Friday 26th June

Cruise locations

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1. + 2.  Monday 22nd  June

High tide was 15.00 and so I prepared Daislebee for her first launch at Ashlett. Not all went to plan as it became obvious that the trailer is not set up properly for launching and the slip at Ashlett is a lot shallower than the marina one.

With a lot of heaving, pushing and pulling she was in the water and the by about 16.30 the fleet set sail - Stewart in Bolitho, Nick in Virginia, Jim in Hippo, Tony in Martha , Peter in Siesta and John and Sandy on Bon Amiee  - heading for Newtown Creek where we meet up with Marcus in Salicorne, and were joined by Adrian in Torridon, Richard in Egret and Andy in Blue Peter - we spent the night rafted in the Western Haven

3.   Tuesday 23rd

With the larger fleet assembled we set of in lovely weather for Ryde. the wind was great until we reached Cowes and then died completed just as the tide grew stronger.. so it was a longer trip than expected but in the weather it was great being out on the water. John and Sandy had to depart en route due to a plumbing crisis/
The next days activities were the subject of much debate - did we stay until the afternoon tide or have a very unDrascombe like early start - early start won the day for most - with Peter and Tony having to depart for Cowes the rest of us left at about 07.00 in a very windless morning heading for Bembridge.

Bembridge Sands towards the forts and Chichester

The wind picked up and we had a good sail across to Priory Bay where we had coffee and enjoyed the sun. Some elected to fish but Stewart, Jim and I headed towards Whitecliff Bay on the south eastern corner of the IOW. We completed what was a cracking sail and had tea in the lee of the cliffs.

4. The fleet gathered later in Bembridge harbour using the pontoons on the re furbished marina. Signs of the work were all around, extended jetties etc and an impressive dredger digging deeper channels alongside.

The fleet on the left and the dredge on the right

Panorama of Bembridge

The following day saw the fleet or what was left after various departures head for Portsmouth.

Cuauhtemoc

Scale......

5.  On the way across we passed a Mexican ship Cuauhtemoc  and headed up the harbour where we found ourselves being made most welcome but the officers and members of Porchester Sailing Club, We tied to their pontoon overnight and visited their bar for a couple of pints...you know how it is....the setting is industrial on one side and flanked by Porchester Castle on the other...quite strange.

Porchester Castle

The following day those that were based at Ashlett returned and hauled out...ready for the next adventure