Last Cruise of the year - Oct 22nd

And so it came to the last fling of the year.

Monday

A small band of intrepid mariners gathered at Ashlett and launched using the quay side as a temporary jetty, not ideal, but until the club replaces the pontoon needs must.

The water was slipping away and so Tony (D22 - Pellew), Nick (D22 - Isabella) and myself in Shrimper - Daislebee  set off - each it seems with a different plan in their heads.

Eventually we settled on Newtown Creek for the night anchorage and had a great sail down the Solent anchoring in the western arm of the creek, which was lovely and empty at this time of year.  I had a reef in as the south westerly was quite brisk.


Tuesday

Its seems with only three of us we can't settle on a plan - in fairness to Nick, Beaulieu had been talked about as a lunchtime stop en route to Lymington but Tony and I had discounted it and headed straight towards Town Quay at Lymington. So it was quite a surprise when Nick called up on Ch 77 asking where we were - he was half way to Beaulieu entrance, but he soon caught us up.

Before departing mid morning I had a lovely drift up the eastern arm of Newtown watching the wild life as I passed slowly by.

We had a cracking sail across and I managed to overhaul Tony by some judicious tacking which is always pleasing.

It was lovely to see a fleet of local Scows, make their way up the inside lake off Lymington and emerge into the main channel before reaching back towards Keyhaven. I threaded my way through them trying not to hinder their racing.

There are some lovely boats in Lymington, and as ever, in a harbour it is lovely to meander up the channel, imagining the stories the boats and their crews might have to tell.

We shared the pontoon with a large contingent from the royal Victoria Yacht Club from Wootton who were also out cruising.

A very large classic yacht

Andy Peter joined us at the quay, by road, which actually was out main reason for going there. Tony had some papers to sign and so had had them emailed to Andy, who kindly printed them off. Duly signed the three of us (minus Nick) wandered up to the Post office to send them off and then happened upon The Six Bells Wetherspoons pub ..well it would be rude not to....

After a lunch we wandered back to the boast for a quiet afternoon. We later met Andy, Judy and Sharon at the Mayflower pub, near the Lifeboat station for a snack in the evening.


Wednesday

Another lovely but almost windless day. We set off after a leisurely breakfast 0ur destination, Newport at the top of the Medina of the IOW.

Those ferries only get bigger

Pellew motoring out of Lymington

We ended up having to motor to get the tide right at Cowes but it was lovely out in a warm clear Solent with very little traffic to be seen.

Isabella motoring up the Solent

Motoring through Cowes

 The infamous 'Floating bridge'

Marcus had returned from Germany so came down to see us at the quay, whilst Tony and I enjoyed quite a good Chinese takeaway.

As the nights have drawn it there seem to be three distinct sections of the sailing season..the early part when it is bright , getting warmer and the days are lengthening but not enough to be sitting out side all evening..the middle section, warm dry hopefully..and long days..sitting around in cockpits chatting away...and then the third part when the day light deserts us and by 19.00 you are thinking about turning in.

We were definitely in the third part of the season ..suggled in the cabin with a good book or film.


Thursday

 We all had various reasons for needing to be back home by the weekend and with the tides as tey were we departed Newport and headed across the Solent back to Ashlett.

Isabella leaving Newport

Pellew in the distance

It was a grey crossing, but the wind was kind and we had a good run across and were quickly hauled out, courtesy of Tony and his electric winch.