Friday 20 April
The last day of this trip and we could have a
relaxed start. We had to wait until the tide had come in sufficiently for us to
depart Cowes. It was very busy in the river, compared with places we have
recently visited, but this wasn’t busy at all for Cowes. We were berthed in
East Cowes Marina, a place we have visited many times before, enjoying their
excellent facilities. The sailing school boats were out in force, as last
evening, the pupils doing circuits and bumps, learning to park.
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| The familiar sight of UKSA at Cowes, a family favourite! |
We slipped lines at 10.30. How novel that seemed.
Once out in the Solent, as we knew it would be, the progress was slow against
the tide, but we had no choice with the limitation of when we could leave Cowes
and the time we wanted to arrive in Lymington. During the first half of the
journey there was little wind. Later, a sea breeze kicked in, but the wind was
on the nose so there was no angle to sail. We chugged along, enjoying the warm sunshine.
It was only a couple of hours until we turned to start our way up the channel.
It was Murphy’s law, that we met the ferry coming out when we were at the
shallowest part of the river. In keeping to the side of the channel, outside of
the ferry’s way, I don’t think we quite grounded, but the depth sounder
measured zero. We know it’s very soft mud on the bottom, so all would be well.
The berthing was tricky, into a very narrow slot but fortunately it all went
well, with a guy from the marina there to take lines and a workman on the large
motor cruiser next door ready with a roving fender.
We have crossed the track of our departure last
year, so have circumnavigated Britain, via the Baltic. Mission accomplished, we
have returned the boat from Germany.
Total distance covered -
Tricia (and Steve)
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