Solent OGA at Yarmouth

 Bonita has spent the last few days at Yarmouth. She hasnt left the harbour, partly because it has been fairly windy ( mostly SW as in the picture below), and also I dont at present have a crew. Though I can sail Bonita without crew I can't realisticly bring her in or out of harbour on my own, and have only done so very occasionally. 

However this has been a fine rally with plenty going on and a warm welcome from the Solent gaffers. There are lots of old friends here, and though Bonita has stayed moored up I have been to gatherings ashore, been rowing in a coxed four on the river Yar, and crewed in a race on the lovely and most impressive 43ft Nomad owned by Dan and Mike Shaw.

I am now back home for a few days but Bonita is still in Yarmouth in her expensive marina berth. We plan to return at the weekend and hope the weather will have settled down a bit for crossing the Channel

Yarmouth!

Geoff and I left the Swale on the tide at 4.30am on Sunday and arrived at Yarmouth yesterday (Monday) evening at 4.30pm. We had light E or NE winds most of the time, but also a fair bit of motoring to keep going when the wind was light

This is the first time I have done this journey without any stops, so why the hurry since we dont have to leave for St Malo till the end of the month? 

Partly this was because we hope to be here for the Solent OGA rally, and also I was keen to use the fair wind while it lasted. We have had easterly winds for weeks and it can't last forever. Getting down Channel in strong westerly winds can take ages and we have had plenty of experience of waiting sometimes for days in Ramsgate, Dover or Brighton hoping for better weather. So the fair wind was not to be missed. And its good to be in Yarmouth, a lovely little town.

Geoff had to go home on the ferry this morning and I did a few jobs on the boat helped by the excellent chandlers in the town. The picture shows Yarmouth pier, built in 1876 and since much restored. It is supposed to be the oldest wooden pier in the country. The flag at the end of the pier shows that the wind is now blowing from the SW. It has been SW all day today and is forecast to continue for several more days

Pirates!

Yesterday Toby and two friends came for an afternoon cruise on Bonita. There wasnt much wind and we didnt go very far, although we were interested to see the seals sunbathing on the Horse sand in the middle of the Swale. We all enjoyed this short adventure and after a few hours drifting around, Toby and friends went ashore for a well-earned tea. 

Meanwhile I am hoping to get Bonita to the St Malo OGA meeting early next month. The winds have been easterly or northerly for days and  I am keen to take advantage of this before the weather changes. Geoff and I left at 4.30 am today to get the tide. 12 hours later we are off Dungeness motor-sailing in a light easterly breeze