Day Sailing

[Rappey]

For some the destination seems set in stone and even come across as the actual sailing is a chore to be endured to achieve the destination.
I go out to enjoy sailing the boat and it really doesnt matter where i go , stay in the harbour or venture out into the solent.
I see some that arrive at their boats and spend hrs fannying around before final departure .
Within 5 mins of arriving at my mooring im away with the sails up..
In my 20,s i had a lifting keeled gaff in a boatyard right next to where i worked. At lunch when the tide was up we would go out for a quick lunchtime sail up and down the harbour and would be back at work within the hour.
In the winter there are 3 of us with a boat each. We sail our boats somewhere, spend the night at anchor. You get to sleep on your own boat ( no one waking you up using the heads or snoring ) The next day we sail home.. its always an unspoken race whilst glued to the ais to see who is going faster

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Our sailing can’t be quite so spontaneous, we’re moored south of the yar swing bridge I feel it might cause a bit of a stir if we started sailing about in a 30ft x 24ft trimaran there. It takes about 40mins from being on board to being under sail in the Solent.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Wew're on a swinging mooring in Chichester and it is a good hour to get to the West Pole. Sometimes I can have a very rewarding overnight and never leave the harbour. Othertimes a good day sail leaving and returning to the mooring. Sometimes I just need to escape the harbour and get to open water. Escape busy summer weekends and dinghy racers.The only spoiler is having a clock dictating a return time forcing the engine on against the tide. That and two hours to get home minimum from picking up the mooring. Doesn't matter if it is just a day sail as long as it is not against the clock.

 

[Stemar]

Chi Harbour's a lovely place. A few years ago, we considered moving our boat, and that was one of the options, but we decided that we'd sooner keep it as a destination than have it be our home port.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Completely get that. But we had a fun evolution into sailing and started with a Wayfarer from Itchenor. The drive along with A27 from Brighton is quite far enough. Camping near Chichester and day sailing with the kids to East head. Then I twigged having a floating caravan, no trailing, no dragging Camping gear. And swimming off the boat. We have not grown out of that even if the kids are grown up. If Portsmouth, Southsea or the Hamble were more convenient to access it would be a good question, lots of Solent destinations on your doorstep, but driving any further is a real deterent. We pay for it with a frequent slog west on the boat instead. And our swinging mooring is pricey too.

 

[MADRIGAL]

I thought it was just me… My solution was to sell up. But perhaps a small, low maintenance day boat might be a good alternative?

Wayfarer