I'm jumping ahead of myself though, so assemblage of the entire team (all present for the first time in ages) at Rod's gaff just after 9, for an immediate start. The starter for ten plan was to head down to the moorings to see what conditions were like as the forecasts were almost universally showing F5 gusting 6. westerly'ish, but with a chance of rain as the day goes on...
As it turned out the sun was out, but it felt more than F5 when we got to the pontoons, the only agreement being the direction - absolutely bang on the nose for anywhere west of Portsmouth (which is just about everywhere). Given the abortive blast of two weeks before though, and as we were all there, it seemed a shame not go out and see what it was actually like.
Reefs were still in from a couple of weeks ago, so that was an easy decision, and as we headed for the harbour entrance it was pretty clear that the wind was a bit feisty. Pausing only to admire "Lutine" as she passed (looks like she was out on a charter as she was packed) we pressed on towards the forts, motor sailing to make some progress, the wind was gusty, and the sea was confused (wind against tide)
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| "Lutine", which is the name given to all Lloyd's of London Yacht Club's (LLYC) yachts - this is the fourth of that name; an X-Yachts designed X-55, built in 2010 and purchased by the Lloyd's Yacht Club in 2014. |
Main up , genoa rolled in and engine still on we tacked for the first time just past Spithead fort and had a go at making it west.. hideous, every time we got going a wave would slam the nose and bring us to a halt, but we persevered (and persevered), and despite 3 separate votes as to whether to bail out, we finally managed to get to Cowes after 4 hours of bashing to windward... we turned the engine on (just by Peel Bank buoy in the map) in order to get to Cowes in time for lunch rather than afternoon tea, and finally tied up in East Cowes at 14:30 - four and half hours after leaving Portsmouth!
Lunch and beers in the Ferryboat (very good) completed, it then came as a surprise to find it was 16:00 (too much chat 😁) but as we all say, for every uphill there's a downhill, and the trip back to Portsmouth was glorious.. the wind had continued to build over lunch time, to a solid F6, gusting F7, but the westerly meant a down wind drag race, with tide, and just the genoa, and hitting 6 and 7 knots SOG regularly. Four and half hours to get there, but just a couple to get back - steaming...
Excellent day out, good lunch, good banter, good sail, and a real achievement in getting to our destination - loved it...
Log:
Distance: 30.7 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F5 gusting F6 going F6 gusting F7 ; W
Sail Plan: Double reefed main and genoa morning / full genoa (only) afternoon
Speed (Max/average in knots): 7.5 / 3.3
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