Messing around in the Solent

Post date: Sep 05, 2015 6:59:12 PM

My last 4 passages have been in the Solent sampling a few of the multitude of ports in the area:

• Passage 45 took me into the delightful Beaulieu river

• Passage 46 took me up the yacht-infested Hamble river

• Passage 47 took me across to Cowes where I cycled round the whole Island (66 miles)

• Passage 48 took me back to the mainland to see the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

There's been precious little wind anyway, so I may as well explore this area while I'm here. Talking of wind, it seems that It's going to turn easterly for the next week which will make further progress more challenging. About time I got some serious sailing work to do, though.

I've got a rough idea of the remainder of my passages and I've made them all comparatively short hops (20 to 30 miles) because I need to pace myself to meet the agreed date of my arrival back in Burnham-on-Crouch: 3pm, Monday 14th September. That's when my wife is available to pick me up and take me home!

So just 8 days to go and it will be all over. I'm excited to be nearing the finish line. On the other hand, I know that I'll miss the experience; Soon back to normality...