Newport

Saturday 25th September 2010

Weather for the last weekend in September is always difficult to predict and so it seemed this year. On Monday the forecast was for beautiful sunshine but two days later "gusting force 9 from the north" was expected on Friday. So Macoma set off early on that day hoping to steal a march on the wind. At lunch time we turned into Cowes with the indicator was passing 20 knots but the northerly direction meant we could sail up the Medina in fine style. Blythe Spirit joined us at Newport later in the afternoon and they had wrestled with more than 30 knots of wind.

Lunchtime Saturday saw the Seals arrive in force and bring our boat count up to eight. The north wind put a chill in the air but everyone had the sense to moor facing Cowes and tucked behind spray hoods it was pleasantly warm in the sunshine.

As the sun began to set, Macoma laid on a drinks party with sangria and tortilla. The temperature plummeted as the sun disappeared and so everyone departed to the Wheatsheaf in the square at Newport for dinner. On our return there was sufficient water to move boats so that everyone could have a peaceful, but in some cases cold, night.

In the morning the north wind still did blow. Boats departed as the tide flooded. With the wind going to a blustery northwest, boats going east had a soldiers wind for their trip home.

Phil & Carol Walden

Boats attending:

26/21 Cleo
26/48 Red Seal
27/114 Harlequin
275/11 Penlu
275/25 Vol-au-Vent
285/68 Blythe Spirit
850/76 Sea Lady
O/C Macoma