Sunday 15^th July – Yarmouth to Weymouth

50:36.45N  2:27.05W

Got up at 00.30 but didn’t fancy the weather – forecast rain and thundery showers – for the trip to Brixham so went back to bed. Having got caught in a thunderstorm in the middle of Lyme Bay last year we now try to avoid thunderstorms…

When we got up later, we decided that waiting for a weather and tide window for the long day passage to Brixham was going to mean staying in the Solent for the rest of our lives, so, late morning, we decided to head for Weymouth on the afternoon tide.

A gentle Easterly took us out of the Solent under only the Genoa. 

A race fleet came past and on down the North Channel towards Poole under full spinnakers, so it was time to give the cruising chute a go.  Sadly by the time we had dug it out of the locker and found all the lines we had reached the Needles and the wind shifted onto the beam as we cleared the Isle of Wight.  So the cruising chute went downstairs and up went the main.

Half way to Weymouth the wind died down and it was time for the auxiliary power source once again. 

It was a grey overcast afternoon with low cloud hiding the coastline but shooting the tidal race close inshore off St Alban’s Head in the strong spring tides provided an interesting diversion – normally we have to go far offshore outside the race due to the firing on Lulworth Ranges but no shooting today.

Rafted up in Weymouth three deep and then joined by two more – fortunately none of our raft are wanting to go early in the morning.

Went to The George for dinner.