SELENE - CAPTAINS LOG

January 2011 – December 2011

Went to Cowes with Malcolm and Mave on board and met Kotka for birthday celebrations 22 January 2011

We had a private frostbite rally to celebrate 3 birthdays: Malcolm, Richard and me. Fab meal at the Island Sailing Club

Went to Marchwood for the RSYC Frostbite rally 29 January 2011

Very cold but great sailing both ways

Went to Ocean Village in company with Scallywag 12 February 2011

Sailed up to Ocean Village with the Scallies - Sue's birthday weekend. We met Tom and Annie, who had organised a great bistro for the evening called the Oxford. Great night - great food. It was a goodish sail there but miserable and wet coming back

Went to Gins and the Folly with Neil and Jane 26 February 2011

Motored into a headwind for lunch at Gins. Lovely sunshine during lunch.

Set off and hoisted sails off the clubhouse, and as we came around the corner were hit by a 35 knot squall. Very hard to sail with nowhere to bear off to. It did not last long, but then the wind died ! Anyway got settled in on the Folly pontoon itself - thanks to Dave the harbourmaster and watched England beat France in the Six Nations

Then a great dinner in the folly - it was very quiet

Sunday, we went for a walk to Island Harbour and were looking forward to a good sail home, as it was sunny and windy. But oh no. As we hoisted sails off the Folly, it started to rain and the wind died, and we got very wet and had to motor home

Anyway, it was a great weekend in good company and it was still great to be out on the water as ever. We always enjoy having Neil and Jane aboard

RSYC Cruisers rally at Gins 19 March 2011

No wind, so motored both ways. England lost the rugby badly. Enjoyed the company of Tom and Annie immensely. Music too loud after dinner. Not much else to say really. Glad to get home and see Oliver who came down for the afternoon and a meal.

Weekend in East Cowes 26 March 2011

Again, no wind, so a motoring weekend. Did some shopping at Hedge End until lunchtime, then over to East Cowes. Nice meal in the Purple Mango. Did boat jobs all Sunday morning, and quietly home. Pleasant weekend.

Scrubbing off in the Hamble 9 / 10 April 2011

Went with the Skoolies to Port Hamble, had dinner in the bugle in the evening. Some sailing on the way there, but not strong enough to sail all the way. Nice weather though. Up at 0600 and onto the scrubbing berth, and gave Selene a jolly good clean. Sat in glorious sunshine outside at the Royal RAF YC, and floated off around 14:45. Motored back, and noticed that instead of 5.2 - 5.4, we were 6.0 - 6.2 knots - amazing improvement from just scrubbing off essentially slime. Must do this more often !

Oli and Colleen’s wedding and Chichester Harbour weekend 16 - 19 April 2011

First time we have been to a wedding by boat! Early start out of Haslar at 05:45 and into Chichester Marina around 08:30. No wind, so motored round. Weather still pretty dry, but cloudy. Had a sleep, scrubbed up and went by taxi to Oli and Colleen's wedding. It was such a great day out, and a fantastic occasion.

Taxi back, and slow getting up on Friday morning. Then Lorna came and picked us up, and we went shoppping together in Chichester and then lunch at Cafe Rouge. Saw Lorna's flat afterwards, and then back to the boat. Quiet drink in the Yacht Club, and a light supper of cheese and ham.

Saturday, was hot and sunny, and we motored again in no wind up to Emsworth Yacht Harbour, where Lorna had organised us onto our old pontoon C. We tucked in and enjoyed the weather. Did a couple of jobs, and then went into Emsworth. Ran into a few old friends, and had a pint in the Coal Exchange. Then, in the evening, Mike and Sue, and friend Peter, came onto Selene for pre dinner drinks, and then we went to the Sussex Brewery. Excellent meal and great company,

Sunday, the weather was still good, so motored back in the sunshine, and home in time for the first Woodpeckers BBQ. Fab!

Only four days back at work and then away again!

Easter break 22 April - 2 May 2011

The weather had been good all week, and we were lucky that it continued through this holiday. We went down Thursday night, and on Good Friday morning, motored out of Haslar at 0500 to a stunning sunrise. No wind, so motored all the way, and this time took some time to sail closer to the Jurrasic coast, and even popped into Lulworth Cove and had a look.

