Charter Reports
September 2008 - Isle of Wight Circumnavigation
We had glorious weather for our Sept weekend on a 13 yr old ‘Rassy’ - in good order but not the boat for light winds as very heavy and also surprisingly cramped for size. You would not want more than 4 aboard.
Phil and David arrived Thursday night and stayed on board after provisioning and clearing inventory. Friday morning was then just quick briefing by Doug and off at 10.15 (after coffee of course!). With a steady NE 4 we sailed on slack water just as tide was turning to flood, as far as Newtown Creek, then made about with an easterly, tacking all the way to Gilkicker, where we dropped sails and motored into Portsmouth, getting the last available berth in Gosport Marina at 5.40pm - a good day's non stop sailing (over 7 hrs).
Saturday was a disappointment - again a beautiful day but a light NE wind forecast to die - and it did quite early. We left
Motored on as true wind showing as 3.5 - 4knts; at St Kats hoisted sails for the hell of it, getting 2 knots thru water but with following tide 6 -7 over ground. This lasted for about an hour when we went back to motor, coming against the tide towards Needles. Despite being in last 2 hrs of the ebb-tide, we had 2.8 of tide against us until thru
Moored in
Had a great meal at a very nice Bistro at the back of town then finished off our port etc!!
Unfortunately I was rough next morning due to painkillers I had been taking all weekend for pulled chest muscle - a SERIOUSLY upset stomach which resulted in a 2 day diet of toast and boiled water!!
The guys took the boat back to Hamble - still no wind, and channel 16 lively with stranded vessels with engine trouble. In fact on this trip I did not touch a rope or controls apart from in and out of moorings - the way I felt it was just as well that Alec, Phil and David knew what they were doing.
In short, a very good weekend but not enough sailing.
Chas Watkins
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