After a quiet night at Eling, we awoke to a calm and sunny day. We motored past six docked cruise ships and the boat show in flat calm water. No wind and motored all the way. Many fish and birds opposite Fawley. Berthed at high water Deacons. No current. It feels hot. 

Eling to Deacons

Overnight thrusters from an arriving cruise ship made a loud scary noise. 

Left Marchwood just after 8am and motored into a cool light northerly wind on calm water. Passed busy cranes feeding container ships. Plenty of water passing Goatee beach. Arrived and berthed in 1.5M of water by the sailing club, and found Indianna had arrived just before us. Glorious sunshine. 

Marchwood to Eling

A motor genoa beat without tacking. Calm waters. Sun. Cool to chilly in the wind. Our first sail in a long time and it went well. We departed after visiting the Southampton boat show and buying very little. 

Deacons to Marchwood

Left Newport and exited without any hint of grounding. Got the main up past the Folly and continued to have a fab sail across the Solent with a more than adequate wind in calm conditions. Motored up the Hamble at slack water and berthed without fuss, greeted by Paul and Donna of Indiana. 

Newport to Deacons

Needed to vacate East Cowes before 3pm. Set off slowly for Newport and anchored in 1.3 metres of water just before the rowing club. Very windy indeed. Fortress anchor took hold on the second attempt. 

East Cowes to Newport approach 

Had a very peaceful night rafted against Sophia in Newtown. Awoke to a sunny start then cloudy with a good breeze. 

Departed into an ebbing tide but with Genoa alone we made 3 knots or more all the way to Cowes. Smooth at first then a following swell. All on control and enjoyable. East Cowes have space to 2.30pm then we will move to Newport and wait for the tide before entering. 


Newtown to East Cowes 

Calm conditions in a dull drizzling morning. Motored with genoa. Arrived at low water as the conditions brightened. Moored alongside anchored Sophia. 

Deacons to Newtown 

A dull start with a gentle SW wind and a calm sea. Motor genoa journey on a rising tide. All very pleasant and nice to zoom up the Hamble with the tide. Saw Idiana exiting the Hamble. 

East Cowes to Deacons

A last minute decision to stay out and not return home after the rally barbecue. A very calm day with a light breeze later. We motored in glassy water to Calshot the unfurled the genoa for assistance. E Cowes marina is still full after Cowes Week racing but they called back having found us an owners empty berth. Excellent! Tied up on a long pontoon and headed for Goddards brewery. 

Town Quay Southampton to East Cowes

A pleasant genoa only sail to joint the PSSA rally. Wind varying from strong to modest, beam to nose. Lots of help to tie up upon arrival. 

Ken Surplice