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The plan had been to "nip round the corner" (i.e. past The Lizard) and then spend a night at Newlyn before heading off across the Celtic Sea to Cork, Ireland.

However, after spending quite a while comparing several different forecasts from several different weather models, we reached the unwanted conclusion that we didn't have a good enough weather window to set off on the Saturday for the 30 hour(ish) passage.

So in very still weather we motored up The Carrick Roads for lunch at anchor in Channals Creek (i.e. under Trelissick House). Then down to Mylor Yacht Haven were Thalmia is moored up until we spot a decent weather window to allow the "Ireland Trip" to continue.

On the plus side, this gives time for a sail maker in Penryn to replace the damaged panel in Thalmia's spray hood.

From Newtown Creek passing Cowes and on to Wooton Creek.

Another sail and motor, leaving Newtown Creek and sailing round the top of the Isle of Wight and passing Cowes. Then on to Wooton Creek and a gentle motor up to the top of the navigable part of Wooton Creek. We then moored up alongside a pontoon at the very friendly Royal Victoria Yacht Club.

Much of Wooton Creek dries at low water and in this case the pontoon we were moored to had a shallower "draft" then the yacht so it was quite a climb back on to the yacht at low water.

From Wooton Creek, past Cowes and Fawley and into the Beaulieu River.

We left Wooton Creek and sailed across the Solent to the Beaulieu River. We motored up the river past Bucklers Hard and towards the top of the navigable river. We then moored up at Buckers Hard marina (which we feared would be frighteningly expensive but was actually quite reasonable when compared with the Poole marina and given the excellent facilities).

Lunch and dinner at the Master Builders and a visit to the rather good Bucklers Hard museum.

From Yarmouth marina round to an anchorage in Newtown Creek.

We left Yarmouth Marina just after the Junior Offshore Group fleets left. We sailed for a bit in very light winds. The light winds gave us a chance to try out Derek's symmetric spinnaker for the first time. It flew! Albeit that the light winds meant that it didn't completely "fill". Then on to the splendid Newtown Creek for an overnight anchorage.

With a reputation for being very busy at the height of the summer, there we only three other boats in the anchorage we chose. Lots of fading memories triggered as I was last at Newtown Creek maybe 40 years ago when myself and three school friends sailed my parents' Wayfarer over from Christchurch Harbour - it's surprising looking back at it that our parents were so laid back about a bunch of 15-16 year olds doing this!