Well, Hawksey was claiming it was 'only' a Force 7, as the whopping Solent waves crashed on our bows, shot down the gunnels (is that what the side bits are called?) and our faces were lashed and crusted with salty streaks. But then again, he was also claiming that some of the wind-measuring boat instruments had suddenly stopped working – possibly a way to hide that we were actually out in one hell of a storm, even though rumour has it that its i) the summer and ii) the first of July?
As you'll see from the photos, there wasn't a hint of dissent about wearing lifejackets all day (even a bit of a bunfight to get them on!). And as you'll also see, we had cunningly chosen to pop across the Solent to moor up and watch the boats completing the annual Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race.
All of which seems like a good plan on a breezy day until you realise:
– there are bloody THOUSANDS of boats racing
– and we were going the other way…
– so they are all coming at you, some passing close enough for them to covet our 'just moored so why not?' champagne and for us to show the whites of our eyes in terror as they shot by, close enough to touch
– that any boat with Sunsail on it is a total liability as its been hired by some wannabe sailing numpty (similar skill level to my own) who has all the gear, but no idea – and is highly likely to plough straight into you, as you sit anchored like a sitting duck
Anyway – all good crack, not least the sound that the champagne cork made as Batch released it – only for it to hit the main boom and bounce straight back into Tina's forehead at a rate of knots.
Ah yes, one of those 'you couldn't do it if you tried' moments! Sx