Rain stops play

 Or rather heavy winds, rain and the prospect of heavy sea conditions building up with the strong winds over the next couple of days have led to the cancellation of Hurst Castle SC "Thread the Needle" cruise.

I was due to crew aboard Equiox a lovely Berthon built wooden SCOW, built in the 1930's and restored by the current owner

The plan was to sail out from Keyhaven, crossing the Solent and then along the north coast of the Isle of Wight westward to the famous Needles, passing between the 30 odd meter chalk stacks and the island. 

 Above the fleet of dinghies from Hurst Castle SC and Keyhaven YC "threading the needle"last year in fine and settled weather.

Pointing southwest into the English channel the Needles are exposed to the prevailing weather as these pictures from a 2013 post show, taken form the comfort of a cafe they don't really do justice to the conditions between the needles and the Shingles Bank.