Cloona
Well-Known Member
We had spent some time getting a part for the Seagull outboard and had the engine running fabulously well in the water filled dustbin in "the Bruv's" back garden. So we were full of optimism for our first proper voyage on our newly acquired pocket cruiser - Cloona.
All our high hopes were turned to dust when the much praised Seagull just wouldn't start and the tide was ebbing away from our high water only berth. The wind and weather was fine so finally we simply embarked and made sail slipping away into Portsmouth Harbour without any clear plan now we were engineless.
It was a fine day and the gentle westerly breeeze soon had us past the Gosport ferry and the Ballast mark amidships when a large ferry began to loom into view in the deep
water channel. It seemed only prudent to keep well away so we tacked in towards Hasler marina until the Pride of Bilbao had passed. The ebb was running and without enough breeze to push us back against the tide we slid out of famous Portsmouth Harbour and into the Solent for the very first time.
A few hours later we were off Cowes and blessed with a late afternoon onshore breeze made it up the Medina under genoa alone. We grabbed the sides of a converted Motor Torpedo Boat and got ashore thanks to a happy gang of off-duty RN submariners who took our lines and pulled Cloona alongside their 16ft Motorboat. A fun evening ensued and the happy matelows left after midnight with much beer in their bellies, one of their number hanging off the pushpit and "the Bruv" aboard for the trip to Gosport.
I took Cloona out at 0530 and enjoyed one those magical early morning sails along the green north Wight shore. Patricia joined me in the cockpit for a late light breakfast and
by 11.30 we were heading back into Pompey. To top off a fabulous day my father was out and about in Gosport and took these great photos of Cloona against both the modern and ancient aspects of Portsmouth. Our debut on the famous home of yachting was done.
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South Coast Adventures 1 - Maiden Voyage.
Having bought this little princess in Newhaven we got her rigged and out into Portsmouth harbour one happy May day. It was also my debut on the south coast and a duly joyful occasion unspoilt by the refusal of the Seagull to even create a spark. Fortunately the vessel was properly equipped - with a suitable paddle The picture was taken by my father, a Gosport boy who can remember the D-day embarkation from nearby Hardway and who thought it would be an ideal spot to start out on our adventures.
All our high hopes were turned to dust when the much praised Seagull just wouldn't start and the tide was ebbing away from our high water only berth. The wind and weather was fine so finally we simply embarked and made sail slipping away into Portsmouth Harbour without any clear plan now we were engineless.
It was a fine day and the gentle westerly breeeze soon had us past the Gosport ferry and the Ballast mark amidships when a large ferry began to loom into view in the deep
water channel. It seemed only prudent to keep well away so we tacked in towards Hasler marina until the Pride of Bilbao had passed. The ebb was running and without enough breeze to push us back against the tide we slid out of famous Portsmouth Harbour and into the Solent for the very first time.
A few hours later we were off Cowes and blessed with a late afternoon onshore breeze made it up the Medina under genoa alone. We grabbed the sides of a converted Motor Torpedo Boat and got ashore thanks to a happy gang of off-duty RN submariners who took our lines and pulled Cloona alongside their 16ft Motorboat. A fun evening ensued and the happy matelows left after midnight with much beer in their bellies, one of their number hanging off the pushpit and "the Bruv" aboard for the trip to Gosport.
I took Cloona out at 0530 and enjoyed one those magical early morning sails along the green north Wight shore. Patricia joined me in the cockpit for a late light breakfast and
by 11.30 we were heading back into Pompey. To top off a fabulous day my father was out and about in Gosport and took these great photos of Cloona against both the modern and ancient aspects of Portsmouth. Our debut on the famous home of yachting was done.
]
South Coast Adventures 1 - Maiden Voyage.
Having bought this little princess in Newhaven we got her rigged and out into Portsmouth harbour one happy May day. It was also my debut on the south coast and a duly joyful occasion unspoilt by the refusal of the Seagull to even create a spark. Fortunately the vessel was properly equipped - with a suitable paddle The picture was taken by my father, a Gosport boy who can remember the D-day embarkation from nearby Hardway and who thought it would be an ideal spot to start out on our adventures.
