No plans made we decided to just head where the wind took us, but as is usually the way that was Cowes! 😀
As it happened what breeze there was in the morning (and it was pretty light all day to be honest) was NW'ly which is the ideal direction for Cowes from Portsmouth (theoretically it's a beam reach both ways) but as is the way, the wind started to go round, and as it did, died off, leaving a quick motor into Cowes for lunch at the Island sailing Club.
Bit of a first for us (not the ISC as we've been a few times as they do nice food at a reasonable price, and also a good beer choice) as we managed to bag a space on the clubs own pontoon - now the Jolly Boys are nothing if not hardy but I think all of us may have had some doubts about our first berthing experience since the infamous Bursledon event, but in this case I was most chuffed to say I laid her alongside with no issues... lessons learned though - was definitely looking for the tide this time!
Food, chat, banter, a table outside as it was still stupidly warm for October even if it wasn't sunny and it was a good lunch... we had a flat calm for the trip back, but the wind started to slowly grow albeit right in the direction we wanted to go, so in the end the motor went on, and we were back on our home pontoon by 5'ish.
Brilliant day out - thanks for the invite Rodders!
Log:
Distance: 25.44 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): Bottom end of a F3, flat calm over midday; NW going NE after lunch
Sail Plan: Full main and genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots): 6.8/2.7
I wonder if the house that Uffa Fox used to to live in at Cowes has been turned into a Foxy Museum yet?
ReplyDeleteNot yet Alden, but you can get married there... :o))
Deletehttps://commodoreshouse.co.uk/
PS. In the picture on the website - the yellow striped awning on the right is where we had lunch..