It’s so easy to leave a mooring. You just chuck off the line and you’re away. We left at 0530 on Monday 16th, exactly as planned. At 0600 I was worrying that there wasn’t enough tide as we motored in light airs. By 0730 we were in the Needles Channel and picking up speed.
As we passed Hurst Castle at almost 9kt we met a few competitors in the Normandy Channel Race, a two-handed event which seems to start in Caen, whizz cross-Channel to the Isle of Wight and head back to France. They were all flying spinnakers and were managing to make 4kt or so with the wind behind them despite about 4kt of tide against them. Dodging them kept us busy until we lost the tide pretty much as we reached Cowes. By 0945 we were tied up in the always-helpful Shepard’s Marina - not a peaceful spot but plenty to watch!
It turned out to be an astonishingly warm day which we filled with a stroll to the beach and an excellent meal of very delicious small plates at Heron. On Tuesday I caught the 0900 Red Jet to join my CA colleagues at the Southampton Boat Show. Just as for the past few years I bought nothing and spent most of the time either chatting to Westerly owners or on the CA stand chatting to members and would be members. People are much more interesting than products.
Distance run: 28 miles
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| The Needles |
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| Horrible selfie at the Boat Show |
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