Solent

On Sunday morning Sketter left at 08:00 to sail back to Shoreham. I had breakfast on Bombardier with Terry, Hazel, Tim and Bex. After breakfast, as the Fastnet boats were leaving their moorings, Terry hoisted Tim up Moon River’s mast to remove the remnants of the broken VHF aerial and fit Terry’s emergency one. Terry called me up from Bombardier on a working channel and my response was pronounced loud and clear.

Soon after, Bob and Angela arrived on Tehari II with guests Dominique and Andy aboard. They moored up just long enough for me to step aboard and then we motored off to the designated area near the Royal Yacht Squadron and anchored to watch the Fastnet starts.

First to start were the multihulls, tacking rapidly across the Solent, against the Westerly wind.

       

Bombardier also came out to watch, before heading off towards the Needles to watch the racers go by, before setting off for a week’s cruise in the Channel Islands and France.

As the various monohull classes started, it was apparent that most of the yachts were starting close to the other end of the start line at Gurnard Point, so we motored across to the Beulieau River entrance to get a closer view, as the racers tacked West down the Solent.

The gaffers Jolie Brise and Duet were easy to spot towards the back of Class 4 but we didn’t managed to see Zonpuka, in the same class, with skipper Giles and crew Sam, Sam, Roger, who made a good start and were soon past our position.

       

We were lucky enough to get close enough to see Truant in Class 3, tearing along Westward, with skipper Steve steering close hauled and crew Tim, Martin and Mike hiking on the side of the boat.

       

       

We were well west of the Beaulieau River entrance by the time we started to sail back to Gosport. As we headed east, we passed Windbrekker sailing west along the shoreline west of Cowes, close to the Fastnet fleet. She looked like she might be part of the race, but for the dinghy she was towing behind.

As we sailed passed Osbourne Bay we passed close to Bonita, sailing very well on a fine reach.

       

Nearing the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour, we passed another gaffer leaving, sailing towards the Isle of Wight.

We headed up into Portsmouth Harbour and berthed in Gosport marina.

       

Bonita came into Gosport marina soon after, and I went over briefly to say hello to Mike and his crew.

Back on board Tehari II, I was delighted when Angela produced a bottle of champagne to toast my success in completing the circumnavigation. I had a very enjoyable couple of glasses with her and Bob.

Bob, Angela, Andy, Dominique and I went to the Castle Tavern for a very convivial dinner. Then I returned to Sussex with Andy and Dominique, who had left their car parked at the marina, and dropped me at home on their way back to Brighton.