Emsworth Cruise

After the disappointment of the postponement of this weeks Blackwater cruise, Simon offered to lead a new cruise from Emsworth to Itchenor and back. So on Friday, 1st May, six Seavets met in Emsworth planning to sail to Itchenor for a coffee at the Quarterdeck Café. Richard, John, Maurice, James, Nick and Simon assembled on “James’s beach” at the end of Warblington Road. Barbara also joined us for a sail around the local Emsworth harbour.

With a fine sunny day and gentle SE wind of 8-10kn we set off at around 10.30am, with just enough water on the incoming tide, for a beat up the narrow channel from Warblington Road to the main Emsworth channel. By 11

.30 the wind had moved round to a southerly. As we headed up the main channel the tide was still coming in, and the wind dropped to 5-8 knots, involving a gentle beat straight into the wind against the tide. This meant a quick change of plan, to plan B, being a return trip and coffee at HISC, instead of Itchenor. Meanwhile Maurice had decided that returning to Emsworth to join Barbara on the water was a better option.

With various different tactics employed to keep out of (or in!) the tide, using the various shallows, we eventually reached HISC to find the café shut, so Richard kindly shared out his rations instead.

Returning to Emsworth involved a long run interspersed with some broad reaches as the tide turned. On arriving in the Emsworth area, we were welcomed by a fantastic 15kn SE breeze that came in very quickly and lasted for nearly an hour. Suddenly changing a very peaceful sail into a fast blast.

Once safely back on the beach at 13.45, and having avoided any mud incidents, we enjoyed packed lunches and discussed all the next cruising and camping dates, to do it all again.

A great day out, even though we didn’t make it to Itchenor, with the changing wind direction and strengths.