Got into Weymouth at 1500, and waited for the 1600 bridge lift. Got settled in and had fish and chips by the bridge.

Saturday, we chilled mainly and turned the boat around to get the sunshine in the cockpit. Weather glorious, but a steady easterly - which was the theme for the week. Saturday night, we were booked into the Galley Bistro, which had been good last time, but wasn't so good this time. Give that a miss next visit.

Then we went to the Royal Dorset Yacht Club, which has been done up really well. We decided to try Sunday lunch there and booked a table.

Sunday morning, we rode the Rodwell Trail to Portland, had a look at Chiswell, and had stopped at a cafe on the seafront. Then we met up with Paul, Hannah, and Chris and Chris working on Paul's boat, and chatted to them. We then got back in time for lunch at the Yacht Club, which was excellent. We then saw Tom and Annie arriving into Weymouth in Nikitoo, and met up with them later for a drink, and we all ate together at Vaughan's, which was also very good.

Monday, we rode out to Abbotsbury, and had a great "Famous Five" time, and then back for supper at Prezzo - again with Tom and Annie.

Tuesday, we took the 1000 lift out and headed for Wareham. The ranges were firing, so we had had to stay out, but got a superb beat all the way to Anvil Point. Then felt our way into Wareham and were lucky to get a good spot on the pontoon, all nestled in amongst the reeds. The Redclyffe Yacht Club people were very welcoming as ever.

Wandered into Wareham and saw the old town walls. Later, I set about cooking some lovely steaks we got at the farm shop in Abbotsbury, but had an accident with our new mandolin slicer, and sliced the end of one of my fingers off. Very painful, and it would not stop bleeding for an hour. At which point, after consulting nurse Skoolie, we put a presure dressing on it, and I was able to finish cooking the meal, which was actually lovely! Re-dressed the finger which had now stopped bleeding and retired.

Wednesday, we cycled out to Lulworth Castle, again in glorious weather, and had a picnic lunch again. Got back and ate dressed crab from the local farm shop on board.

Thursday, we took the bus to Swanage, mooched about there along the seafront, and took the steam railway to Corfe. From there we got the bus back, and again had a pleasant evening on board. This time, I cooked Scallops & prawns on a bed of garlic mash.

Friday, the day of the Royal Wedding was cloudy and we both felt sad leaving Wareham, as we motored around to Dolphin Boat Haven in Poole, where we had a free night's stay which we won inthe Legend Owners' raffle. We had a stroll around Poole and a beer in the Rising Sun, and ate at Storm that evening.

Looking at the forecasts, I could see that the Easterly was going to get stronger and stronger over the weekend, and didn't fancy going back on Monday - or even Sunday for that matter - motoring into a huge headwind, so we decided to get back to the Solent on Saturday, which we did, motoring in glorious sunshine to a headwind that did not heap the sea up too much for Selene.

Back into Haslar, Alyson, Julia's twin joined us for dinner at Landers and stayed overnight. Landers was OK this time, so that's back on the agenda now. Aly stayed on and we had sunday lunch at Loch Fyne over at Gunwharf, and then she headed off, and Julia and I came home, and rested at Woodpeckers on the Monday.

Cheapest moorings we have ever had for a long trip. 4 free nights at Weymouth ( Dean and Reddyhoff deal ) 3 nights at £16 at Wareham, and a free night in Poole !

This was the first trip where we had good weather throughout - it was great. Finger still hurts, and I can't type so well, but it is getting better.

Cowes and Port Solent - 14 May 2011

Oli joined us for the weekend, and we went to lunch in Cowes. Colin Skoolie came with us for the ride as Julie was working and we had a great beat to Cowes in a nice W F5-6. Lunch out on the balcony at the Royal Corinthian YC was fab, and then we had a great reach back to Portsmouth.

Then we dropped Colin off at Haslar and motored up to Port Solent, and rocked up to Gemma's birthday BBQ bash - moring right outside the garden. Skoolie Too also moored up along with Aquaholic. It was a great party, and Oli stayed up all night.

Motored back and headed to Woodpeckers for another BBQ via a full de-briefing at the Square Brewery on the way back.

