Voyage over on 2nd August!

Colette is now back on her mooring
1800 nm completed since leaving on

29th May

Thanks to all for your messages and sponsorship.
Mon 1 Jun

Cowes to Buckler's Hard via Newtown Creek

Re-stocked our supplies; completed a couple of jobs; left Shepherd's Marina.

Another beautiful day; unbelievable!

A short and gentle sail. We explored Newtown Creek; a pretty anchorage to the west, recommended for viewing by John Preston on 'Boadicea', keeping a day or so ahead en route to the Scillies.

Made contact with Mike Berry and Roger Tilley to update arrangements for them joining us.

The very attractive Beaulieu River looked at its best under blue sky and bright June sun. We enjoyed a languid sail under genoa and made our way to historic Buckler's Hard; refuelled; moored up at our berth reserved the previous evening.

A short walk to the Master Builder for an afternoon 'bevvy' then back to 'Colette' to prepare supper. A short sharp shower didn't stop us enjoying our meal in the cockpit when the bright evening sunshine was rapidly restored.

Contact was made with Giles and Julia Wade and an arrangement for mooring alongside 'Flapper' in Poole for Wednesday and Thursday evening was set.

Day Run 14nm

Total 199nm
Tues 2 Jun

Buckler's Hard to Yarmouth via Cowes and Lymington

We are becoming blase about blue sky mornings, but enjoyed yet another. Why returning to Cowes?. Well, Chappie realised that his watch was missing and remembered he'd left it on the shower's coin slot in Cowes; so we returned to collect. The lady he telephoned at Shepherd's Marina was unable to help. A very slow beat against 3.5kn tide took some while. Moored up alongside, Chappie went but failed to retrieve; not to be found!

We pressed on to Lymington and after a circuit of the harbour, moored to a pontoon for lunch.

So, on to Yarmouth. We waited for a Lymington car ferry to enter and followed in. The Harbour Master berthed us for an overnight stay. Water taxi ashore for a stroll around the smallest , but pretty town on the island. Called in to the Royal Solent Yacht Club and then to the Wheatsheaf for a couple of pints followed by an ice cream. By the way, Chappie had found his watch on his bunk on arrival. Guess who bought the beers?

A Chilli con carne in the cockpit on this beautiful warm evening sunset before completing this log.



Day Run 19nm

Total 218nm

Wed 3 Jun

Yarmouth to Poole

Left Yarmouth on yet another warm and sunny morning at 09.00 but without wind. Headed Colette in a westerly direction and with a three knot current in our favour we soon passed Hurst Point and had the Needles abeam of us shining brightly. Happy Snapper got to work again. The breeze coming from the south west increased, so hoisted the sails and in next to no time we were entering Poole Swash channel. There followed a pleasant motor run up to the town quay, where we waited for the 2.30 opening of the bridge. A quarter of an hour later we located 'Flapper's' mooring upstream of the bridge and secured after yet another wonderful day.

We were pleased to welcome Giles aboard for a beer. He'd sailed round in his Fairey Duckling from 'Flapper,' anchored in the next bay, to meet Julia from work.

 


Day Run 25nm

Total 243nm
 


Thu 4 Jun

A day spent in Poole

A good night's sleep; shower on board; ran ashore to replenish stocks. We walked to the Town Quay and bought our Irish Courtesy Flag & Irish Sea Charts.

Looked around the Poole Museum. Very well presented artefacts from the locality. Amazed at the number and size of the Sunseeker Yachts across the harbour.

Welcomed 'Flapper', Giles and Julia on return to their mooring.

Revisited the RNLI training college for a dinner in their restaurant where we had met Ross from West Mersea Marine the previous evening. He looked as surprised to see us as we were him. Ross, as well as all the great work he does in the 'Burmah Rd' is a helm on our West Mersea Lifeboat and its engineer. He was on a mechanics update course

Day Run 2nm
(but not included as they were runs ashore in the dinghy)

Total 243nm

Fri 5 Jun

Poole to Weymouth

Very little wind so much motoring. Lulworth Cove was visited for lunch; a beautiful natural anchorage. Just round the corner, the famous 'Durdle Door'.

Moored at Weymouth's Custom House Quay.

Time to say a fond farewell to Gordon and Geoff whose company we had enjoyed immensely; but great pleasure in welcoming our friend Roger, who was delivered to us by Geoff's wife and daughter, Jill and Sara, who also took Gordon home.

Shower and weekly wash at the harbour facilities.

Early beer at the Royal Dorset Yacht Club.

Many of you will remember the story of Sir Thomas Lipton, having been 'Black Balled' by the Royal Yacht Squadron (after all, he was in trade), turned up at Cowes flying a large flag with MOBYC. On enquiry he explained that it was , "My own Bloody Yacht Club". The old member assured us that Lipton's club was the Royal Dorset and he invited us to see some of their historic paintings and memorabilia.

Day Run 31nm

Total 274nm
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