Falcon71
New member
I'm recovering, but only just!!
We have just spent 3 days in the Solent, brushing up on my driving and parking skills, doing a little light nav planning and plotting, whilst HE practised his blind nav, all was going well.
But then with our favourite instructor HE decides to do some night nav. What did I let myself in for?
How are you supposed to see anything, let alone dim flashing lights of indeterminate colour in the rain and swell? We can't go at any speed, so the boat's rocking and rolling. Lets go to Wootten Creek, then the Forts, then back up to Port Solent - great idea. Endless hours later, we get to Portsmouth Harbour, I've already totally lost my sense of humour when an MOD dory bursts upon the scene, the lights go red, and they tell us we can't go in! There's a military exercise going on, a warship is coming out, turning around and then going back in again (pretty pointless if you ask me) the ferrys, pilot boats and us are wallowing outside. 40 minutes later we get to go in, and finally with lots of torch waving to look at pole numbers we get to Port Solent, where the finally END came.
When I went downstairs I found that my make up bag had jumped down the loo (yes I know someone should have put the lid down). Large restorative drinks required for the rest of the night.
We have just spent 3 days in the Solent, brushing up on my driving and parking skills, doing a little light nav planning and plotting, whilst HE practised his blind nav, all was going well.
But then with our favourite instructor HE decides to do some night nav. What did I let myself in for?
How are you supposed to see anything, let alone dim flashing lights of indeterminate colour in the rain and swell? We can't go at any speed, so the boat's rocking and rolling. Lets go to Wootten Creek, then the Forts, then back up to Port Solent - great idea. Endless hours later, we get to Portsmouth Harbour, I've already totally lost my sense of humour when an MOD dory bursts upon the scene, the lights go red, and they tell us we can't go in! There's a military exercise going on, a warship is coming out, turning around and then going back in again (pretty pointless if you ask me) the ferrys, pilot boats and us are wallowing outside. 40 minutes later we get to go in, and finally with lots of torch waving to look at pole numbers we get to Port Solent, where the finally END came.
When I went downstairs I found that my make up bag had jumped down the loo (yes I know someone should have put the lid down). Large restorative drinks required for the rest of the night.