Bank holiday weekend in St. Vaast - 27 - 30 May 2011

We abandoned plans to sail overnight Thursday as a gale blew up the channel. Neil and Jane joined us as I watched the forecasts and sea state. Many boats including rally leader Rex had dropped out, but we were still keen to go, and I could see a weather window on Friday and Monday. And the weather would be better on the North French Coast than the South Coast of England.

All this turned out to be true, and we set off into a nice NW 4-5 at 0500. Once round the back of the Isle of Wight, the sea was still lively from the gale, and was going through us right to left, but the wind was great for Selene, and we flew under sail in a record time across the channel. We were under sail from Bembridge Ledge right up to St. Vaast and averaged 7 knots.

The crew described it as "lumpy", but Neil and I especially on the helm had huge smiles of enjoyment as Selene flew. She was hard work to hold, but it was very satisfying. Certainly wasn't a day for auto-helms - on any of the boats that crossed.

We got in so much ahead of schedule, that the gates had only just opened. Bob and Jackie waved us over and helped us tie up and we were soon showered and off for moules frites.

Saturday morning was the market as usual, and then we took a cab up to Barfleur for lunch at the Cafe de France, which was excellent as it was last year. Then we all spent a lot of money in Mr. Gosselin's and Julia and I rode back in the van with the spoils. The evening was started by a fabulous drinks party on board Arabesque, and we then had a meal in the Chasse Maree with Grumpy Bear ( Philip and Diana ) and  that was a good night out, followed by drinks and sea shanties on board Grumpy Bear.

Sunday was a lazy morning. We had coffee out, and we ordered roast chicken from the spit van, and I made us a traditional roast for 3pm. Then there was more socialising with drinks on board Northern Spirit and an early night.

Monday, we were up and ready to go and joined by our passengers, Allan and Gillian Beswick, and we headed out into a real thick fog. I made us all bacon butties in the french bread Allan had rushed out to get, and the crew were content. Eventually the fog cleared to a sunny smooth passage through the first of the shipping lanes. It was so calm, we were able to lay out a buffet for the six of us, and only as we were having seconds, did the sea start to get up.

We then had to dodge shipping and the weather got grey and miserable. By the time we got around Bembridge Ledge, we had a F6 NW on the nose. Safely back into Haslar and we all parted happy and tired.

Sailing with Lorna and Edward 18 - 19 June 2011

It is rare that I don't sail, but it was simply too windy and on the nose to go to Yarmouth, so we went to Old Portsmouth with the Skoolies and joined Louise and The Gang in Las Iguanas in Gunwharf for the evening. Sunday, we went for a "jolly" and went in a brisk wind to St. Helens Fort and back. Lorna and Ed really enjoyed the sail, and we got in before the rain.

Annual Cruise 2011 - West Country - 26 June - 10 July 2011

I was so stressed with work and other things and the wind was a fresh westerly, so we did not sail on the Saturday. We went down to the boat Saturday evening and we cooked on board. A SE / E was forecast with some early morning fog, but the direction was good for going west.

At the proposed departure time of 0400, the fog combined with the dark was too dense, so we waited until 0500 and set off into very poor visibility. We had to use the radar to literally "buoy-hop" our way out of the Solent, and sadly the fog simply would not lift. We heard that it was glorious ashore, but we had less than a quarter of a mile visibility until 20 miles off Start point. Yuk.

The forecast promised to go on the nose the next day, so instead of putting into Dartmouth or Salcombe, I carried on through the night, and we arrived into Falmouth at 0700 Monday morning. We were lucky to get a spot on the pontoon at the Visitors Yacht Haven as another yacht was leaving as we arrived - otherwise we would have had to raft.

We slept for a bit and then had a drink at the Oddfellows pub up the hill and then another at "Barringtons" - the Seven Stars in town. We did some shoppping and chilled and then ate at Prezzos in the evening as we had vouchers for a free meal.

The weather was sunny intervals but with a keen NW keeping it cool. So Tuesday, we took the train to the Eden Project, which I am glad to have seen, but it wasn't over-exciting. We had time between trains to stop in St. Austell on the way back for a look-see and a drink, and after a pint or two in the Chain Locker, I cooked steak on board.

