I travelled down to Hythe with my friend Beck who was kindly driving my car back for me. Dr John was there to greet me and it was not long before all the paper work was sorted out and I was the proud owner of 'Blue Venture' a Nicholson 26.
I waved off Beck and made arrangements with John to meet up at 0930 in the morning and take the boat to the marina locks before setting off.
I spent the day sorting out all the gear I had brought with me and having a good look around my new boat. Everything appeared in good order and I spent the night snug in the port berth.
Next morning I was up bright and early and had everything ready to go when John came down.
We motored down the marina to the locks within 15 minutes the lock gates opened and I motored out into Southampton water in sole command of my own vessel. I was not sick.
I took her out as far as the edge of the main channel before heading South. I connected the auto pilot and switched it on, it worked, then it stopped. I jiggled the wires and it came back on. I got some sticky tape and got it to stay on without problems. I motored on for an hour getting used to the steering and auto pilot. I decided to put up the mainsail. There was a nice breeze blowing down Southampton water from the N/W. I hauled up the sail maid it fast, tightened the outhaul and put some tension in the kicker. Then I eased the mainsheet just as I had rehearsed a hundred times in my mind. The sail filled with air and propelled Blue Venture forward ; I was sailing. I left the motor on for another half hour then went below and switched it off...just the sound of water rushing passed the hull and wind in the sail fantastic.
I sailed on down past the Hamble river and the Supertankers as far as the entrance to the Solent, I glanced down to the GPS I had painstakingly entered all of my waypoints into and the screen was blank. I still had 2 other GPS units, so it was out with the paper charts and the hand held bearing compass and some old school navigation. I managed to get a position down on paper and it was just a case of keeping a close eye everything.
I started to get more confident and unfurled the genoa. I trimmed the sails as I thought fit and I was bowling along just lovely on the IOW side of the Solent heading S/E for Shanklin and Whitecliff Bay where I planned to anchor for the night.
I could see some heavy rain heading for me from the direction of Portsmouth. And see the accompanying wind on the water, sure enough Blue Venture heeled right over when the wind arrived. I put the bows into the wind and let the sails flap about. Not very elegant but it worked and the squall was soon passed and I could resume my course.
By evening I was entering Whitcliff Bay I circled round a few times before heading into the tide, putting the engine in neutral and going forward to drop the hook. I let her settle and waited to see if the anchor was holding. I didn't think it was, so I hauled it in and re-anchored a little further into the bay. I didn't sleep well and was up every 20 minutes to check I was not dragging. I shall definitely have to upgrade to a bigger anchor and a lot more chain so I can sleep a little easier.
I waved off Beck and made arrangements with John to meet up at 0930 in the morning and take the boat to the marina locks before setting off.
I spent the day sorting out all the gear I had brought with me and having a good look around my new boat. Everything appeared in good order and I spent the night snug in the port berth.
Next morning I was up bright and early and had everything ready to go when John came down.
We motored down the marina to the locks within 15 minutes the lock gates opened and I motored out into Southampton water in sole command of my own vessel. I was not sick.
I took her out as far as the edge of the main channel before heading South. I connected the auto pilot and switched it on, it worked, then it stopped. I jiggled the wires and it came back on. I got some sticky tape and got it to stay on without problems. I motored on for an hour getting used to the steering and auto pilot. I decided to put up the mainsail. There was a nice breeze blowing down Southampton water from the N/W. I hauled up the sail maid it fast, tightened the outhaul and put some tension in the kicker. Then I eased the mainsheet just as I had rehearsed a hundred times in my mind. The sail filled with air and propelled Blue Venture forward ; I was sailing. I left the motor on for another half hour then went below and switched it off...just the sound of water rushing passed the hull and wind in the sail fantastic.
I sailed on down past the Hamble river and the Supertankers as far as the entrance to the Solent, I glanced down to the GPS I had painstakingly entered all of my waypoints into and the screen was blank. I still had 2 other GPS units, so it was out with the paper charts and the hand held bearing compass and some old school navigation. I managed to get a position down on paper and it was just a case of keeping a close eye everything.
I started to get more confident and unfurled the genoa. I trimmed the sails as I thought fit and I was bowling along just lovely on the IOW side of the Solent heading S/E for Shanklin and Whitecliff Bay where I planned to anchor for the night.
I could see some heavy rain heading for me from the direction of Portsmouth. And see the accompanying wind on the water, sure enough Blue Venture heeled right over when the wind arrived. I put the bows into the wind and let the sails flap about. Not very elegant but it worked and the squall was soon passed and I could resume my course.
By evening I was entering Whitcliff Bay I circled round a few times before heading into the tide, putting the engine in neutral and going forward to drop the hook. I let her settle and waited to see if the anchor was holding. I didn't think it was, so I hauled it in and re-anchored a little further into the bay. I didn't sleep well and was up every 20 minutes to check I was not dragging. I shall definitely have to upgrade to a bigger anchor and a lot more chain so I can sleep a little easier.