The day dawned fine and bright in Ashlett, with no wind to speak of. We motored out in the main stream and as the wind filled in set sail for Hurst Castle. Finding stronger stream in the middle of the Solent the fleet got separated and the leaders paused in the lee of Hurst to re group.
The ebb had carried us down and now assisted to spit us out though the narrows taking the inshore route across the bay. The day was very warm with bright sunshine to whole way. Wind never really got above F3 N/NE but pushed us along nicely.
We took the buoyed channel though the sandbanks on arrival at Poole and entered the harbour with no difficulty, although I was surprised at the speed at which the Condor ferry went from a small dot on the horizon to a large monster lead by the Harbour Masters launch chasing me into port.
We gathered in Blood Alley, a shallow 'lake' south of Brownsea Island for the evening. Brad Bradshaw in Siobhan, his classic Long Boat Cruiser came out to share a beer ( unusual for Brad...).
Another early night was required to catch the tide for St Albins Head and the journey across the bay to Weymouth - not that we wanted to stay up long after the long sail in the sun from Ashlett, so tried but happy we retired for the night.
Pictures - Ashlett Creek at dawn, Siesta at Hurst Castle, Virginia through the narrows, Condor into Poole
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