Trip on Solent Star starting 2020-08-14

Route

Solent sailing August 14/16 2020  – report by Becky Goddard

Beccas Bucaneers

Bob Buchanan  , Becky Goddard  , Hugh Hayward  , Dave Winks  and Col Evans 

We chartered Solent Star  (Bavaria 37) from Lymington Yacht HavenMap having been briefed on Covid protocols.

Bob did the handover and we gathered on board for the ritual beers and dinner. We had all stayed well this year ( despite no sailing ) and this was our first meet up! Two members decided not to join us – one works in London and tother has a very elderly mum!

The forecast for the weekend was poor and we woke on Saturday to thick fog and no wind! After breakfast we set off for Cowes and motored the whole way! We had prebooked a berth at Sheppards MarinaMap..Cowes Yacht Haven was full and we were rafted 2 and 3 deep as there was a rally.

We had decided to have Fish n Chips takeaway for dinner as there are no spacious eateries in Cowes but there still seemed to be plenty of sailors and holidaymakers around. We had arranged to meet up with friends Paddy and Lucy (Cowes residents) for drinks before dinner and they directed us to The Painters Arms which has plenty of outside space. After an hour of chat we ordered and collected our supper and returned to the boat for really good F & C!

Sunday dawned with drizzle and after a late breakfast we set off back to Lymington with no wind but no fog....and it started to rain! As we neared Lymington a slight breeze arose so just to show willing we hoisted sails and had a pleasurable half hour sailing between Yarmouth and LymingtonMap. It had stopped raining so we refuelled and berthed about 15.30.

After a late lunch we cleared and cleaned the boat as usual even though the charterers were waiting to give it a deep clean.

A great if damp weekend...Thanks Bob!

Lymington Yacht Haven  50.7514,-1.5277
Sheppards Marina,Cowes  50.7593,-1.2945
Lymington Yacht Haven  50.7514,-1.5277