Back to Port Solent

Andy Riches

Good sleep on bouy. Got up around 0800 and slowly coffee’d and pan aux chocolat . Nik went to have shower but looked up Yarmouth rates for the bouy. £60!! So almost on the instant we dropped the bouy and left, initially planning to motor to Newtown creek entrance and anchor for tide to ease, but in the end decided to push tide and head on. Once Nik showered we got jib out and sailed. Wind from just forward of beam, quite slow although initially some strong gusts pushed us along. Stayed close in to svoid a bit of tide . About 1 1/4 against. Got main up once gusts calmed. And had a lovely sail up and past Cowes. Close hauled once at Cowes to make Gilkicker. Gusty crossing Cowes of course. Quite calm until approaching Gilkicker, showing about 12.3 true but seemed more. Quite leaning now, Nik looked worried at times but braved it. Heard Duncan was approaching. Flew past Gilkicker and towards Apple channel. Bore off a touch and eased sails - Touched 8 knots. Really flying now! Once at main channel bore off and everything calmed right down. Rolled jib and centred main at last Red. Dropped sail off hard way and motored up channel worrying about Customs. Tried phoning but the number given for Portsmouth only seems to be a week time number and not at weekends. Through lock and on to C27. Felt strange being back at Port Solent. A mixture of relief and sadness at our adventure country a close. Met Luke on pontoon. Later got text from border force welcoming us to UK snd authorising us to lower W flag. Worry all for nothing!