Day Twelve - Poole to Cowes and onwards - Wednesday 30th June

Another early start on a very low tide caused a few minor moments in Blood Alley for the deeper keeled Drifters but we were soon out in the Looe Channel heading across the bay for Hurst.

We met Barry Fudge waiting on the point for us, where we had a chat over VHF before using the rest of the tide to swiftly take us up the Solent to Cowes. En route we were chased up the channel by some magnificent yachts. Simon left the main fleet to make his way to Ashlett to haul out.

We made Cowes in good time and spent a lazy afternoon on the pontoons before adjourning to an Italian restaurant to celebrate the completion of the voyage. From Cowes the rest of the fleet would disperse to their various ports.

Jeff and I left that evening for a night sail back to Chichester. Once of the yachts that had over taken us in the Solent was moored up just outside Cowes as we left.

The Solent was a totally different place at night and following the lights across towards Chichester was an interesting experience. We anchored at Itchenor to spend the rest of the night before mooring up in Chichester marina the following morning.

The voyage was complete a journey of nearly 350 miles in total - not bad considering, as Peter Tiplady put it " to think three weeks ago your boat was a large drum of epoxy". It was a great experience, in great company, with superb weather the whole way there and back.

Now looking forward to the next adventure.

Photographs - The fleet departs Blood Alley, two monsters in the Solent, the fleet in Shepherds Wharf Cowes, the gang (l- r, me, Jeff, Nick, Lizzie, Richard, Miles, Peter), Night scene.