10 May 2019

Leaving Portsmouth Harbour it was clear that our intention to head for Chichester would mean an arduous beat to windward, so plans were hastily changed and we decided to head towards Cowes and the River Medina.

Close hauled with plenty of wind, we had to reef in the mainsail to give the ship's dog a more comfortable ride into the deeper water. As we changed course, the wind sat on our port beam to give a very pleasant and welcome sail and we were able to shake out the reef. However, the forecast variable wind did exactly as it says on the tin, first moving to our port quarter and then dying away completely. We were the middle of three yachts all in a row; first one, then us and then the last finally giving in and rolling away our genoas, continuing under engine power. When the wind did finally return (all four knots of it) it was off the starboard beam!

Cowes was probably the quietest we've ever seen it, still being early in the season, but we did follow a dredger into the river, have to dodge one of the Red Funnel ferries and give way to the chain ferry, or 'floating bridge'.


Cowes

We decided to skip the Cowes marinas and headed upstream towards Newport. There were plenty of spaces available at the Folly Inn moorings and we were able to moor up on the walk ashore pontoon, handy for both man and dog.


Folly Inn Moorings

Nice to meet up with some old friends, who presented us with two bags of sailing goodies well worthy of our spares cupboard. Thanks Mike, if you're reading!