Wednesday we chilled and went to the museum, which was really interesting, and in the early evening Adam and Louise arrived in Northern Spirit and came aboard for drinks, and we had dinner at Five Degrees West, which was cracking.

Thursday, we planned to go with them to the Helford River and we agreed to do a joint meal sharing a buoy. I went to check the oil, and annoyingly knocked the filler cap into the engine bilge whilst topping up. What good fortune that was, as it turned out. It was a royal pain lifting the whole engine cover off, but when I found the cap, it was right in a corner almost out of sight, but it lay next to a sheared bolt! I would never have been aware of this unless this had happened. The bolt should have held the alternator on, and this was now only held by the adjuster at the bottom. Had this gone undetected, then we would have had a worse problem.

We thought we would lose a few days at this point, but we were lucky that Nick Eddy, a local engineer responded to my call and turned up for a look within 20 minutes. He sucked through his teeth and went to get some tools. If the "easy out" tool worked, we would be OK, otherwise he would have to strip the top of the engine out and take it away.

Luckily for us, he got the broken stub out, put a new bolt in and took £70 quid, and we were on our way, in time to catch up with Northern Spirit. Wow! We found a buoy and went for a drink at the Shipwrights Arms, and as they wouldn't serve food after 1400 and closed the bar at 1430, we went to the cafe round the corner for lunch.

Adam and Lou then chilled on board, and Julia and I went ashore on the other side and spent a pleasant afternoon at the other pub, and met a lovely couple and their young children - he was a surgeon.

Adam and Lou BBQ-ed a leg of lamb, and I provided rosti and we had a fab meal and evening together.

At 0700, Northern Spirit departed for the Scillies, and we went back into Falmouth and explored up the river Fal. We went ashore and had a peek at Malpas, and then came back down and had a drink in St. Mawes. We then headed off in the afternoon sunshine to get into Fowey for the weekend.

Fowey was already busy and all the big buoys were gone, but being a smaller boat, we were able to take a smaller buoy over on the Polruan side and did not get rafted - although some of the other boats swang close! I cooked scallops on board that night.

Next day, I was expecting to meet a contact through Simon Keeling. my weather guru, and in the morning whilst awaiting the arrival of his Nauticat 39, Crazy Diamond, Julia and I checked out lovely Fowey. I wasn't too well which spoiled it a bit, but the weather was excellent.

In the afternoon, we joined Robert and Deborah for drinks along with some friends rafted up who were from their pontoon in Sutton Harbour. In fact they reckoned most of their pontoon was in Fowey! We all agreed to go for dinner together in Polruan, and we spent a pleasant evening in the first local pub which I forget the name of.

They all went Sunday, and Julia and I had a superb lunch on the verandah at the Royal Fowey Yacht Club, and walked to the castle afterwards. We ate aboard that night and were very chilled - the weather was warm and sunny.

Monday we cracked off for Plymouth, and went into Sutton - right in the heart of town. We had a quick drink, and then did the whole sight seeing thing including going up in the big ferris wheel. In the evening, we ate at Cafe Rouge - again on free meal vouchers and had a great time.

We had planned to go to Dartmouth on the Wednesday, and as I didn't feel too good, we were late up. However, after looking at the forecast, we untied lines very quickly and scuttled off to Dartmouth. It was slam dunk on the nose big waves getting out of Plymouth and a bit rolly getting into Dartmouth as the bad weather headed in. Wednesday was going to be nasty, so I wanted to be tucked into Dartmouth.

We managed to raft against a Warrior 40 on the Town Quay, and had fish and chips and a drink in the fabulous Cherub pub.

Wednesday morning was still ok, but bad weather was coming. The Warrior went off, and we were able to get the inside berth and snugged up. It was getting windy with showers, and so we took the ferry up to Greenway ( Agatha Christies House ) and went around the house and grounds. The grounds were so worth walking around!

It lashed it down on the way back, and it howled and rained. We had to wear full oilies to go for Dinner at Browns, which was a place we had always wanted to do, but frankly the service was crap, the food although very good was over-priced for what it was, and it was a disappointment.

