Lady Emma  ’ Solent sailing 9/10 March 2013  – report by Bob Buchanan

Bob Buchanan  and Becky Goddard  & Lady Emma’s regular crew of Colin, Kevin & David

We all met at Ocean Quay on Friday and had our usual drinks/meal with one of Becky’s pies.

Saturday. After a full English breakfast we set off for Lymington at 11.30. It was light S/W winds and the tide was springs and would be with us all the way. We put the main up and no2 Genoa. We put the no 2 Genoa on as the weather for Sunday was stronger winds so we didn’t have to change sails. On the way we phoned the Island Sailing Club in Cowes and booked a Sunday lunch.

The sun was out and we were having a very good sail towards Lymington when we noticed fog coming in from the west. First, Hurst Castle disappeared, then Yarmouth, then Lymington. We thought about turning back, but then saw the outer mark (Jack in the Basket) to Lymington; we followed the posts in and berthed at Berthon marina. That night we had a meal in an Indian restaurant, then back to the boat for a nightcap.

Sunday. We were up very early to get a 08.30 start. A quick cup of tea and we were ready to go. The weather forecast was F6 N/E. We actually got away at 08.15. Out in the Solent we put the main up with 2 reefs and the no.2 Genoa. It was a very good sail and the wind was well into the F6 as forecast. At 10.00hrs a gale force warning was put out for the Wight area. It was F8/9 imminent possibly F10. We all decided that the best thing to do was to get back to Southampton, and give the Sunday lunch at the I.S.C a miss. This was the second time in two trips that we had to cancel.

By the time we got to Southampton Water the air temperature had started to drop and the wind was picking up a bit. Becky had just made some bacon sarnies (she cooks quite well at 45°) and they went down very well with everyone as we were all very cold and thinking of the Sunday roast that we were missing. By the time we got to the Itchen River it was starting to snow. We berthed at Ocean Quay and Becky cooked a meal for us.

Lady Emma is now being moved to Haslar marina, so the next report will be a bit different, we hope.