First sail of the season, 20 and 21 March 2010
Despite the best efforts to secure sufficient crew to charter a boat for the weekend of 19 to 21 March, Robert reluctantly had to cancel a “notice of intent” with Hamble Point for the opportunity to charter larger boat than normal at the low winter rate, namely a Najad 40, because of a severe lack of crew. Fortunately, Steve volunteered a sail on Yamma out of Island Harbour and Robert duly arrived just after 8 on the Saturday morning for a scheduled departure around 11h00. Island harbour is sleepy hollow compared with Hamble Point, but it is locked in, so one’s departure and arrival times are bound to the tides.
We motored down the Medina, took on fuel and then headed for the Solent. The wind was quite fresh by this time and when we were halfway down to Portsmouth visibility was somewhere between the forts being visible and disappearing again in the rain. The wind was now between a 7 and an 8 with gusts up to 44 kts which makes it a 9. In mast furling and a powered drive to manage it meant reefing was free of hassle.
By the time we came into Portsmouth the rain had eased but Steve decided that we should go straight to the pontoon on Gunwharf Quay marina and stop for some food. We did not leave till the following morning even though everything calmed down a bit and the rain stopped.
Robert’s lad, Richard, joined the boat on the Saturday night and we all went out to check the restaurants. Although there is a Raymond Blanc restaurant we settled for a Chinese eat-all-you-can for a set price at the Water Margin. It was very good.
On the Sunday morning the weather was sunny, dry, but not enough wind to sail. Steve decided to investigate his new mooring and located it “halfway up the left hand side of the harbour” virtually opposite the entrance to the channel up to Port Solent. Robert practised catching a buoy a couple of times, and then we left for Osborne Bay under power where we anchored for lunch. Lunch over, sails up, we sailed off the anchorage and over to Cowes – not the adrenalin rush of the previous day, but a good sail nevertheless.
We were back in Island Harbour by mid afternoon, packed up, took the ferry, and went home. Job done. Good sail. Thanks to Steve for needing crew. Sorry, no photos this time.
Robert