Thursday, was still a mix of sunshine and showers, and we were told we had to move later which turned out to be a pain, as we had to then raft outside a huge motor boat. We did that later though, and during the day we took the steam train up to Paignton which really is grockle land, but we did find a nice bistro over by the harbour for lunch which was really good. Sat in the observation coach - the Devon Belle, on the way back - great views.

In the evening we ate in the Cherub, where the food was really good even if they didn't have all the specials on the board. Whilst waiting for the food, I thought I recognised a bloke at the bar, and it turned out to be an old friend from my Merlin Rocket Dinghy racing days. We chatted like mad, and agreed to have dinner together the following evening.

Friday, we had to be off the town quay, so we took Selene up to Dittisham and had an absolutely wonderful lunch at the Anchorstone cafe. Best part of the holiday. We then chilled on board hanging off a buoy, and came back down to the Town Quay for the night ready for a very early departure. We rafted outside as there were loads of boats with the same idea - only they were going at 0400, and we planned 0300!

We met Pete Richards and his wife Helen in the Cherub for drinks, then went to the fantastic Indian Restaurant the Spice Bazaar as recommended by Colin Skoolie. It was really really good. We then had nightcaps in the house that Pete and Helen were staying in which is a rental of her brother's.

We were then up and away at 0300, but found it really hard feeling our way out of the first part of the river. Once we were out slightly with the lit buoys, we were off. The wind was forecast 4-5 W, but it was mainly 5-6 and from the Bill we surfed like crazy The sun was shining, the boat was going fast downhill, and we got back more quickly than I could have hoped for. We checked into Berthon and used their lovely showers, and then met up with the new Bacchus boat and they provided welcome drinks. Thanks Lloyd and Gemma. We then all ate at the Ship on the Town Quay. Great food actually. We did not do the usual late night drinks as I was too tired.

Sunday, we had breakfast on board, and then rafted up alongside Bacchus and shared our champagne with them before heading back to Haslar. The sun was again shining, and we had a great downwind sail home.

In the evening, we invited Richard and Helen round for a BBQ. Great holiday. Weather was good and sunny at times, but quite typical English summer weather really - never held the sun for more than a couple of days.

Obsborne House 22 June - 24 July 2011

Andy and Lynn met us at Haslar and we had a nice sail ( beat ) over to East Cowes in the early evening. Tom and Annie and Carol arrived shortly after us, and after drinks in Selene's cockpit, I cooked us all dinner

Saturday was spent in Cowes with lunch at the Royal Corinthian and then we took the RSYC coach up to Osborne house for the outdoor concert. We had a fantastic evening and the weather wasn't too bad

Sunday we had another good sail back to Haslar with the wind behind

Bembridge 30 June - 31 July 2011

Friday evening, we met Chris and Chris on their boat for drinks and then we all had dinner at Landers

Saturday, we motored over to Bembridge and got tucked into a very busy pontoon. We took the water taxi over and had lunch at Fox’s Restaurant, and in the evening I cooked omelettes for us.

Sunday we had a walk up to St. Helens and got a nice sail back to Haslar with the wind behind

Lymington & Gins 5/6 - 7 August 2011

Friday late afternoon, we left work early and got off to Lymington. We got in and found it very busy, but took a fore and aft mooring, which was fun to do, and settled back to a sundowner. Then I cooked magret de canard for two.

Saturday, we went to the market and had a really great time. When we got back it was even busier and we helped Arabesque tie up on a nearby pile. However, we had no time to socialise with them as we needed to get to Gins where we were booked in for the Crab and Lobster festival and were meeting Gillian Beswick for supper. We suggested the idea to Bob and Jackie and left.

Shortly after tying up on the new extended pontoon at Gins, Arabesque arrived, and I had a chat with Michael to increase our supper numbers! We organised pre dinner drinks on board Selene with Bob and Jackie, and Gilian who came by car. Then we had a splendid meal, and Alan also made it back from working at Cowes week and we had a fantastic evening together.

Sunday, we got a good sail back, but had to dodge a lot of the Cowes week racing!

Yarmouth with Aly & Graham 13 - 14 August 2011

Julia's identical twin Alyson and her husband Graham joined us for the weekend Satutday morning and we had a fun sail to Yarmouth, squeezing into Yarmouth on a very busy weekend - rafted out a long way.

