Today could have turned out either good or bad, but happily it was good i'm pleased to say. Our three Navionics CF Cards for the Chartplotter that Dean bought on Ebay seem to be in good order and doing what they're supposed to do. They are better than anticipated, having aerial overlays and panoramic harbour photos to view at the touch of a button.
The new replacement external regulator arrived two days ago and Dean connected it all up. Hoorah, that's working too! Only one little niggly issue to sort out and it should be fine. So finger's crossed....we'll keep you informed. This has been a big job for Dean and he has been fitting the parts bit by bit since Christmas. I will get him to write a section about it at some point soon for all you techies out there.
The floorboards are up once again
Sunday 30th April... Last night was windy and kept us semi-awake with the tide lapping against the stern of the boat. The wind was forecast to drop this afternoon and so we decided to stick to the plan and leave Wicor at 11.30am for Hamble. Out in the Solent the swell was moderate and heading down the Swashway we experienced quite bad side to side rolling. Once Dean unfurled the staysail, it made things a little more comfortable and we set a course of 280 degrees towards Hamble. There was some rain on and off but on the whole not a bad journey and Dean helmed most of the way.
Raining now, but we're still in high spirits
Having only used the Staysail we arrived at Hamble Point Marina after three hours sailing at approximately 4 knots. The tide was just at the beginning of the high water stand and reaching the marina Dean did a magnificent job of getting Thesee into a tight finger berth. There's a lot of big yachts here and we feel rather small compared to the 54ft Moody next door. On the way to take Saffy for a walk we saw a boat called Reunion...the boat Dean's cousin chartered last Summer.
We also came across this Aston Martin powered speedboat.....one for you Alan & Yasi?
Reunion lives here
We also came across this Aston Martin powered speedboat.....one for you Alan & Yasi?
How fast would this go??
Hamble Point Marina has a lot of memories for us, because we came here often to view boats when we were looking to buy. Funny we ended up buying Thesee in France then.
After a real nice walk around the boatyard and Hamble Common we retired to settle down for our Sunday dinner and a night in front of the telly (or the computer in Linda's case!). Here's some photos from our walkabout...
As we departed Linda spotted this unusual navigation marker. Red Green Red means the preferred channel is to Starboard.
The wind was a mere 6 knots on average as we headed up Southampton Water. The sun was out and we weren't in any hurry so we just drifted along at 2-3 knots passing the coastline that we walked yesterday. Not a great deal of shipping movements about today, and after two hours we crept past Southampton Docks and moored up on the pontoon at Marchwood Yacht Club. Right opposite us was a huge container ship being loaded.
Colin and Richard from the BOA arrived and joined us for a beer and a catch up, along with Trevor from the MYC, and Richard & Mary who had also arrived on their Beneteau. Then Trevor kindly took us for an informative tour around the club and boatyard.
At 6pm we went for our pre-arranged dinner in the club. It was a bit of a wait as the place was filling up fast, but WOW (second wow of the day) the food was just wonderful. What a fabulous little club they've got going there. Just lovely. Afterwards was the big event of the weekend.. A Weather Presentation by Penny Tranter. Penny is a Chartered Meteorologist and a member of the Royal Meteorological Society, along with having spent a number of years as a weather presenter for the BBC. The club was packed with both BOA and MYC members. Our thanks go to Colin and Richard for organising this well attended event and to BOA who paid for it!
After a real nice walk around the boatyard and Hamble Common we retired to settle down for our Sunday dinner and a night in front of the telly (or the computer in Linda's case!). Here's some photos from our walkabout...
Nice neat line up
One for you Sarah Celestine
3,2,1, fire
Pretty shoreside footpath for Saffy (and us)
Colourful bushes around the Common
Looking across Southampton Water... a different view altogether
Warsash Lifeboat Facility
Who put these doggy bowls so high up?..i've only got little legs
This map looks like a fish
Oil Terminal Fuel Jetty
Dean drying the umbrella
Tuesday 2nd May... We left the marina at 12 noon just as smoothly as we had arrived two days ago. The boat we had been berthed next to was called Acamas, and as always we wonder why people name their boats as they do. Linda looked up the meaning on the internet, and we were both taken aback. Turns out in Greek Mythology, Acamas was the son of Theseus... WOW (our boat Thésée is the French translation of Theseus)!
Monday 1st May... Bacon and Mushrooms for breakfast today, then we got ready for our ramble up to Royal Victoria Country Park. On leaving the marina we saw this shrink wrapped boat....
After a good walk along the coast we finally arrived at the country park and headed straight for coffee and cake in the tearooms. Yum yum, Linda's victoria sandwich was delicious, and Dean's coffee and walnut cake didn't last long either. There were lots of people about...bank holiday of course. After we'd stuffed our faces we followed some of the paths that threaded their way through the park, and the path through the swamp land at Horse Pond Wood was especially nice. Some of the plants were almost giant-like versions of the norm. We were almost back at the tearooms before the heavens opened and the brolly went up.
On the edge of the country park
No crazy golfers today
Following the boardwalk through the swamp
We took the path past the miniature railway (still transporting paying passengers in the rain), and then past Bluebell Wood, and along Lover's Lane back towards Hamble Common. Poor Saffy was drenched, but she didn't seem to mind too much. Once we got back on the sea-shore Dean spotted a seal in the water, but it was too camera shy to wait for a photo. By this time the sun was coming out and we sat and ate our fruit whilst we watched a few boats coming in. Back at Thesee we sat outside in the cockpit and Dean had a beer. We spotted 'Charlie's' River Taxi going by....remember when you were at the helm Charlie?
Come rain or shine
Right time of year to visit Bluebell Wood
Hamble-le-Rice was the home of an aircraft training centre during WWII
Monument commemorating the village's history
Charlie's Water Taxi
As we departed Linda spotted this unusual navigation marker. Red Green Red means the preferred channel is to Starboard.
Don't see many of these navigation marks
The wind was a mere 6 knots on average as we headed up Southampton Water. The sun was out and we weren't in any hurry so we just drifted along at 2-3 knots passing the coastline that we walked yesterday. Not a great deal of shipping movements about today, and after two hours we crept past Southampton Docks and moored up on the pontoon at Marchwood Yacht Club. Right opposite us was a huge container ship being loaded.
Frio Mogami - On its way to Rotterdam & Tallin
Look, no hands, just feet
It's OK, this tanker is just turning
Colin and Richard from the BOA arrived and joined us for a beer and a catch up, along with Trevor from the MYC, and Richard & Mary who had also arrived on their Beneteau. Then Trevor kindly took us for an informative tour around the club and boatyard.
Marchwood Yacht Club... est 1963
Linda's ready for the evening's entertainment
At 6pm we went for our pre-arranged dinner in the club. It was a bit of a wait as the place was filling up fast, but WOW (second wow of the day) the food was just wonderful. What a fabulous little club they've got going there. Just lovely. Afterwards was the big event of the weekend.. A Weather Presentation by Penny Tranter. Penny is a Chartered Meteorologist and a member of the Royal Meteorological Society, along with having spent a number of years as a weather presenter for the BBC. The club was packed with both BOA and MYC members. Our thanks go to Colin and Richard for organising this well attended event and to BOA who paid for it!
Thanks to the active club members at MYC, this is an attractive welcome
Floral MYC close-up
We've had a busy weekend, time for a rest next visit?
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