Picked the right week - loads of piccys

[stuartwineberg]

Had a "grab and go" opportunity last week and took it. Toured the Solent and had what I reckon was my best week ever on a boat. We're in Swanwick, SWMBO wanted to shop in Gunwharf so we dipped into Gosport for a free lunch stop - Clipper yachts everywhere plus loads of activity, film crews etc. All the photos are from a phone so HenryF shouldn't feel threatened by the quality

A depleted credit card later and off up to Port Solent for another free stop - rather pleased we made that decision - it was a calm day but the rolling and snatching at the mooring lines in Gosport was horrible. Great stop over in PS, fuelled up and out on the free flow heading for Bembridge next day with some fabulous views of Portchester Castle

ipad plotter now an established part of the kit on board - much easier to read than the photo appears

Bembridge busy but not manic - loads of kids crabbing - hint - if you want to keep a group of kids quiet for an entire day this is the way. Berthing masters were excellent - even found us a space against the pontoon on the residents' side because we had a dog with us. Took a walk round to Bembridge at low tide - very varied selection of houseboats there - even one as a B&B (not the one in the photo)

Dinner on board - amazing what you can do with 2 gas rings

Lovely end to the day

Next day up to Cowes for lunch and over to Hayles at Yarmouth to meet friends (heck of a lot cheaper than the main Yarmouth marina). Dinner at the Royal Solent YC and over to the Folly for the next day and overnight. If you haven't been up to Wippingham Church - you should. Queen Victoria's local church when on the island. Uffa Fox is buried there as well - fascinating. All done in superb conditions. Quite a shock this morning mind you as we battled wind over tide back up towards Southampton Water - some big waves slopping into the side of us and sending water over the top. It was a relief to turn up towards Hamble entrance and have the sea behind us.

Now back home welcoming a house full of Bank Holiday B&B guests and looking forward to the next one

 

[Quest]

Good stuff. Glad you had a good time - best ever week on board sounds great.
Andrew

 

[rafiki_]

Yep, very good report. Many thanks, sounds like a fantastic week.

 

[FalconSteve]

Thanks for sharing your pics, looks like it really was a bargain as well (at least in boating terms) . I'll definitely try hayles next time I'm visiting Yarmouth.

 

[Switch]

Great post, thanks. I travelled back from Lymington to Porstmouth yesterday and agree with you about the wind over tide conditions (very lumpy). Apart from that I had a great week visiting Cowes, Newtown creek, Yarmouth, Alum Bay and finally Lymington. It made a change taking the right week off weather wise.

 

[blueglass]

great when it all (inc. the weather)comes together.

 

[rbcoomer]

Great post and love the fort - looks almost like you could sail through the front door!

Not so sure about the houseboat - looks a bit precarious and a little like the bottom is about to drop out

 

[Mike k]

great report thanks, sometimes the 'on the spur' of the moment outings, produces great results as is the case here. As a matter of interest how is your dinghy attached?

 

[henryf]

Ah, my neck of the woods. Nice shot of Porchester Castle and that fixer upper you found just needs a bit of glass work and it will be good as new. Blue buffs up really well. Let T-cut be your buddy

Henry

 

[stuartwineberg]

great report thanks, sometimes the 'on the spur' of the moment outings, produces great results as is the case here. As a matter of interest how is your dinghy attached?

She's on snap davits with stand off bars to hold her off the transom. I'm a big fan of them, had them on 2 boats now. You can test run the outboard with the dinghy firmly attached, safe and easy for crew and dog to get in and out and easy to drop into the water in an emergency. Downsides -easy to nip fingers when re-attaching it