Month: June 2019

The time had come when Kathrin had boasted enough about Polaris at the pub evenings with her lady friends and they needed to get the real deal. So, one nice weekend we planned a short trip to Cowes, staying overnight and back to Haslar on Sunday with her lady friends.

My pontoon neighbour Kenny, who is an accomplished professionally endorsed Yachtmaster who has a lot of experience in doing charters, had warned me: “All girls trips, they are the worst…!”. So, that’s what I expected.

On board came Tina, Claudia, Sonu, Ivona and Simone. How lovely they were! So, off we went to East Cowes, not a lot of wind, we drifted over with the tide. Dinner for the Ladies in Cowes – apparently with loads of fun and a night of girlie giggling, talking and singing…

Next morning after breakfast same way back. No wind at all this time so we sailed under engine to Osbourne Bay. The first Bubbly popped at 11 and after dipping toes in the icy water, we returned to Haslar safely.

After all, this was a great weekend for everybody. My neighbour Kenny had hugely exaggerated… Thank you Ladies!

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What an Easter. The weather was just absolutely fabulous, sunshine, really hot – but not a lot of wind at times. We had friends Jez, Sara and Ian (aka Capt’n Rubbish) on board Polaris.

We left on Good Friday on a favourable tide through the Needles and across Poole Bay passed St Alban’s head and went straight into Portland Marina where the helpful staff had kept a great berth for us and resident dolphin “Dave” entertained the marina guests.

Absolute dead calm on Saturday with over 20°C so we decided to go for a walk along the west side of Portland Bill. We had a good view on the inshore passage around the notorious Bill. We even observed a few yachts passing this alternative route which avoids the long detour outside the Shambles and Portland Race. So that’s sorted for next time…

We also learned a few things about the habits of living on the Bill: according to common knowledge speaking out the word “rabbit” shall bring certain misfortune… apparently, this myth comes from the time when the Portland quarries were thriving and rabbit tunnels led to uncontrolled collapsing boulders putting workers at danger of life.

On Sunday the wind freshened up a tiny bit so that we could start our way back to Studland Bay. We were accompanied by another dolphin for much of the way. We set anchor behind Old Harry and Old Harry’s Wife rocks and spent a peaceful evening and an uneventful night.

On Monday we slipped back through the Needles on a favourable tide and made it back into Haslar Marina in the late afternoon.

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It’s Cheese Fondue Time!!!

Overlord: the classic yacht from the German Luftwaffe Yacht Club, confiscated by the Brits after WWII