Solent Summer Cruise 2025 part 1
Due to unfortunate circumstances of various ill health situations 2025 has been a serious challenge to even get the cruise started. The start date was postponed twice due to health situations but thanks to the commitment of the syndicate that ‘it should go ahead’ on the third rostered date we finally set sail for The Solent.
At 05.00hrs on Monday 23rd June Tony (J) and Len set sail headed for Dover. The weather forecast and the tides were not ideal but the opportunity to head south was grasped.
And off we go...
With a brisk breeze coming from S.W. and Saor heavily reefed a steady course was held and good boat speed achieved out to The Black Deeps channel and steadily down to Fishermans Gat. It was prudent to motor sail through the Gat but once free from that channel soon they were heading almost due south towards the Kent coast (North Foreland).
Down to Dover
With the wind slowly increasing in strength passing Ramsgate and progress along the east coast of Kent was steady but on passing St Margaret’s Bay (just previous to Dover) the wind had increased to the extent where the decision was made to drop the main sail completely before ‘rounding the corner’ towards and into Dover where quite clearly the sea conditions were increasingly becoming more ‘testing’.
Sails dropped and permission to follow a ferry through the east entrance of Dover Harbour given by Dover VTS and in no time at all Saor was safely berthed within the ‘new’ Outer Harbour at Dover by about 16.00hrs. A great sail !
Tony and Len enjoyed a good meal at Cullins Boatyard, not far from the Marina office, before Chris joined them later that evening. An early start (03.00hrs) to make best use of the tide was planned for Tuesday morning and before departure once again the weather forecast was checked. The wind was still in the SW but forecast was for it to be stronger than Monday and ‘later’ increase to Force 7 and move more into the west. Not good but if the wind indeed held off until the forecast ‘later’ we felt we should be all but within Eastbourne marina before it’s arrival.
Perhaps the early morning sun should have provided a clue of the forthcoming weather?
The weather's the boss...
A good sail (still heavily reefed) from Dover to Dungeness where (as expected) we were confronted with some challenging sea conditions. It quickly became apparent that the forecast wind was moving ‘up the Channel’ faster than forecast and a few miles past Dungeness, with the tide starting to turn slack prior to foul, and the wind steadily increasing against us that making Eastbourne was going to be a considerable challenge and studying the outlook ahead only increasing bad conditions were envisaged. To proceed further was not a sensible option and we turned about to run before the wind back to Dover.
The sail back to Dover was actually very enjoyable, above 10knots over the ground was ‘the norm’ and still the wind indictor showed about 30knots of wind as the sailed fast with it! Getting into Dover and dropping the sail outside was always going to be a foolhardy challenge and Dover VTS gave us permission to enter the harbour at the west entrance before dropping the main sail.
A change of plan
Sails dropped, crew able to gather their senses, Saor berthed and syndicate ‘discussion’ took place. Agreed to leave Saor at Dover, Mike had noted an upcoming lull in the wind during the forthcoming coming weekend and that should provide him the opportunity with others to get Saor to Gosport.
Once more, the strength and commitment of the syndicate was being demonstrated.