Dolphin!

We may have needed that (left)...   😋

Just back from a hugely enjoyable (and very lucky) trip with the Jolly Boys..  Rodders came up with the idea of doing these fortnightly as it coincides with optimal tides on his pontoon mooring, and I think this season we'll continue this for as long as we can (holiday and family commitments notwithstanding)..

We're also very boring, as all of us love Cowes, so yet again this was our target for the day, for no other reason than the sailing is the point of the day rather than the destination, but a plate of fish and chips in the Island Sailing Club is also a huge draw! 😀

So, conjoined at Rod's crib at half 9, on the boat by 10, and a mere half an hour later dropped the mooring lines (we're a well oiled machine these days) and I was reversing AmiLy out of the berth. 

Glorious morning with wall to wall sunshine and a vaguely SE'ly breeze, which gave us optimal time for a gentle tide assisted westerly run, drinking tea, eating triple chocolate biscuits, and on this occasion being HUGELY cheered by the sighting of a dolphin passing west to east, just off our port side..  fantastic! 😊

Just off  Gilkicker and we decided to hoist the "big blue meany" as the winds were light and although progress was being made it was too good an opportunity not to use it..

Cowes ahead and the meany flying..  what a lovely day...

Called ahead for a lunch time mooring and the only option was on the outside pontoon as they were expecting a rally - bit rolly, but all fenders deployed, we headed off for aforesaid fish and chips - which were as ever bloody delish.. 

Rodders kicking his boat...  yes we wondered why too..  😆

Tide wasn't due to turn in our favour until 17:20'ish so having stuffed our faces it was back to the boat for coffee and cake while we waited ..  the timing was yet again optimal, as the Heavens opened and it poured with rain while we sat there, but as the tide was turning the skies cleared, the sun came out and the wind went westerly for another nice reach back to home port..  told you it was a lucky day..

Back on the home mooring by half 7'ish and home for well earned sleep...  brilliant trip.

Log:

Distance: 25 miles (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction):  AM: F2/SSE / PM: F3/WNW
Sail Plan: Full main and asymmetric or genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots): 7.8 / 2.2