Cowes Torquay again

[jhr]

So, plainly I was being girlier than a very girly thing about the weather, because it was as flat as a pancake on the Solent this morning and I went out to watch the start of the CTC. A bit of a damp squib, I thought, because they staggered the starts and the grand spectacle of lots of raceboats heading down the Solent, accompanied by a RedJet catamaran, didn't really happen. Anyway, it was still quite fun.

Having watched the start, I headed back home, pausing for several hours to enjoy RickP's hospitality on his beautiful Elling. As he was moored up in the Beaulieu River, it would have been rude not to . Many thanks, Rick - and Mrs RickP - for a very enjoyable time. We saw a chopper heading up the Solent after lunch, and agreed that it was probably shadowing the winner, which might have been a RIB or something, but were too relaxed to go and have a look.

Nice day, anyway.

 

[epervier]

Saw RickP entering the river entrance about 0900 this morning, I was making my way up to seagull island,but run against a mirror in the middle of the Solent, so mesmerized was I, I followed it all the way back to Cowes.

and then entered a hall of mirrors, bloody sunseekers everywhere

then saw this happy chappy of this Parrish,

the start was a complete horlicks, it nearly made you go to sleep, red jet set off from the start went past gurnard turned round and went back to cowes, a star flare went up red jet turned round again the race started about 1/2 hour behind schedule

and these two were the only two big boats I saw! the day of thunder roaring off the line,

sadly was not today! wished I kept going and met up with you guys.

it's better to remember it as it was, rather than visit it today, as JHR says, a bit of a damp squib.

 

[rickp]

Good to see you again jhr - made for a very convivial morning and lunch. We seem to meet up once a year, around this time - but going to miss you in Cherbourg this year.

Completely missed epervier, sorry!

As I said, we'd seen Mike Perham on our way over - along with Hunter who'd come out to escort him in. Also passed over some bacon sarnies which was a nice touch. Got a couple of photos:

Wind did get up in the afternoon though - typical bank holiday weather