We had a walk in the afternoon and then drinks at the Yacht Club before dinner at Salty's. Salty's turned out to rival the Folly for fun and there was dancing on the tables and in the street until late.

Sunday morning, we sailed back through the start of the Fastnet, which was very very interesting - that tested all my skipper / rules knowledge! Great weekend!

Ocean Village with Jane ( no Neil ) 20 - 21 August 2011

Neil was sadly away on business, but Jane joined us on Friday evening and she also insisted on cooking for us on board Selene, which was excellent. Saturday with little wind, we motored up to Ocean Village, and the weather cheered up and we went for a wander into Southampton, stopping in for a drink at the club on the way back. Saturday evening, we went to the indian at the far end of Oxford Street, which was good

Sunday again there was no wind, so we motored back. Pleasant weekend and good to be on the water.

Hythe Marina on Tom & Annie's mooring Bank Holiday weekend 27/28/29 August 2011

We managed a sail - beating in quite strong winds as far as Fawley, when it was simply too much on the nose and we motored up to Hythe. Had to queue for the lock and then tied up on Tom and Annie's pontoon. They were out at lunch with friends and so we had lunch aboard as planned. They all arrived back and we socialised and all chilled. Saturday evening was a BBQ and I was appointed chef! Anyway, it was a splendid evening.

Sunday, we had a great breakfast and then we all jumped on board Tom and Annie's sun odyssey 43 and went for a jolly around Southampton, then back for roast lunch - yum. Sunday evening saw us all wathcing TV together, and Monday we headed off shortly after 0800 to catch the tide. No wind, so we motored home.

Selene is out for maintenance 14 September 2011

Selene is on the hard for new gearbox seal ( and prop shaft we just hear ), anti-foul and polish - then she will be ready for the Autumn and WInter - some of the best sailign in the Solent.

Selene was out for maintenance 14 September 2011

Selene was on the hard for new gearbox seal and prop shaft, anti-foul and polish - all done beautifully by Gosport Boat Yard.

Rally at Ocean Village with the RSYC Cruisers - 1 October 2011

Motored into the wind up to OV but at least it was mainly sunny on the Saturday. Had pre dinner drinks with Gordon and Christine, and then enjoyed a good rally dinner and especially the company of Tom & Annie

Sunday, read the papers and then had a cracking sail back to Haslar in a good W F5/6 - nice to have a blast after what seems a lot of motoring recently - and it was sunny again too!

Mini Rally to Bembridge with Kotka 15/16 October 2011

Julia and I picked up Helen on Friday evening and headed for Haslar, where Richard and Catherine were already on B pontoon. Kotka provided a wonderful dinner and a good time was had by all

On Saturday morning, despite the forecast for no wind, there was enough for a cracking beat in the sunshine over to Bembridge, where we then enjoyed drinks and lunch in the cockpits before taking the water taxi over to the Pilot Boat. In the evening, we ate at the Baywatch on the Beach, and were very impressed by the food and the service

Sunday morning started foggy and then sunny and Julia and I Strolled up to St. Helens. Kotka left as soon as she could to make the sill at Emsworth, and when it got cloudy, we motored back to Haslar. However, although there was no wind, the sun was still shining in Haslar, and we enjoyed lunch in the cockpit

RSYC Rally to Newtown River 22/23 October 2011

A strong southerly gave us an exciting sail to Newtown on the Saturday morning. After lunch we gathered ashore with Alan, Gillian, Adam, Lousie, Paul and Priscilla and walked the circular tour in lovely weather. Whilst on the walk, we ran into our Legend friends Simon and Emma.

Saturday evening, Arabesque hosted a drinks party and as usual we set off in our dinghies to Shalfleet, where the pub did us proud once again. It was a great night out in great company

Sunday morning was also very windy, but still decent weather and we had yet another cracking sail in a building SSE - varying from 11 knots in the lulls to 28 in the gusts

Area 15 Legendary Halloween Weekend 29/30 October 2011

Not much wind and what there was on the nose, so we motored over to Island Harbour and met up with our Legendary buddies.On the way into Cowes we saw the Stonemans in Shepherds, so after tying up and sorting the boat out in Island Harbour, we took a water taxi back to town and met Richard and Helen in the Anchor to hear about their trip back from Plymouth with their new Moody.

