June Cruise 26th - 29th

Sunday 26th

The fleet was already assembled up at Newport IOW when I launched at Ashlett and had been out for several days.

I launched with assistance from Sharon, but not without incident...managing to tear off one of the trailer handles on the hitch post as the boat went off the trailer and into the water...lesson learnt - don't belay rope to what you think might be a strong point. In fairness I never imagined the boat would slip off so easily...must be getting more use than before.

A nice sail across to the island where I meet up with Andy Peter in Blue Peter who had sailed into the Medina ahead of me, having come from Keyhaven.
The wind was on the nose so I motored up the river to find Bard - Siobhan, Marcus - Sundance, Peter - Siesta and of course Tony - Pellew already ensconced on the pontoon.

Drinks and nibbles were held on Peters boat, after which Brad and I ventured into the town to eat.


Monday 27th

The weather forecast was full of doom and gloom  but Marcus had to be home as did Andy and Peter needed to make sure he could get to Chichester so after a breakfast in Weatherpersons and a wait of the water to rise they departed. Meanwhile Brad, Tony and I investigated the pub next to the Premier Inn on the quayside and saw them disappear down river. We had settled on Plan 1 with and alternative of Plan 2...always good to have another option...so inevitably settled for Plan 3 ..which was to do nothing...so we opened another pack of beer and settled into the sunshine afternoon, with a barbecue on the cards later.
Which was when I made a slight error of judgement...on the way back from the pub to the boats we had come across an old chap on the quay, with a metal cage and container that seemed to coronation all his worldly goods. It turned out that he had been living on the large barge that has been moored at the northern end of the Newport pontoon area for as long as I can remember, slowly looking more decrepit  until it had finally sunk a few days earlier.
Well, sat on the boat in the sun I saw an old chap sculling past so, thinking it was the same guy who had been full of local interest, invited him on board for a beer....the look of disgust on Tony and Brad's face was a picture as this old, smelly and possibly worse character sat down to sup beer. I was up wind so didn't really notice...but it was a totally different man. Thankfully after a beer he had things to do and departed,, much to the assemble groups relief.
The BBQ was soon on the go and afterwards we paid yet another visit to town.


Tuesday 28th

Set off early to catch the tide and had breakfast anchored down stream near the marina at the top of the Folly reach...handy as far enough away fro both harbour authorities to go unnoticed.
We the set out - our destination Eling at the top of Southampton Water.

Encountered on the way  - 2nd place Round the Island finisher

On the way over, with a good wind and some sun we encountered this trimaran which would go on to finish second in the Round the Island race on the 2nd July.

We needed some tide to get us up to Eling so ducked into Owers lake, tucked in behind Calshot, directly in front of the Power station.

Approach to the deep water off the lock - Owers lake

The leading marks , to the left of the Power station, are accurate and certainly for small boats access in variable at most states of the tide - handing for waiting out the tide approaching or leaving Ashlett.

Once the tide turned we set of again passing close to the tanker jetty with all its pipes and cranes

Part of the Tanker Jetty - Fawley

Siobhan meets the hovercraft

Eling Mill is right at the top of the stretch of water and in true fashion as soon as it was in sight it started to rain ...hard...."tying up rain" as Tony called it.

Tied up at Eling SC

Brad departed by train to get his car and trailer and Tony and I adjourned to the pub for a meal - a theme developing here I think. Brad returned having dropped the trailer at Ashlett and we all moved on to Eling Yacht Club...made very welcome and received some good advice about the Isle of Wight festival - an event for next year I think.

There is a toll bridge at Eling and the man diligently collects the tolls between 9 - 5

Looking into the harbour it is tight with boats - many around the edges secured between piles, but a large number in the centre on what appears to be a island when the harbour dries.

The harbour at Eling

Leaving the jetty

The not so nice view....

Wednesday 29th

We departed quite early to get out before the water left, and made our way down to the clubs deep water moorings where we picked up a buoy whilst we had breakfast.

Tony decided to depart to beat the incoming weather and Brad followed shortly after. I decided to take a slower meander down as it is quite a long way up Southampton Water, and whilst there may as well take a look around.

There was an interesting ship in dock, off loading big motor cruisers as well as a stack of yachts - that all looked as though they were worth more than the ship they were on.....

I turned up the River Itchen and had a very fast run up under the big bridge, but it was pretty uninspiring so dropped the sails and motored back to the main channel and plugged my way though wind and rain back to Owers where the others were snug out of the wind.

We waited there until the tide was in at Ashlett and made our way in just in time to join a crowded mill for curry night.

Thursday 30th

Typically the day we pulled out was the warmest, sunniest day of the week but never mind..here's to the Ashlett regatta and Drascamp.