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.