Then back to join the gang, and we cooked our dish for the evening - each boat producing a pot to be shared. Although it drizzled we had our usual fireworks and tucked into the lovely food. Then back on board Bacchus for drinks and music and as it turned out the inaugural committee meeting of Area 15 - the new name of our breakaway group. We are all Commodores in this club, and we are dedicated to having fun!

Sunday was very grey and drizzly damp, so we hurried home as fast as we could on the spring tide and Julia cooked a full English on arrival. Then the Office on the way home!

Day trip to Cowes with Gerry and Cyd 12 November 2011

Motored over as it was very light, but weather pleasant and sunny. Gerry and Cyd brought their dog - a golden retriever called Chester, who had never been on a boat before.

We tied up in the Yacht Haven and had lunch in the Anchor, where we were joined by Ghostly Goose. We did some shopping and motored back into an increasing on the nose wind. It got dark as we came in, and being a little lumpy and LW, it was too risky to come in the Inner Swashway, so we took the long route.

When we were back, we noticed that the Eberspacher had packed up, and I could not see anything wrong. During the week I had to pay the local dealer to fix it. They did a great job and in time for the following weekend, but it was not cheap. The motor had jammed with aluminium dust and the exhaust had completely corroded. The new exhaust was the most expensive bit, plus the labour and it having to go back to their workshop

Weekend in the Hamble with Neil and Jane 19/20 November 2011

We met up on Friday evening on Selene, and I cooked for me, Julia and Jane, as Neil was still travelling from Heathrow. He arrived late and tired, but in good spirits.

The wind was stronger than expected, and we were able to sail downwind all the way up to the Hamble and the weather was pleasant and sunny. We discovered that the Jolly Sailor mooring is too shallow for a long stay, so rang Deacons and they kindly let us on one of their pontoons. The only disadvantage being we had to go ashore in the dinghy

We had a great lunch prepared by Jane, and then went ashore. Neil and Jane looked at boats and we walked along the banks of the Hamble going north towards the country park.

We rested up and were booked into the Jolly Sailor for dinner, so togged up and took the dinghy over. The meal was pretty good and we had a pleasant evening.

Sunday morning was foggy, but the sun was breaking through and we had a nice motor back around to Haslar.

Weekend in Cowes meeting up with Opus J 26/27 November 2011

Motored into a stiff headwind over to East Cowes to meet up with some old friends I hadn’t seen in thirty years. They had googled my name and found me after all these years, and having found me also discovered that we share the same passion for sailing. They have been sailing for years and have a Hallberg Rassy 36 and even more amazingly, their boat is moored on a bouy just around the corner from Selene in Portsmouth Harbour. So we thought we should meet up on the water, and I organised this little mini rally.

Opus J arrived immediately after us as and Richard and Helen Harden came aboard Selene for a glass of champagne. We had just got our mortgage offer confirmed that morning, so it was a double celebration. We then had lunch aboard Opus J and after a break, we walked into East Cowes to the Purple Mango Indian, and had a great meal. We then walked over to West Cowes and I booked the ISC for Julia’s birthday mini rally I am organising. There was black tie do on, so we did not drink there and had a beer at the Anchor instead. Then we retired to Opus J for coffee and continued to talk and talk!

Overnight it howled and rained, and did not look too good as I prepared to depart at 0900. But the rain cleared, the sun came out and we had a cracking downwind flying sail back to Haslar, where Julia cooked breakfast on arrival. It was really good to see these guys again, and I look forward to arranging to see them on the water again soon.

Another weekend in Cowes as part of Julia’s birthday celebrations 10/11 December 2011

Richard and Helen decided not to bring Kotka and cadged a lift over with us. We motored into a fairly cold headwind and tucked into the Yacht Haven. Richard and Helen had booked rooms at the Island Sailing Club, and so we went there first, followed by some shopping and another pint in the Anchor.

Yet another weekend in Cowes wih James 26-28 December 2011

Xmas over, no house moving to do, and James fancied going on the boat, so we motored over to Cowes into a F4/5 headwind, and tied up in East Cowes. and had lunch in the Lifeboat which was satisfactory.