Well if the journey to the Hamble was a cold one, the trip back was a windy one. Despite my skipper saying that Sunday would be a better day, needs must and the crew climbed on board the Red Jet over to Southampton on Saturday 18th February to come & pick me up.
After eventually finding my keys, the harbour office didn't have them but the main dealer still did and a quick rekey of my new windows, I was prepared to cast off. I had all my hull windows replaced but the inner sleeves needed to be ordered in as do the deck windows. That could take a couple more weeks, so I was to return to Cowes to a new permanent mooring further up the Medina.
The wind was blowing around 25 knots from the west and once clear of the pontoon and out into the Hamble the wind increased further. Shipping were the main traffic not many pleasure boats had ventured out. Once in the Solent the wind increased further to around 35 knots and stronger in gusts, it was also against the tide. Had it not been for the fact my crew had to concentrate on maintaining my posture against the wind, there could have been a few good photos of the tugs that were out with me, being covered in spray. They were out to assist the turning of shipping against this wind.
The new pontoon is on the opposite side of the river from the last one and with my high sides, meant I would be blown off rather than blown on, which is fine but requires a slightly different approach. Once tied up and tidied up my crew left me to survey my new home. Sunday was a beautiful blue sky day and the Medina sure gets busy when it’s like this, especially as I’m right next to a large sailing school and there’s always people back & forth all day.
