Solent 9th - 11th August

Chris had been away on his European trip so had missed out on sailing trips. We decided to take a few days out on the boat, leaving younger brother to his drums......
Setting out from Chichester to Ryde, we planned the journey with more attention than normal - the idea was to try and show Chris that it is not just a question of coming out of the harbour and turning right so tides, weather, wind, currents, engine checks, headings, clearance bearings etc - all the things I tend to do myself without the crew getting involved became shared tasks - working towards the day, no doubt, when I get the 'Can I borrow the boat ?' question.......

After all the prep though the wind let us down after about a mile out of the channel and it became a motor with the wind on the nose.

We were due to r/v with Nick P in 'Virginia', who had come out of Warsash but with the lack of wind arranged to meet at Ryde. For some reason I assumed we would be there first and made arrangements with the Harbour Master for two small yachts to berth - only to find Nick tied up and waiting - no wonder the HM sounded confused.
After a few beers we adjourned to the town for quite a good curry and an early night.

The following day we had choices - stay in harbour and take the bus to Cowes to watch the sailing or go over to Portsmouth and show Chris the bits of the harbour Adam I and I visited last time out.

Portsmouth won and we had a great sail across - just the right amount of wind, sun and some spectacular racing yachts heading east.

We made our way up to Portchester Castle for lunch and tried to anchor in the lee, without much success - too much westerly in the wind. So, after a quick snack, we made our way back down the harbour and across to the Hardway SC pontoon where we spent the night and shared a meal with Nick - Chris invented the perfect method for producing garlic bread on board - just the job with a bit of pasta - butter both sides of slices of a baguette with garlic butter and then place them into hot frying pan, turning a few times until it starts to brown.

Hardway Pontoon

The next day Nick had to leave about 09.30 to get the best of the current to sail back across to Ryde to r/v with Peter T who was coming out of Chichester.

We left just after 10.00 against the last of the flood down to the harbour mouth - hoping that this would give us the right window to get across and into Chichester before the ebb began to run too strongly against the wind. BIG MISTAKE.

I should have gone earlier - never mind a little adverse current. By the time we got to Chichester entrance the seas were big and piling up. We made it in but it wasn't comfortable and it was a marginal decision whether to head back towards Langston or across to the lee of the island. Moral of the story - don't be constrained by train times and travel plans - they tend to force your hand.

The sun came out and in the much more sheltered harbour we sailed up to the moorings at Itchenor before the strength of the tide defeated us and we motored back to the marina.

Exploring Portsmouth 26th - 29th July

Adam and I grabbed a few days on the boat and together with Richard G in Egret had a look around Portsmouth Harbour.

We had a slow start, spending the afternoon of Tuesday showing a friend who is interested in buying a Shrimper,  around the boat - hoisting the sails and looking at the engine - that sort of thing - there was no wind to take her out for a sail but I think he found it useful. That evening Adam and I adjourned to CYC for a meal and spent the night in the marina.

The next day was sunny and warm and we got away after a quick coffee and anchored off East Head for breakfast and to wait for Richard to get out of his creek. As it was we stayed there for lunch to get the best of the tide for the run to Portsmouth.

 Crew - general lookout

We took the inshore passage over the Winners - getting down to 0.5 m at one point, but with the plate up we skimmed across and took the inshore route through the submarine barrier

Egret - approaching the submarine barrier

We hugged the shore until the hovercraft came in behind us and then crossed to the small boat passage at the entrance to the harbour.

Watch out for passing traffic

HMS Illustrious was in port - it turned out she was due to escort the yachts at the start of The Clipper Round the World race on Saturday.

HMS Illustrious

Further up the harbour in the beginning of the Fareham Channel was evidence of the post navy cuts tied up and looking very forlorn - not quite the majestic Royal Navy turn out - HMS Exeter, Nottingham, Manchester and Southampton

Forgotten and rusting

We picked up a buoy for a cup of tea and then made our way across the shallows to the area just off Portchester Castle were we spent the night - we had a chat to the Police launch who had come up following a report of some lads in a dory paying a lot of interest to some yachts on the far side of the moorings - unfortunately we hadn't seen a thing.......

Sunset over Portchester Castle

The next morning the sun shone brightly, quickly burning off the mist and revealing Portchester Castle in a different light.

View up the harbour

Later Adam and I went ashore and had a look round the castle - coming across the local Hell's Angel chapter

Later that day we slipped back across to the Fareham channel and made our way up to the top , being buzzed by Chinook and Sea King helicopters along the way.

Lunch was taken at the Fareham Motor and Sailing club pontoon where we were made very welcome  with telephones numbers being exchanged with a view to a potential rally location.

We then took the flood down the harbour and out to the Solent and headed towards Langstone.

On arrival we tied up outside Southsea marina until the cill was lowered and we could moor up for the night. A very convivial curry at the restaurant and an early night.

The next day we took the inshore passage back to Chichester and home to the marina - another good cruise with Adam doing most of the boat handling, including reversing into the berth - coming along nicely.