Sailing on “Lady Emma  ” 9/10 April 2011   – report by Bob Buchanan

Skipper. Becky Goddard 

Crew. Bob Buchanan  , Kevin Lay  , David Winks  , Colin Evans  and Hugh Hayward  (the yachts’ previous owner)

Friday. We all meet up on “Lady Emma” in Ocean Quay, Southampton and have a bit of a party night as we have not all got together for about five mounths.We were all treated to one of Becky’s special pies (steak & kidney) and after quantities of beer, wine & whisky it was time to get into our sleeping bags.

Saturday. We slipped our moorings at 10.45am and motored out into Southampton water. The wind was the top end of a F4 E/SE so we pulled up the main & no2 Genoa. We passed Calshot and headed for Yarmouth. Lady Emma had recently been out of the water for work to her & also had her bottom scrubbed. We were showing 7.5knts on the GPS but we had 1.5knts of tide against us (9knts through the water). It was our first sail of the year on “Emma” and it was a very good one.

We moored up in Yarmouth and soon had another yacht raft up to us. There is very little space as the middle of Yarmouth marina is still being worked on (new pontoons etc) That night we had a few beers in the “Bugle” then we had a meal in “The Blue Crab” The meals were between £15/20 per head, most were good but a couple were not so good. Then it was back to the boat via water taxi (the last one was at midnight).

Sunday. After a lie in, then breakfast, we slipped our moorings at 10.45am. The sun was out & the wind was not as strong as the day before. We set off for Cowes, close hauled with the main and no2 Genoa. With an east going tide we were showing up to 8.5knts through the water (about 2knts of tide with us). We entered Cowes & after refuelling, tied up for a few hours at Cowes yacht haven marina for lunch (£12.00 for up to 4hours)

We visited the Island Sailing Club and sat outside on the veranda in glorious sunshine drinking a few pints of Goddard’s. (Where have we heard that name before?)

We left Cowes just before 16.00 and sailed towards Southampton water, but the wind was starting to drop, so we had no option but to motor all the way up Southampton water & back to Ocean Quay. We berthed at Ocean Quay at 18.00, had a meal on board, tidied up “Lady Emma” then went home.

Total NM 38