Stopping at Lymington, Gosport, Bembridge, home again to Christchurch River Stour mooring July 2006; weather mixed light winds F1-5, overcast mostly, but hours of blazing sunshine most days.

Day 1 motor sailed to Lymington to RLYC where i had booked alongside via CSC on phone - trouble wa the RLYC steward hadnt been told and decided to tell us what we had arranged was impossible and turn us away, though we had no dinghy till the morning, eventually he agreed and accepted a free drink later, we had a lovely meal there. (weeks later i discovered the elderly swine had lied and complained to my own club steward about it all, and a letter between both clubs eventually had to put backstabbing liar  in his place) I would say watch out for old bar-stewards!

Anyway, Lymington is lovely, its river completely cluttered and ruined now with ferries and unused ocean going boats gathering dust in obese marinas, so we motorsailed against the wind to Gosport on a grey day.

The gosport had a completely different atmosphere to RLYC, excellent, the lighship restaurant in the marina and the secure quiet pontoons worth every penny.

Following sunny day we ferried to spinakker tower and shops, fantastic, then short 2 hour trip to Bembridge.

Being an expert navigator, i reckoned we would have 6 inches under at the river, but a phone call to the harbour master disagreed, “not a chance, anchor and wait outside 6 hours” his precise opinion, - i ignored, we got in fine, after all, when you have a boat as the SD23 lift keel which draws less than 18”, you can see the river bed clearly when its that shallow and also calm as it was, so with me on the bow directing, and son steering, the only obstacles were a few mooring tyres and bricks in the river.

The yacht club although RYA affiliated to mine was about as helpful as normal (not) so we anchored in the river bed offset 10 metres, it was very impressive seeing how dry and fast Bembridge goes from there, and on our SD23 usually rests on port side, because of batteries and water there, so i always chose to anchor port side of river ebbing, to reduce drying heel.

another electrical storm in the evening, we cooked up a vesta meal inside, lovely and cosy warm and good in the spacious cabin, we watched a dvd film on the laptop.

i took about 50 pics in the morning, some a re below

Highlight was for me 6am Bembridge river dried out alone with the keeled over boats and seaweeds. best photos ever for me.

when the tide was up about 11am, we set off and bought fresh petrol, again the Yacht club were rude and unhelpful so a half mile hike into town was required.

All abourd and motor sailing against the SW wind most of the way to St. Catherines point, winds increasing to F5, very rough bad decision - much too close windward side of strong tide ripping 4 knots into SW needles buoy (bloody hell thats a BIG steel buoy you dont want to hit in a small GRP boat - phew!)

VERY rough across needles channel OMG, then peaceful into protective of Hengistbury and insto Harbour - just scraping in over shingle banks, brilliant lift keel job, saving more hours otherwise waiting outside for water, so for us, stright in, home. Great trip. Perfect timing, navigating to the limits

Best holiday of my life, again! Thanks SD23 lift keel

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