We departed Swanwick after a quick car drop off and final shopping for heavy stuff. We are back to Brompton bike shopping trips now or we just continue to lengthen the Captain's arms. The short run to Lymington was miserable. Grey, a bit rainy, pretty blowy. Why has the weather changed just as we can start to move the boat again?? Answers on a postcard please....
No matter, we were pleased to be back in Lymington and on the Dan Bran pontoon. A Halberg-Rassy owners rally was booked in and so we were lucky to have a slot, just big enough between a rather large Sunseeker thing and a little yacht. Seeing our anchor approaching him as we slotted into the berth woke the yottie up a little but he was quite safe. I guess from a foot or so above the water, the bow of a Nordhavn 47 does look rather menacing.
Our quiet weekend was a little less so when Tina pitched up on the ferry. Being kindly types we walked to meet her then returned to the boat for food and lubrication. Having really enjoyed a couple of nights in Brockenhurst just pre Covid (can almost remember what that was like) we took the huge 8 minute train trip there, had a wander around and then a monster Sunday lunch at the rather good Huntsman pub in a nice outside setting. Tina's dessert was an espresso martini, accompanied by a most superior look:
The folks on the table opposite struggled with different looks. The ladies had both been "worked on" and the botoxed faces and rather puffy lips were unable to show any expressions bar a fixed wide eyed one. We were convinced that drinking from a straw would never be possible. Their matching outfits and identical sunglasses just added to the overall effect which kept us amused all lunchtime.
On the train heading back, it was clear how managing a mask (optional), sunglasses and mobile phone can be a challenge:
The Huntsman is still a good place to eat, we will return sometime, somehow. Returning to Lymington the social life picked up again as the crew of Millie the yacht were on the town quay moorings. Sitting in their cockpit in the sun for a beer was most welcome.
After Tina departed for the Island on the ferry, we prepared for a little run west. Only as far as Weymouth but on another grey, lumpy, slightly rainy day. Seems that autumn has really set in. The route is a simple one but as we left Lymington around 5:30am to take advantage of the tides, it was dark to begin with too. The FLIR, nice radar and plotter got us out of the harbour and helped us avoid the pot markers:
and the tide help got us up to 10.5 knots going past Hurst castle - although the photographer only managed to capture 10.4 on the screen:
Nearly 4 knots of free help was good. The route this time had a big dip to the south going through the Lulworth firing range:
mainly because we were too early to get any response from Range Control on the VHF radio and so we didn't know how far out they would be firing. We knew that we would not be through the range area before they started firing for the day and so opted to avoid it all. With the waves on the stern quarter, the stabilisers were busy. This was a pretty normal deflection of the fins (the big black bars show how far from the central position they have moved to counteract any roll) and a couple of times they went to full deflection too. Thanks to them, the ride was fine though:
As we approached Weymouth, two huge dolphins joined us and did a few tricks to keep the captain and crew happy. We'd not seen any that big coming to play with us before and their antics livened up a grey old trip. Arriving in Weymouth we were placed on the most easterly end of the long visitors pontoon. Normally we are put at the other end. Nice views down the harbour even if it was a bit grey and gloomy but a lot longer to walk stuff back from Asda:
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Thanks for your ideas / cheek / corrections / whatever! They should hit the blog shortly after the system checks them to make sure they will not put us or you in jail.....