Atlantis and Scimitar left the Hamble at 3pm and headed out of the Solent, it was 5.30 when Atlantis passed the 'bridge buoy' at the entrance to the Needles channel and altered course for Alderney. There was only 5 knots of wind and that dead against all night, as a result both yachts motored all the way.
Darkness fell around half past eight and it became quite cold and very black, it was almost a new moon. All that could be seen ahead was the mist in the Navigation lights, behind the lights of passing ships and upwards the stars, which were very bright.
Most of the crew were fast asleep when Atlantis motored into Braye Harbour at 3am after an event free passage - Scimitar had arrived over an hour before.
The morning was bright and still quite calm though there was a light swell running in the harbour, so typical of Alderney. So as soon as the crews woke the yachts moved further in so as to escape the rolling motion and eat breakfast. A full English breakfast was cooked on Scimitar and delivered on a baking tray to Atlantis. It was a good start to the morning and by now the majority who had slept on passage were now raring to go ashore and explore the island. The water taxi was summoned and off they went. It took two trips to get everyone ashore.
The Return:
The yachts left Braye Harbour in company around 7pm after a round of burgers for supper on Scimitar. Some were not to stay down for long! The early part of the passage was quite comfortable with 15 knots of wind at 120 deg astern and Atlantis making 7 knots on average. Scimitar decided to motor sail ahead after a while.
As night fell the wind gradually increased which made us glad we had reefed the mainsail at the start. Soon we were racing along at 8 to 9 knots. This was still quite comfortable for all aboard with the crew either sleeping or taking their turn on watch.
As we approached land near Anvil Point around 1am the wind increased to 30 knots true. It was pitch black, you could not see the waves to anticipate the helm action but only see the phosphorescence of the foam as they broke around the boat. Altantis was by now surfing at 11 knots on a regular basis.
Oh yes it was raining as well which made it quite unpleasant. The crew did well to stay up in all this foul weather.
Atlantis finally anchored for the night in Studland bay around 3am. Scimitar had taken shelter in Poole harbour on a buoy an hour earlier.
The next morning the wind and rain had gone but had left a swell running which made it impossible to sail at any speed towards our next goal, breakfast in Yarmouth.
This was consumed with great relish as it was lunch time by the time it arrived!
The final leg back to the Hamble was pleasant in warm sunshine and a following breeze which gave Atlantis 7 knots with just the headsail set.
The Solent was for once relatively calm compared to the Channel the night before.
