The joy of the Solent

[nicho]

[ QUOTE ]
The Solent is only busy on mid year weekends, especially bank holidays and sunny weekends. The rest of the year, if you go out in winter, or weekday evenings, you may not see another boat out between say Lymington and Cowes and back.

When it is busy, it's actually great fun to see so many boats out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it was a glorious day here in the Solent yesterday. 15C, steady southerly F4, but apart from a Sunsail fleet racing in a pretty confined area South of Stokes Bay, there was hardly anyone out. It really only gets busy on hot summer weekends, and of course it becomes completely manic during Cowes week. We love the place, and are quick enough to be out of it ,if we feel the need, in less than an hour!!

 

[nicho]

Re: Misanthropic, curmudgeonly Victor Mildrews

[ QUOTE ]
Well, from what I am seeing here, I'd far rather mix with the 'solent toffs' than the grumpy old gits slagging the place off!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's easy to pre judge people. We were in Yarmouth a few years ago, where it does get very busy, leading to boats often rafting several deep. The berthing masters do try to keep motorboats and yachts apart, but one day we returned in the dinghy to find a yacht rafted to us. As I climbed aboard, the yacht skipper said in a very loud 'plum in his mouth' voice......"I don't know how I'm going to tell my friends that I was rafted to a bloody stinkpot!"

"Don't worry old mate" I replied "you're about as welcome as a genital rash".

"Bloody hell" he said "that's really funny, care for a drink??"

We became firm friends over the next couple of days!

 

[colingr]

Re: Misanthropic, curmudgeonly Victor Mildrews

How to win friends and influence people at its very best /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[colingr]

Re: Misanthropic, curmudgeonly Victor Mildrews

As a Solent toff (not) I'll be out tomorrow and will happily talk to, wave at and be friendly to anyone I see.

Look out for an ickle Larson with me and swmbo probably heading from the Itchen to the Folly for lunch.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif