Flying fox

Maybe he just didn't get the memo - bird table

 

Wagtail for Sale

Friend Greg has recently put this delightful and immaculate Wagtail dinghy up for sale. Full disclosure Greg was the former builder of these dinghies as Salterns Boat Builders based on the Hamble

12 feet 6 inches in length, with a steel center-plate, the Wagtail is easy to sail, stable, and forgiving, making it a good choice  for picnics, training or for us elderly sailors who aren't as nimble as we used to be (actually I've been sailing a Laser recently and although it's fun it's not relaxing).

The quality of woodwork is lovely, richly finished and spot the bronze crutches which speak of the overall quality and attention to detail.

Knowing my affinity for small traditionally rigged dinghies some may ask why I'm not making an offer, and the truth is between Tosh and my SCOW I'm already over boated.

 There's some really useful advice from a Wagtail owner here  . If you are interested drop me an email and I'll pass it on

Smooth ride

 Interesting motor boat heading up the Hamble.

 Looks like a high speed hull with those fine bows, possibly wave piercing(?), with very functional topsides and cabin arrangement.

Great to see people investing time and money into new designs.

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.

Low water calm

 A perfectly calm low water revealing some of the sculptural landscape of the riverbed

Below the lagoon looking across to Bunny Meadows, where the tide has scoured out a deep sink hole in the mid.

This side creek is so well developed running parallel to the main river, it wouldn't be a surprise if it eventually creates a low water island completely disconnected from the pathway.

 

Alternative Sailing

A new addition at Luc-Sur-Mer yacht club is a fleet of sand yachts, which given the extensive sandy beaches makes and interesting alternative to the typical Lasers, Picos and catamarans.

During the Easter break things were fairly busy most days, the winds were mostly chilly from the east or north east, so roaring around the sand was perhaps more appealing than being cold and wet in the water, that said there were also boats out most days at Luc and nearby Langrune Sur Mer.

Despite the often brisk winds, sand sailing seemed to be quite slow, especially getting started where the "cars" often needed a push to get them going, presumably to overcome the friction.

 Gybing around the mark, quite a few stalled,  the course was still off the wind it was difficult to tell if they were trying to point too high or not sheeting correctly. Also it occurred that perhaps these were small area training rigs?

 Either way they all seemed to be having fun and it was nice to watch over coffee, from the comfort inside the beach front bar

Slippper Spirit

Members from the Emsworth Slipper SC launching the Slipper Spirit Celtic longboat, taken the week before the Hamble River Raid guessing it may have been a training session especially given the matching green polo shirts.

 Looks like a fine boat for rowing around the harbour.