Wind speed on Brambles bank (we attempted to cross around 6 pm)
when attempting an expedition like this weather knowledge is essential
After landing for a bite to eat we debated our options. We had been sailing for about 10 hours. We discounted being able to get back to Hurst in the current conditions. The choices were: stay where we were; head across the Solent to Netley sailing club; sail a mile up to Cowes and make our way up the Medina river 2 miles to The Folly Inn. We knew the wind was predicted to drop off on Sunday and back to the North East. The best option would be to head across to Netley and camp overnight.
I can’t say I was too keen on this option given what I had just experienced, but we would be reaching rather than beating. I rearranged my gear to try and put as much weight into the rear of the canoe as possible and we set off. I was in the front. Although the canoe did sail better with the bows a little higher, as soon as we were clear of the lee of the land I began to get swamped again. I struggled on for a bit and then decided to turn around sailing back past the others. I felt a bit embarrassed that I had abruptly turn tail, not even waiting to discuss options with the others over the VHF. Maybe the canoe would have sailed OK fully swamped on a reach across to Southampton; truth was I’d had enough. I think it was the right decision. Later we found out the wind had increased to F6+ at this time.
Getting into Cowes harbour and upriver to The Folly Inn was a bit fraught; what with the car ferries, the chain ferry, the lack of wind due to the town and the ebb tide we had to battle against, but at last we made it. We landed the canoes and had a pint while we negotiated camping in the car parking field next to the pub.
We made camp; I slung my tarp over my mast, which I laid between my canoe and an abandoned dinghy, got out of my drysuit and headed to the raucous pub. It was quite a bizarre contrast to the day’s sailing as the pub was packed. We got some supper whilst other people danced on the tables. My balance was certainly rocking and rolling but that was from the day’s sailing rather than the cheesy 70's disco music. We would have to get up again at around 3am to make as much use of the ebb tide to take us back to Keyhaven the next day and we knew the wind would be light. I was soon asleep in my sleeping bag, which had survived the swamping thankfully. And not even the disco, the dog barking and its drunken idiot owner shouting nearby, the cars leaving the pub, or the sound of a firework display in Cowes could keep me awake (much).
We got up in darkness, packed away our tents and bags and headed back to the water. It was a delightful paddle sail the 2 miles down the river back to Cowes. Once out on the Solent the wind dropped completely for a while, the water millpond flat with no one else on it, save for a giant cruise liner. We all paddle sailed for a few hours, first in the main channel then crossing over to the mainland shore as the tide turned to avoid the strongest tidal currents. The wind did start to fill nicely from the North East; I hoisted my jib on the way as the wind increased allowing the paddles to be put away. It was a delightful day, the activity on the Solent increased as the morning wore on. We finally entered the mouth of Keyhaven lake and completed our circumnavigation.
16.