Solent Summer Cruise 2025 part 3
Len, Tony, Kevin & Paul in the Solent and return to Suffolk Yacht Harbour (SYH).
Meeting up at Haslar, Gosport.
Arriving at Haslar Marina during the morning of Saturday 12th July, ’25 Len and Kevin were soon met with thunderous roars of the powerful engines of the visiting multinational power boat teams. Lots of noise, lots of smells for the petrol heads and to be fair, some incredible sights.
Tony and Paul arrived a little later and we decided that rather than going out sailing for a couple of hours perhaps a visit across to Old Portsmouth was called for. Once again though, a display of a totally different style at whatever pub we went to; morris dancers.
Another good Chinese meal back at Gosport where we then spent the night aboard Saor.
Across to Cowes and the Duke of York
Sunday morning brought along a nice sailing breeze and with the intention of arriving at Cowes about 15.00hrs we set off out towards the Nab Tower first leaving Haslars about 09.30hrs. We had a great sail out to and around the Nab before a pleasant leisurely cruise as planned into Cowes Yacht Haven. Upon our arrival, we were berthed in the south basin as the north was being taken over by another ‘display’! There were a number of Admirals Cup yachts in there and have to say, they did look a great sight.
We were soon at the Duke of York where we were staying for four nights and that night had a good meal there.
Round trip to the Yellow Welly...
Monday 14th brought with it a fair breeze and first good display was Tony confidently manoeuvring Saor backwards between a row of berthed yachts and soon we were out into The Solent. Had a good start navigating around The Bramble Bank before our intended sail up Southampton Water for a visit to The Yellow Welly café at Shamrock Quay marina. Very friendly marina, no charge made for a stop as were visiting the café and once again, the food did not disappoint. On leaving there it was clear that the wind was on the increase and whilst not sufficient to even consider a change of plan, it was an indication of the awful forecast warnings for the following day. Great sail out into The Solent and then the shackle holding up the main sail decided it had had enough and broke leaving the halyard at the top and the sail at the bottom! Quick bit of sail stacking and we made good ground just with the genoa and were soon back into Cowes. After a bit of discussion and planning, Tony volunteered and was hoisted up the mast, halyard recovered and secured for the night. (We got a new shackle the next morning).
A good days sailing (apart from the shackle!) and a substantial lunch so we decided to snack for the evening and visited various hostelries in Cowes.
Tuesday 15th and the forecast winds of 40 plus m.p.h. arrived throughout the day making the decision to stay in port a very easy one to make, and not only for us! Hardly a boat ventured out and those that did soon came back. That night we ate at The Anchor in Cowes High Street.
Day trip to Buckler's Hard
Wednesday 16th and what a change overnight; a light westerly wind but against a foul tide our hopeful sail down to Yarmouth was clearly not going to work without motoring so we changed destination and took a route up to Bucklars Hard. The Beaulieu River was just as welcoming as it always is providing quite spectacular scenery as we progress up it. Lunch was taken at the café at Bucklars Hard and after that a sail back into The Solent found slightly more steady winds and we had a good sail around to north of the Bramble Bank before back around into Cowes.
Stormy weather ahead so time for a change of plans
A second meal taken in The Duke of York before we moved into town to visit the local hostelries.
After examining the weather forecasts for the forthcoming days (which were to include the return sail to S.Y.H) which including plenty of periods of forthcoming ‘stormy conditions’, the decision was agreed to change the plan quite radically for today and make the effort to stay ahead of such awful looking weather.
We booked out of The Duke of York, the new plan involved dropping off Paul back at Haslars (Gosport) and Len, Tony and Kevin would start the journey to Eastbourne almost straight away rather than the planned following morning.
Our return begins
The trip across to Gosport was uneventful, a quick coffee and goodbye to Paul and we were off. Accepting that the departure time (after midday) was not anywhere near the ‘ideal time’ to leave we set off in a south westerly breeze with the remnants of a good tide for us. The period from Horse Sands Fort out towards The Looes channel was good and gave opportunity to ‘test’ the cruising chute. We were maintaining a good speed but as the wind increased the cruising chute was brought back down but just under white sails a speed of over 8knts was fairly constant.
Late into Eastbourne
Through The Looes heading east as the wind eased again and the tide turned foul on us making progress difficult. We used the engine a little to aid the sails and push us along. Fair to say that it soon became obvious that any fanciful thoughts of going past Eastbourne (Sovereign Harbour) were soon ditched and the journey became quite a struggle as the mounting foul tide took it’s toll.
Not that far short of Beachy Head, the weather took a turn for the worse and as well as heavy low cloud, visibility drew right in coupled with what now is best described as seriously thick sea fog. Things had got a bit tough but we carried on and then almost as quick as it had arrived, the weather issues disappeared and not only the Eastbourne light became visible but also the town of Eastbourne itself. As we motored towards Sovereign Harbour it was best not to look behind though, the sea fog and cloud was chasing us! Thankfully, we made it into the marina about 23.00hrs. Too late for food etc and very soon we were bunked down for the night. We were pleased to have made positive progress for the day and were now ahead of schedule hoping for kind weather next day.
Time for a 'Spoons in Ramsgate
Friday 18th and rather light winds forecast for all day along our proposed route towards Dover / Ramsgate. We found somewhere for an early breakfast (good full English!) and exited Sovereign Harbour on the 09.00hrs lock. Again though, in the effort just to keep ahead as much as we could, our departure time was not ideal. Not much to report really, the sail was for decorative purposes only for much of the time, the sea was fairly flat and the engine pushed us along very well on low revs. Those who have done this journey will know how many miles away from Dungeness one can be to gain sight of it, we can confirm that is still the case!
As we neared Dover we felt it best to make use of the weather we had and push onto Ramsgate rather than chance the stormy weather catching us.
We pulled in to Ramsgate about 19.30hrs and very soon were in Wetherspoons enjoying a nice meal etc.
And back to SYH
Saturday 19th we departed Ramsgate before 08.00hrs. The tide was in our favour as we passed North Foreland and up towards Fishermans Gat. Once through the Gat the tide turned foul on us, the wind decreased and was now coming from directly ahead of us. Probably best left that it was rather tedious for the length of Black Deeps but at the top end we could steer off towards North Gunfleet and what breeze we had came across the beam.
A steady sail across the tide and back onto the path into Harwich Harbour. As we entered the harbour a ‘fleet’ of motor vessels from various countries approached from the north, about a dozen in line. Our welcome home gathering?
Back home
Once back into our new berth at S.Y.H. about 18.00hrs we were able to pack away most things quite quickly with Len and Tony due to return the following day to finalise cleaning etc of Saor. Throughout the return we had seen (at times all around us!) the forecast heavy stormy rain but somehow we had managed to dodge the huge majority of it! Unfortunately though, not ALL of it!
Doubtless, Len and Tony were carrying out some important navigation tasks at this time.
An enjoyable break away although the winds could have been kinder to us and the threatening storms sadly had us cutting short the return time to ensure we dodged them as far as we could. Unfortunately, that was not always possible.
The return journey departure times were fairly well governed by the need to dodge the ‘stormy weather’ and although successful, it probably will not go down as one of the most pleasurable return trips however on the whole, the time spent out sailing came out on top.
