Solent - Sunday 26 August 2007

[Neil Harvey]

Planning on being out and about on the Sunday, and maybe monday, anyone else about? Will probably take a trip out Yarmouth way for lunch etc.

[Jimbo]

We're looking at going out from Haslar on Monday in Evolution - timings are fluid, but our general plan is to anchor up somewhere away from anyone we may disturb, and have a play with the latest addition to the fleet - a 3 seat Personal Watercraft.

If anyone sees us, give us a wave, and we'll probably even let those of you up for getting soaked have a go on the Ski!

[Neal]

Given up making plans with our current weather but if Sunday is nice we should be out. Not sure what the plan will be but keeping out the way of the event boats will be top of the list. Cowes or Yarmouth for lunch

[Neil Harvey]

plan kind of sorted for us - will be launching late afternoon, coming over to east solent, then off to bembridge harbour overnight and coming back out to play in the solent tomorrow.

Maybe see some of you out there!

[Neal]

Hope you all had as good a day as us on Sunday. Sun & nice flat sea bit like summer. Went to watch the racing for a while, then into Cowes for lunch with what looked like the reset of the Solent. Then back to Calshot for a play with the rings. Will see if any good pictures worth posting later.

[Neil Harvey]

we had a fab weekend.
Left southampton 5pm ish Sunday, motored over to Cowes with the new prop on, and having failed to get into the Folly for dinner (well, we got in but huge queues that would have made us late for the lock into Island Harbour, we just had a quick drink and moved on.

Locked into Island Harbour with ease and found a visitor berth, £17.50 for the night for a 7m seemed OK I guess, especially as the boat turned into a home from home for the night, see pics. Was just as comfy as a tent and enough space to lie with legs between tubes and console, but winter job has to be an extension to the raised bow area to make a bathing/sleeping deck

Island Harbour looks like a relatively new marina, nice facilities, the Restaurant/pub had only opened 2 nights before and was very good value.
Also, for anyone looking to camp, they have an area to pitch tents for about a fiver a night - Gareth, thanks for the tip

Off to Warsash to pick my Dad up on Monday morning, trip over to the Needles, then on to Poole for lunch. Was an absolutely glorious day, seas state varied nicely , good lunch at the blue pub on the waterfront (I have a feeling it's called the Hoy? - I meant to check after last time, but it is nice in there )

Then back to the solent and home after a bit of prop testing on Southampton Water. But more of that elsewhere.
I had been planning a low fuel usage weekend, whoops, 107nm covered, about double what I had planned, but never mind, the Needles and Poole were on impulse and comments from the old man about never having thought he'd be going to the Needles on a rib then onto Poole for lunch made it worthwhile

Pics:-
1) Sunday night looking down the Medina towards the folly
2) A bit cramped but doable, the rasied deck at the front needs extending at some point for more comfort
3) With cover in place almost as good as a tent (I say almost as I had drops of condensation fall right into my earhole when lying on my side Not a nice way to be woken up.

[Biggles]

Nice one Neil,

It was a good weekend lets hope we have a few more to end the year on.

Does show the weakness of a RIB though. Gets to many places fast but hard to sleep on. Usually means more expenditure for a B and B or camping etc, but a good tip given to you by Gareth for the £5 camping tip. You mention being locked in, what sort of timings are you restricted to for entry/exit etc. And is it practical to walk to any towns ?

Heres a link for those that are interested.


http://www.island-harbour.co.uk/aboutus.asp

Nick.

[Neil Harvey]

Nick,

Access is answered on the link you sent under harbour entry.

As far as proximity to towns is concerned, I don't know but the Folly is an easy walk from where you can take a water taxi to Cowes!

KR

Neil

[Chris]

http://www.army-surplus.org.uk/acata...s_Beds_17.html

How about one of the ex army Bivi Bags just over half wat down the page, not cheap bu no need for a cover over the boat with one of these as you are zipped all the way in!!

Chris

[Biggles]

Knowing Neil he'll be looking at getting a hammock fitted somehow