Haul-Out Weekend

We arrived at Royal Clarence in-between heavy rain showers (that weren't forecast!). The marina was quiet but there was some action on 'Bob', who's crew were just fitting the main sail.  'Bob' is a Nemesis Race Boat, and we have recently found out that 'Bob' is off to do the Atlantic Crossing this coming November.

French ferry 'Normandie' departure

Thésée was booked in for haul-out at Haslar Sea Lift at 3pm so we had two hours to spare and Dean soon got to work on his AIS installation, drilling holes and pulling wires. He reckons electrics aren't his favourite thing, but he always seems to do a great job of it. Waiting for our slot on the Sea Lift, the local Spitfire did a fly past. We assume that Spit's owner lives down here as we have seen it many times this year.

Spot the Spit...

And so, we found ourselves aloft on the Sea Lift. This is Thésée's third time on it. They lift you out, jet-wash the hull and pop you back in the water an hour later for a very reasonable charge. Dean also takes the chance to change the anode, grease the prop, and check the rudder.

Thésée's bottom

Prop TLC

Up in the air overlooking Haslar lightship

Dean's new gadget (The Inclinator) shows a 1° lean to the port side

Saturday 1st October ..... and it's official!!   We are now AIS'd....  Dean has connected his connectors and plugged his plugs and now all you Thésée followers out there can track us on our adventures wherever we are in the world. 

All you need to do is go to www.marinetraffic.com and search 'Thesee'

Sunday 2nd October... What a fabulously sunny day it was today. Leaving Gosport we immediately raised the main sail and made our way down the Inner Swashway and across the Solent towards Cowes, having to tack to avoid a very large ship heading into Southampton. En-route we tried out the new AIS, tracking other vessel's positions and direction. It's a bit strange to get used to as we could see vessels on screen but couldn't always see them in reality. 

Plenty of depth at Cowes Small Boat Channel

On passing Osborne Bay we approached Cowes via the Small Boat Channel. Being high tide we were confident that the depth was sufficient for our 1.8m draft, and indeed the tide gauge confirmed this.

You can't miss the entrance to the River Medina

Our destination was Folly Reach on the River Medina. As we passed the fuel berth in Cowes, Dean spotted the one and only Tom Cunliffe on his yacht! For those of you who Tom's name doesn't spring to mind, he's a very well respected author of many sailing books and magazines. Ah yes, i hear you say....

Many men's hero.... Tom

We berthed at Folly Reach in perfect conditions, settled in, and headed off in the dinghy across the river to the Folly Inn, where we embarked on a riverside walk to Island Harbour Marina. 

Submerged boat at high tide...

...and at low tide on the way back

Reaching Island Harbour things got really exciting for Linda as we came across the 

one and only Spice Girls Union Jack Bus!

Here's 'Yachtie Spice' getting in on the action

Spaceship style Harbourmaster's office at Island Harbour

We decided to continue further and ventured along very well defined and pleasant riverside footpaths towards Newport. 

Autumn is coming

Saffy in front as usual

Beached paddle steamer from the olde days

After a couple of miles we turned back to retrace our steps to the Folly Inn for a pint, where we sat outside on the riverside patio in the early evening sunshine. It was idyllic, I don't know why we don't come here more often.

Finally we jumped in the dinghy to head back across the river to Thésée. It was low spring tide and Dean had to paddle us out from the pontoon because the outboard motor was touching the bottom. 

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Our very own paddle steamer

The perfect day was made even more perfect when Dean secured a free Wifi connection through his new 'Red Box'...... Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Monday 3rd October....Happy Birthday Jade!! 

After a 9am start under a cloudless blue sky, Thésée and crew moseyed downstream and out into the Solent. It was a wind over tide situation, the wind being easterly and the tide westerly so it was quite choppy. On our way into Portsmouth Harbour we passed the dredgers who are preparing for the Navy's two new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. These carriers will be larger than any warship that has previously used Portsmouth Harbour, so the approach channel needs to be made deeper and wider.

Portsmouth QHM has imposed a strict 6mph speed limit

when passing dredgers. Even for the hovercraft!

Harbour entrance

Entering our home base at Royal Clarence, the wind was blowing us off the pontoon which made berthing a little more tricky than usual. Everything went fine though, and we sorted ourselves out then popped in for coffee and cake at the local café in Cooperage Green before heading home. 

Quaint café in the car park at Cooperage Green

Lovely weekend x