More light winds but Maunie has a clean bottom

After the excitement of the Ocean Globe Race start, we headed into Gosport for a couple of nights in the excellent Haslar Marina. The stop-over gave us the chance to restock the galley and to use the amazing piece of kit called the Boat Lift. This is a submersible platform into which you motor the boat; two vertical columns, one either side, then move together to hold her upright before a huge compressor fills ballast tanks with air to lift you clear of the water.

Once high and dry we watched Stuart and his assistant meticulously pressure wash the weed, slime and barnacles from Maunie’s bottom; anything washed off was gathered into a sump to be pumped through a filtering system - an hour later the valves were opened and the ballast tanks filled to return her to the water. The difference in boat speed is really noticeable - we get an extra ½ to ¾ knot for the same engine speed!

From Gosport we took a while to honour a final request from Di's dearly departed dad, Brian. We scattered his ashes at Spithead, a place where, in 1953, his Royal Navy destroyer had taken part in the Spithead Review for Queen Elizabeth's coronation, so it's a fitting spot.

After thinking about this lovely man with fond and happy memories, we hoisted the sails and had a nice beat westwards down the Solent (at last some decent wind - thanks, Dad!) We came to a nature reserve at Newtown on the Isle of Wight for a peaceful night on a mooring before setting off with the following morning’s tide to Poole Harbour. We flew the spinnaker for about half the passage, until the wind completely died (again!) It’s the most wind-free cruise we’ve ever experienced.

We managed to secure a visitors berth in the Haven at Poole Yacht Club, thanks to the super-helpful manager Stan, so had a lovely catch up with Graham’s uncle and aunt, Laurie and Sue, who are members there. The following morning dawned foggy but it quickly burned off to reveal a sunny day with enough breeze to sail round to Swanage. It’s an open anchorage with moorings provided by the sailing club and we dinghied ashore for a great walk out to the Anvil Point lighthouse.

Beating past Old Harry Rocks

The Great Globe at Dulston Country Park

Anvil Point lighthouse

Today promises a little wind so we hope to be able to fly the spinnaker round to Weymouth then we’ll head west around Portland Bill on Saturday. We’re eying the forecast for next week with some caution – brisk SW’lies are on the cards as something of a contrast.