Friday 0900 I left East Cowes Marina. I cast off the lines to a new adventure and new beginning.

Blue skies and almost zero wind as I left the River Medina and headed west into the Solent. Engine propulsion then later engine and staysail + mizzen. As I left the Solent behind, passing the famous Needles to Port - wind against tide created breaking waves over the shallow ledges. For a short distance it was quite bouncy as I skirted this area.

Turning due west in a freshening brezze, 12 kts, I now could switch off the engine and revel in the silence as Dawn tipped a shoulder and we headed towards Poole. The wind would eventually go round to due west and give us strong headwinds for the last hour or so.

Engine back on and we pressed on to the swashway and the entrance to Poole Harbour. Very aware that the light was fading, entering an unknown harbour, navigating the mooring fields and shallow water we finally anchored off Pottery Pier as the light died.

A nervous night with checks every couple of hours on the anchor and depth, but with the thought that over the weekend I’d rest and recuperate, plan the next steps…