Our First Little Trip
Perhaps it should have had heralds and a fanfare. At 7:30 on the very chilly morning of Saturday the 28th January six of us met at our boats. Within half an hour, engine checks complete we slipped and headed out toward the chain ferry.
This was the first time that both of our launches, Avocet and Tom Sherrin, had put to sea together since achieving their certificates of coding. We cleared the East Looe channel and headed toward the Isle of Wight. Conditions were great a slight swell and a light northerly wind, we had the tide behind us and were making excellent time. We were taking sightings and marking our position, making the most of our navigational training, every few minutes. Within no time we rounded Hurst Spit and arrived at the entrance to Yarmouth Harbour, berthed and tied up within two and a half hours of slipping at Poole.
A couple of hours later after a walk up the pier and watching the local boat traffic followed by a splendid lunch in The Wheatsheaf; Rich Hills recommends the all day breakfast and I absolutely loved the Yachtsman Burger, we set out on the return leg which was just as enjoyable, instructional and uneventful as the outward journey. Slightly slower on the way back as the tide was behind us but there was less of it. Tied up and shut down just before four.
Special mentions must go to Andy Cox who instigated and organised the whole day and skippered Avocet and to Richard Hills who very ably coxed Tom Sherrin. It is good to see some of the newer and younger members taking an active part in this sort of thing. I have heard a rumour that another similar trip is planned for February. Other units have also asked if they can join us in the Solent later in the year.