Well after plenty of walking in Brighton we were underway 0945 to Portsmouth having waited for the tide to get out of the harbour. Very comfortable hour to be getting underway. We had a lovely motor sail to Portsmouth, the wind was light and I was able to do some sewing under way. As the Isle of White came into view the wind filled in and we flew the last 5-8 miles in 20 knots. Entering the harbour we had wind against tide and sloppy conditions. We figured we would drop the main in the harbour as well there was room and it was just too lumpy and breezy. Sheeted in tight and gybed twice, not so great but managed. We tried to go to the Hornet Sailing Club that Steve from MYC recommended. Oh man the wind was strong and Kalinka 1 is not good in reverse. We got broad side to the wind and had a hairy time so out and up to Gosport Harbour that we knew and had the hammer heads clear. We were assigned a dock but got blown onto the hammer head. Bye this stage the wind was very gusty and strong. A front was passing and coming fast.
Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Episode 7 Portsmouth
Monday, 30 May 2022
Episode 6 Brighton
Episode 6 Brighton
Brighton was so much fun and madness that we figured it needed a posting all on its own.
There is a month long Arts festival on while we were in town. Walking to the pier from the Marina was Mini's galore for about 3-4 KM they were packed in like sardines. London to Brighton rally 2022. The exhaust fumes in the air was thick and every where you turned there were more arriving and trying to park.
We had lunch on the pier of whiting and muscles then at the end with all the rollercoasters and haunted house we had a coffee and a brandy. The bar tender had not served this before we suspect. Check out our brandy glasses!
1st class people watching. Back to the boat for a quiet evening with feet up. Next day Breakfast at Wetherspoons, UGH never again! Can not stand that chain. We wanted an early start we were off to see the Royal Place and the "Lanes of Brighton".
Collected a few essentials
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Sunday, 22 May 2022
Episode 5 Life on the MYC pontoon and beyond.
Episode 5 Life on the MYC pontoon, and beyond to Brighton.
Saturday a big meeting in the club house for a big capital expense for the building. Cold sunny with showers, all good. The racing at the club is great fun to watch with multiple fleets. We were out of the way on the inside of the pontoon. Sunday we went to the Carvery at MYC and feasted with James and Vicki before they headed into work that evening. James had helped with getting the diesel jugs' filled on Saturday. We were trying to replace the primary fire extinguisher located beside the engine with a CO2 one. I almost paid 68 pounds when he found one on line for 25! Monday delivery. Monday Vicki pick me up for the last of the diesel and shopping back just as Rowland delivered the life raft re certified for another year. He brought some new inflating with harness life jackets for us to try. They are expensive and I was keen that they be comfortable for long wear times. Stiff shoulders and neck is not much fun so we think and hope we have gotten some comfortable ones with all the tech and lights. Vicky and James were back with the new CO2 extinguisher and some amazing fleece from their work - So cool!
Then we were off to a garden party at Heather and Alans, wonderful fun.
Tuesday came too soon. Sunday when some of the racers came in they invited us to join in the Tuesday cruise to Queensborough. This sounded too much fun, we were game. The tides were perfect we got carried down and then back up. This was the perfect shake down for us and we flew down under the head sail and tied up in Queensborough. The Harbour Master was miffed we had not called ahead, its a small place and blustery Tuesdays are busy when the tides are right. We paid the dues and got the gate codes and joined the others for a pre pub libation. The sea cadet training vessel TS Royalist was in port and drilling people through climbing to the yards and doing harbour stow of the square sails. We had last seen them on her predecessor by the same name when we were up in Inverness she was enroute to Amsterdam for the electronics and galley to be moved to the new vessel. The board of management figured it was cheaper and better to do this, Princess Anne is the lead supporter. We were then off up the high street and because the pub that was expecting us would not yet be open the one next to the port was so we waited in there out of the wind for everyone to "catch up". Then to the Rose for sandwiches and chips. What fun it was there were two boats single handing and one tri with his lovely dog and new members on older members boats and then new members on their own boats it was great to be part of. What a great club the MYC is.
Wednesday Noel was hammering away tiring to un cease the windlass and I was tucked in out of the wind sorting out the last blog posting. We then went up to the club. They like you to pre book to minimize waste with the food and keep things fresh well. We had not gotten to get that accomplished and they still fitted us in. We could have the last cod and then roast lamb. What a feast it was better then I would have figured out on board and we got to see Heather's pal Catherine and her husband. Thursday we were off, it was a beautiful day and the wind was light. We left a high water and had a lovely run out the estuary.