Tall Ships kind of a day..

The end of the season is fast approaching and the Jolly Boys are extremely aware that we're about to enter the six month fast, the desert of no sailing, light, or sunshine - so an opportunity with a not quite quorum was grabbed (Dave was otherwise occupied at Duxford) as it could quite possibly be the last sail of the year on AmiLy (bar the delivery for lift out which Rodders already has booked at the end of the month). 

No news yet on Sparrow's lift, though I have already received two duties for the lift out week in the first week of October so I know it's not far away

Anyway - we've had weeks of wind in the aftermath of Hurricane Erin - she is now well gone but the "aftershocks" seem to have lasted for weeks...  it's been day after day of F5's and 6's, including a memorable day last week of F8's gusting 9, so the opportunity for a day out on the water was grabbed with all hands - and it turned out to be a keyhole as the wind was back the next day...

Anyway - convened at Rods gaff at 9, and we were on the boat with sails ready, engine warming, and mooring lines singled up by quarter past 10 - HT was approximately 10:45 so we were looking to take advantage of the west going tide..

Initial concerns focussed round the lack of wind - it was forecast F3 but there was precious little about as we motor sailed past SHABAB OMAN II, moored alongside in the dockyard  the first of two tall ships to be seen that day..

...all the signs were that there wasn't much wind about as we passed through the harbour entrance...

...when bugger me if not half an hour later it filled in. 

NW'ly as promised, and we then had a most excellent beat all the way to Cowes - how nice for it to be (not quite) on the nose as it normally is - and a healthy F3 gusting occasional F4 saw us turning in a solid stream of 5's SOG before we dropped the main off Cowes at 1'ish for lunch at the Lifeboat (it couldn't not be really, given this was likely to be the last time we got there until next year)

Quite possibly the finest burger in Christendom - the "Greek One" at the Lifeboat in Cowes..  11/10...

A quick nap after lunch, and we were back on the water at about half three, heading home in time for the change of tide - the main was raised just after we passed this beauty (built in 1869) - our second tall ship of the day..

TS Belem - not my photo unfortunately

..and we were then on our way - the wind had switched while we were eating and for the trip home it was a (slightly stronger) SW'ly that saw us turning in tidal assisted 6's SOG almost all the way home, and that was after we rolled the genoa away as being no more than an irritation behind the main....

Back on the pontoon at about half 6*, we had to agree that it was one of the best sails we've had this year - almost wall to wall sunshine and a decent breeze all day..  fantastic..

*slight delay as we were waiting for this understated number to depart, but they took so long that "bugger it" quoth we, and snuck in while they were sorting out.. 😏

Virgin Cruises "Scarlet Lady" - which allowed Rod the final snigger "it's not every day you see a scarlet ladies arse"... 😁

.."a scarlet ladies arse"..

Going to SO miss these Solent trips over the next few months.. 😕

References: 

• SHABAB OMAN II - Sail Training International
• BELEM - Sail Training International

Log:

Distance: 28.26 (cumulative total in the mileage tab at the top)
Wind (Speed; Direction): F3 AM going F4 PM ; WNW AM going SW PM
Sail Plan: Full main / full & no genoa
Speed (Max/average in knots): 6.8 / 2.9