We Didn't Mean to go to Sea

by Jean and Ian Sandell

With Sea Holly in dry dock this winter, the January Cruise seemed a good opportunity for Jean and me to go sailing. Unfortunately, Jean had a choir rehearsal in Dorking on Saturday morning. We spoke to Gerry Raby and he said that would not be a problem as the west flowing tide would not start until the afternoon and he arranged to pick us up from the Civil Service moorings by Clarence Yard in Gosport.

Blue Scherzo, Gerry's Sadler 32, moored on a hammerhead at 1400. On board with Gerry were Roger, who we had introduced to Ashdown SC about 7 years ago, and Roger's friend Mark. We had lunch and left Gosport about 1500, in about 10 knots of wind from the South East. Gerry suggested putting up the spinnaker and we were glad of Mark's spinnaker experience. With 5 knots of boat speed and a fair tide we were soon approaching Cowes. A crew conference agreed to continue on to Lymington and we enter the yacht haven at about 1730.

After pre-prandials on board, we walked up to the Town Yacht club and had a pleasant, leisurely meal. Back on board BS, Gerry produced a variety of after dinner drinks and we sat around chatting. I can't remember now who suggested sailing round the Island on Sunday but I do remember we all thought it was a good idea at the time. The almanac came out and a departure time 0700 agreed.

Rather surprisingly, everyone was up in time on Sunday morning and we caught the last of the flood in a light southwesterly down to the needles. There was not much enthusiasm for full English breakfast, probably due to an excess of Gerry's cocktails, but Mark cooked bacon butties a little later for those who wanted them.

The sail round the south of the Island was very pleasant. The wind picked up to about 10 knots and we made good progress past Freshwater and on towards St Catherine's, gybing and goosewinging up to Bembridge. We were soon heading north towards Portsmouth, arriving at the Civil Service moorings just 23 hours since leaving. After lunch, Jean and I left BS to continue her journey back to Port Solent.

It isn't often that a weekend cruise circumnavigates the Island and to do so in such pleasant conditions in January must be quite rare.