Due to various commitments I wasn't able to escape into the Solent with those that were able to make a week of it. Instead, leaving home early on the Saturday and stocking up in Tesco outside Chichester, I was on the water by about 10.30, heading down the harbour towards East Head.
The weather wasn't great, it was dry but prudence suggested full wet weather gear and a reef.
The pics of the waves at East Winner don't do them justice they were quite spectacular.
However once out of the harbour and turned right for Southampton the sun came out and I was soon in T shirt and shorts. The tide and wind were in my favour so I made pretty short time to the entrance to the Hamble, passing though the submarine barrier off Portsmouth at quite a speed.
I met up with the fleet coming down Southampton Water, but only after being tricked by Stewart who managed to sneak right past in his Coaster using white sails - wasn't expecting that.
We made our way up the Hamble to Swanick Marina. The spring tide was fierce, creating whirlpools and steps in the water, quite fun looking for the slacker water and dodging in and out of the stream.
The rally gathered in between two pontoons at the marina and beer and nibbles were duly broken out of stores.
We then adjourned to the restaurant for a a dinner which went very well but we failed to persuade the waitresses to stand on a chair and sing a song, in spite of presenting one of them with a cake complete with lit candle.
The following day, Sunday, many had to leave early or hang around locally to haul out, but an intrepid bunch crossed Southampton Water and headed into Ashlett Creek.
Here the tide was so high the quay and car park had flooded.
Stewart, Andy and John hauled out at the sailing club whilst the rest of us had lunch in old Mill house, who made us very welcome. The rest of us set sail for home, with some returning up the Hamble. I left them and headed out into the Solent to see what the conditions were like before making a final decision about my overnight mooring location.
As it was I found the easterly wind had gone slightly north and the tide was quite slack, even more so when I picked up the inshore eddy - so I set sail for Portsmouth and made it all the way on a single tack.
As I past Gilkicker I couldn't make the entrance so furled the sails and motored across towards the entrance. I could see boats struggling to make ground over the tide so I hugged the coast and popped into the entrance channel as close in as I could, gaining a huge amount of ground over the yachts how were in the fairway. In fact one lady came up to me later in the marina and asked what engine I had, assuming it was al least 20hp - very surprised when she found out it was only 9.
My route into Portsmouth
I tied up in Gosport marina and after a meal and a wander around the town turned in for the night.
The following morning I set sail in bright skies and a warm NE wind for Chichester. The entrance to the harbour was quite rough by apart from that the sail was great. I stopped in Mengham Rithe for lunch and then made my way with the tide up the harbour home.
Probably the last sail of the season, but what a great season for a first one with a new boat - lots of adventures and fun, in great company - I have learnt such alot and had a great time.
Many of the figures below have been reset at some stage - the only one I have strived to preserve is the total 723Nm. Not bad since June 17th........
Next year ?? France, Channel Islands, Scillies, cruising in Falmouth and the West Country - they all beckon - some more tenable than others and some more inclusive of other sailors we'll see.
What is planned in the Chichester Marina rally - details will be published in the DAN and I will elaborate here and on the forum in the New Year but keep the dates of 29th April - 2nd May free.
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