A cruise on “Lady Emma”, 29 July – 2 August – report by Claire Turner

(This is a summary of Claire’s verbal report at the meeting.)

Claire Turner, Becky Goddard and Bob Buchanan joined Becca Hayward skippering her Barberis Cantieri 41 “Lady Emma”, along with Colin, Kevin and David from her regular crew.

They left Ocean Quay, Southampton, on the Saturday and motored down to the Solent where they found a good 18 K wind to sail to Yarmouth in sunny weather. Here they picked up a mooring buoy outside the harbour for the night. On Sunday all (except Claire) were up at 0500 to sail to Weymouth. They lost the wind at midday and motored into Lulworth Cove for lunch, then on to Weymouth in very hot weather. While sailing Bob spent four hours trying to unblock the electric heads. At Weymouth they were rafted four deep at the Town Quay.

On Monday they were again (except Claire!) up at 0500 to leave in time for a fair tide to round Portland Bill. It was another very hot windless, motoring day. Bob resumed his loo repair (successfully). They moored at Dartmouth Town Quay for the night. Tuesday dawned wet and windy. They had breakfast at the Castle Hotel, taking advantage of a bogof offer, although they had to argue to get four free meals and not just one for the eight of them. Bob resumed his maintenance duties by fitting a new shore power socket. At least he didn’t need to be washed down after this job.

On Wednesday they sailed to Brixham in a NE F3. On Thursday they left at 0800 in misty conditions with a F 3-4 breeze, and reached Weymouth at 8 pm. The weather changed next day as they returned to the Solent, with gusts of 25 – 30 K and a rough beam sea, going up the Needles channel with the first of the E-going tide.

On Saturday it was foggy at first, and then they had a fantastic sail along the Solent with the Cowes Week racing fleets sailing towards them. They arrived back at Ocean Quay in the afternoon, having logged 253 nM in the week.