Conditions couldn’t have been better for the trip from Hampshire to the Isle of Wight on a Saturday in June. We all assembled at the campsite on Saturday morning to discuss the plan, before heading to the launch point. Most had come down the night before to the campsite amongst trees and were comfortably settled in. This campsite was a much better experience than the previous year, with wild New Forest ponies walking through the campsite while we did our briefing!
The UK had been experiencing a heatwave and everyone was relieved to get some cooler Solent air for the weekend. It wasn’t long before we launched, heading towards Hurst Castle and Albert Fort.
It seemed that every sailor with a boat on the Solent also had the same idea and we had to be alert to the multiple vessels approaching us from different directions until we were well passed Fort Albert. As we approached the Needles an RNLI helicopter overtook us and then hovered for 15 minutes, leaving just as we arrived at the Needles.
We had no time to speculate what it was doing as we had a tidal gate to meet which meant we landed at Scratchells Bay on the Isle of Wight quickly (accompanied by a seal). After a quick lunch it was back on the water to investigate one of the Isle of Wight caves and impressive cliff face.
The flow was starting to pick up at the Needles when we rounded the lighthouse, so it was time to head back. There was a lot less traffic on the way back and it seems that Solent sailors don’t stay out after 5pm. A hasty load of the boats, kit and change, then on to the pub at Brockenhurst for dinner, where we had our own private dining pod.
Reviewing the day Mike summed up the feeling of the group: the day was dramatic, beautiful and memorable. Here’s to more of these!
