First Sail holiday of the season, a mini break to the Isle of Wight. Marina’s seem pretty full but as the weather is fairly light and settled we can always anchor.
The weather shows light Easterly for the the next few days. Then getting stronger Tuesday to Wednesday.
Tide. L W 0520 Swanage and Cowes Hw 1301
Navvy suggests heading out to sea, presumably to make best use of the flood tide. If we leave by 07:30 We should make it to Cowes before the tide turns foul.
I think that the default values Savvy uses for tacking angles+ boat speed are a bit wishful thinking. With my 15 year old saggy sails she no longer points nor sprints very well. I can see the old cast iron sail being used if we’re behind schedule.
Well, we were a little late getting away but only by 10 minutes. A bit murky, but the wind was slightly more than forecast and we were soon speeding along at 7-8 knots under main and genoa. There wasn’t a lot of traffic about, at least not in the mile radius around the boat which was roughly the visability. Following the Savvy Navvy course recommendation we made good time up to the needles.
Arriving here by 10:00. Reaching Hurst 50 mins later, we were caught napping when hit by a wind shift of 90° followed rapidly by a dead calm Right in the swirling waters off Hurst Castle. We started the engine and quickly dropped the sails before continuing on our course.
Coming past the Yarmouth – Lymington ferry the engine began to falter. Contaminated fuel again. A quick filter change whilst piroetting in the main channel and we were back on course. Got to Cowes entrance 10 mirs after the tide turned, motored up to the Folly Inn to berth at 1300.
Time for a Cream Tea
4 Kidneys and a Wonky Leg 