Brian Humber's blog

The forecast for southerly light winds had  turned into a forecast of S veering SW/W 15kts with gusts to around 30kts, far more to Ronhilda's liking. So it was with expectation we slammed over Chichester bar on an ebb tide into a due South 15 - 18 kts wind, even if it was raining with around 1/2miles vis.

Yet again the forecast was predicting brisk winds so I kept to two reefs and a furled Solent jib to start the cruise.

 7am on a January morning in Chichester Marina with the wind howling in the rigging shakes the cobwebs out. 

Ronhilda's repairs having been completed, the December Fast Cruise awaited her. With high winds forecast for the Saturday I thought it prudent to take her around to Port Solent in the weather window to test the gearbox and rig tension on Friday. Sunshine and next to no wind on the nose meant no sailing but a good shake down for the gearbox, shaft seal and rudder glands. In the evening we also welcomed Jill and Charlie as Silver tide had an alternator problem and had to scratch, so this made us up to  a crew of 8.

Ronhilda had an great Rally to the Scilly's. We got there via Brixham, Sutton Harbour ( Plymouth), Fowey via Polperro for lunch time stop and swimming behind the yacht under spinny at 2 knots, Falmouth via Helford river and Gweek, changin crew and finally after an excellent meal at the NMM straight to Tresco on the Sunday.