Perfect day for some aerial photos

Yesterday was a memorable day. Leaving Swanage just before midday, we had insufficient wind to sail (again) so motored round to Lulworth Cove for an excellent lunch stop.

Thankfully, the wind began to fill in after lunch so we were able to set the Parasailor.

We decided to be brave enough to fly the drone to get some aerial shots. Landing it safely would be tricky as we'd have no way to quickly stop the boat if it all wen wring. Happily it went to plan!

There's a very short video of the photoshoot here: https://youtu.be/oI54WjKdDwg?si=MJSpMeSMVPQiCB-x

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.

 

And they're off - slowly!

This hasn't been a good sailing year for us, so far. Graham's work has definitely been a factor, but the weather (no wind in June, lots of wind in July and August) has meant that Maunie hasn't moved much. However, we now have a 2-week break and, unusually for us, set off eastwards for the Solent.

We usually avoid the south coast sailing Mecca because of the crowds and high mooring prices but we had someone important to see. So we left Dartmouth on Friday to motor in glassy, windless conditions for an overnight stop in Lyme Regis.

Our progress was slower than we'd hoped - Maunie was moving at only about 80% of her normal speed so clearly her time on the mooring had attracted klingons on her hull. Graham jumped over the side with snorkel and scraper and removed weed and a surprising number of mussels and barnacles which definitely improved things but we'll be looking for an option to get the boat lifted for a proper pressure-wash before we go much further.

Saturday dawned equally calm but at least this allowed us to get a drone photo as we passed the Needles at the western tip of the Isle of Wight.

We arrived in darkness into Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, the very same place where we started and finished the Round Britain Challenge race 20 years ago. Our pontoon berth was right next to the boats we'd come to see; the following morning was to be the start of the Ocean Globe Race.

The OGR is a new round the world race, based on the old Whitbread Race of 50 years ago and featuring many of the original race boats including Pen Duick and the Swan 65 that Claire Francis skippered. Our old friend Fergus McDonald is taking part on a South African boat, a Swan 53, called Sterna. It was wonderful to see him and to be in the midst of the slightly chaotic start - we motored out with the fleet and followed them in very light conditions:

Fergus' boat, Sterna

The oldest (59) and youngest (23) crew members - Fergus and Aurora, who was at school with one of Fergus' daughters

If there was a prize for Best Dressed Crew

The all girl crew of Maiden

As we motored down towards the start in wet conditions, we passed our old boat, Gentoo!

Fergus' wife Helen (in the white cap) on another spectator boat

A slow start under spinnaker

Fergus contemplating the tidal challenges ahead - the tide would turn against them a couple of hours after the start

There's a little video of the day here : https://youtu.be/LCUNxJ63BzI?si=lNQf5vCZu8ta-cYx

Thankfully the breeze did materialise enough to allow the boats to beat the tide (we thought they might have to anchor at one point!) and they are now off on the first leg to Cape Town.