( Overview
/ Two Scilly Bullocks on a Boat
The Queen Galadriel, a Baltic Trader from 1937, is the flagship of the Cirdan Sailing Trust. The trust works with young people to offer challenge and adventure. The Solent was also busy with yachts sailing ( the most we’ve seen in one area)….
…and ferries travelling from the mainland to the Isle of Wight…
….as well as one of the RoRo (Roll on, roll off) large car and truck carriers owned by the Norwegian company Wallenius Wilhelmsen…
…and Independence, a RoRo operated by American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier.
Sailing past Portsmouth with its Spinnaker Tower. Named after the sail, it is a 170 metre landmark observation tower, completed in 2205. During a five year sponsorship deal with Emirates Airline it was repainted, but in April 2021 it returned to its original all white colour.
With good southwesterly winds we had an excellent beam reach sail along the Solent.
Horse Sand Fort is one of four built as part of the Palmerston Forts construction because of the perceived threat of a French invasion. Built in 1880 it is 200 feet across. Two of the four, Spitbank Fort and No Man’s Fort have been converted to hotels.
Using an adaptation of the ancient technology described in Fowey and Dartmouth, there is a submerged barrier running between Horse Sand Fort and the shore. Two boat passages cross the barrier, but we assume these are too narrow or can be closed if an enemy submarine or shipping approaches.
Seeking a quiet marina we headed for Southsea Marina in the Langstone Channel. The approach is a narrow, shallow channel, and there is only enough water 3 hours either side of high tide to get over the bar at the entrance to the marina.
Following the tall red and green posts marking the channel, we turned just before reaching the shingle beach.
Poole Harbour to Southsea Marina in the Langstone Channel. 39 nautical miles.
The marina is very tight; panicking last minute, I handed the helm to Kevin who berthed Avalon superbly. Fortunately someone took our lines, too, so I avoided jumping onto a narrow, wobbly pontoon. Planning not to anchor or pick up a mooring buoy again this year, we packed and stowed the dinghy.
The narrow entrance over the bar. When there is sufficient depth, the traffic lights go green.
Hayling Island on the port side, the channel through, and the fuel pontoon to the right.
The posts all make sense, once in the channel!
The ‘look’ after a day’s sailing, hot shower, wine and a curry!
We never trust a restaurant which has photos of food outside or on the menu, but Indian restaurants always display desserts in this way. We didn’t indulge, but the not-photographed main dishes in the Marina restaurant, Bombay Bay, were some of the best we’ve eaten.
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