Onwards and upwards - Portsmouth next stop. As we left Brighton we motored past the berth where we had spent the night. All the other boats were still there. What about this dredging at 10 o'clock then? Left hand - right hand?

Sailing conditions: a repeat performance of yesterday. Motoring in very light winds. Still, at 42NM we would manage it on one tide. Another uneventful and boring passage. Only thing worth mentioning: our entry into Portsmouth Harbour. We had the tide with us all the way from Brighton, but here it ran against us. At full revs we struggled to make 1.5kts over the ground.

I contacted Haslar Marina on the VHF to request a berth. Got through to them eventually - why is every Solent based marina on 80? I had about 4 different marinas talk to me at one time.
Anyway, we got assigned a berth. A good berth, but a very tight squeeze. And the wind had picked up more than just a bit. This was going to be interesting. I had completely messed up to first approach, but the second one was as good as they come. Some huffing, puffing and grunting later we were all tied up.
Nothing left to do but wait for mum to arrive the next day. How about some retail therapy for my long-suffering teenager? Gunwharf Quay - just the thing. Portsmouth Navy Days this week-end too. Jolly Jack Tarr very much in evidence all over town. Lots of grey funnel stuff open to visitors - at a price. Fifteen quid p/p? I don't think so. When I said foot aboard a navy vessel, I get paid for it. Still, there was the air show to be enjoyed from the comfort of our own boat. The Red Arrows in particular were very good. Some of their antics below - Courtesy of Yanni.TV






Brigitte duly arrived around eight and promptly decreed that we were staying another day. This would give her some time to settle in and do some shopping. The marina duly obliged. Yes, we could stay in the same berth.

Yanni had hooked up with another friend; Evita had arranged to meet with some friends in town the next day. I could always sit, drink and read a book I suppose. Sun was out. Maybe eat out that evening. Not a bad way to spend the day. The Solent would still be there on Sunday.

We had not done badly at all - at the end of the first week we were nearly at the half-way mark. The Channel Islands were within our reach. I was quietly confident that this year we would get there. After all, they were only two - relatively small - passages away. But for the first time since we left I was getting worried about the weather. The forecast had way too many 'lows' in them. To the south, to the north and to the west. The next two days looked reasonable, but there was no time to be wasted. Yarmouth tomorrow, than Braye on Monday.