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A foiling wing surfer streaks past the Langstone inshore lifeboat. Which is planing, at full throttle. Much to the entertainment of the volunteer lifesavers within.

The forecast north easterly blow (the reason that Stargazer tried her hand, at slow motion sailing, yesterday), has arrived for the weekend. Setting the shoal draft craft dancing at the drying moorings.

Before the ruddy-roofed Royal Oak, at the foot of Langstone High Street. Which, despite the name, is a short, quiet, lane, lined with attractive cottages. Leading, from the arterial Hayling to Havant road, to the waterfront. With its picturesque pub.

As well as the scenic Tide Mill. Now retired from active duty and converted into a private residence. With the ultimate in harbour views. Both buildings beloved of painters, photographers and sightseers. For their ability to evoke a rustic glow, of wellbeing, in the soul.

The sun comes and goes, as the latest system, of our mixed up summer, rolls in. But grey skies cannot detract from the pastoral pleasure, which Stargazer's surroundings bring. Nor the shelter, behind the high banks and saltings, of Northney.

Where Stargazer crept, on a balmy Friday evening. Borne by the Chichester flood. as it meandered languidly, to the head of the harbour. A mere metre of water, beneath her keel, in the Langstone channel. Half that, in the cut leading to our snug berth.

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Crabbing is in full swing, on the Hamble quayside, by the time that Stargazer slips her lines. We have waited, until mid morning, for the tide to turn in our favour, and for the lightest of sea breezes to fill in.

We thread our way through the maze of pontoons and finger berths, which fill the river. Dodging the bright pink Warsash ferry, as we go.

The Southampton ebb carries Stargazer into a glassy Solent. Where we hug the shallows, to cheat the last of the west bound tide. Inching our way east. Making two to three knots over the ground.

Eventually, we bring Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower abeam. The slow motion tranquility, of our passage, momentarily shattered by, fast moving, big city bustle. As powerboats take to the waveless waters, for a Friday afternoon spin.

And the Isle of Wight hover service, erupts from a skyline of tower blocks, to thunder by astern.

Peace is restored, once Stargazer rounds Horse Sand Fort. The tide now firmly in her favour. Its thrust increasing our apparent wind to a heady (by the lowly standards of the day) eight knots.

Although it is near to local low water, today's tide is a neap. Leaving sufficient depth, for Stargazer to take the rhumb line route, directly along Hayling Island's southern shore.

We arrive, at the West Pole beacon, as the Chichester flood begins.

Sweeping Stargazer through the harbour entrance, as it gathers pace.

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 The path, through the oak wood (yesterday's post - which I have now edited, to remove the typos), emerges behind Hamble Point boatyard. Where a Hallberg-Rassy 340 is hauled out. With the 310 (Stargazer's model) no longer in production, this is the current 'baby' Rassy. Complete with contemporary twin rudders and beam carried aft, in a soft chine.

I am here to catch up with Hamble luminary, Willie Bewes. Through whom I ordered Stargazer, in 2009.  Officially, he sold Transworld Yachts and retired, two years after Stargazer's launch. However he seems to be 'just covering the phones today,' whenever I call for advice. 

We are soon discussing Stargazer's virtues. Together with my perceptions, of the shortcomings of her 340 successor. To which I gave short shrift in this 2020 post. On the grounds that her twin wheel cockpit layout forced the helmsman to sit in a cramped and exposed position, right aft. Instead of forward, in the shelter of the windscreen. As I do, ensconced at Stargazer's tiller. In exactly the position of the comfortably relaxed crew member, in this brochure shot.

We are swiftly on a video call, to Jonas, at the Hallberg-Rassy yard, on Ellos. Who produces photographs (and personal testimony), that a tiller steered 340 offers the same level of shelter as Stargazer. With more space aft. When I counter that the benches are too widely spaced, to allow bracing when heeled, Jonas advises that the gap tapers. Wide at the aft end, for ease of passage. Comfortable bracing width, forward, where a tillerman (or lady) might sit.

Willie and I adjourn to the 340, on the hard, to settle the matter. Jonas proves to be correct, in all he says. My impressions perhaps confused, by the press of people aboard, on the Southampton Boat Show day, on which I formed them. I suspect that I sat at the aft end of the cockpit, out of the crush, to check my leg length for cross-bench fit.

After last year's visit to the RM yard, in La Rochelle, the 340's hull shape, which I had been so taken aback by in 2019, no longer seems extreme.

Whilst time spent at the JPK yard, in Lorient, in 2022, debunked the myth that, hulls with their beam carried aft, buy their downwind power at the expense of upwind performance. The race results, of Tom Kneen's JPK 1080 Sunrise, the proof of the, all-round-performance-gain, pudding.

Down below, the 340 looks instantly familiar. But with added space and light. Plus some useful updates to stowage. Particularly in the galley, where the greater beam aft is creatively put to use.

Hull windows provide a sea view, whilst seated in the saloon. Where Stargazer relies on looking out of her open transom, through the companionway. Lack of bookshelf space, is the price that the 340 pays. With room 'wasted' to either side of the windows. An oversight which, Willie assures me, can be recitified. By reaching out, beyond the extensive Hallberg-Rassy options list, to a New Forest cabinet maker friend of his.

Picture Credits

Hallberg-Rassy 340 under sail, courtesy of Hallberg-Rassy

Hallberg-Rassy 340 tiller steering cockpit layout, courtesy of Hallberg-Rassy

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The Hamble afloat, is in visual juxtaposition to the Hamble ashore. Afloat: the newest of boats, modelling the latest in design trends, fill the berths of modern marinas. Ashore, rufous brick cottages wear their patina of ages, as a badge of honour.

A steep lane connects the two worlds. Winding from waterfront to village.

Beyond the buildings, a weathered finger post gestures into the shade of an oak wood.

Indicating a bridle way, which snakes across Hamble Common. Skirting the tidal tentacles of the river.

That reveals itself, in glimpses, where ancient forest gives way to glade or salt flat.

 

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 Stargazer comes about, on the doorstep of Brownsea Castle. Instinctively short tacking down a channel, which is ingrained into her skipper's muscle memory.

She waits for the tell tale rumble, that says the chain ferry is about to cross. Picks up a lucky lift, as the breeze funnels through the harbour mouth. Sheets in, and powers through Poole Harbour entrance, into the Looe Channel.

Trusting her skipper's (eight year old) waypoints, to find the deepest water. Down the depth guage goes: one metre, point seven, point four. Fortunately, Stargazer's angle of heel reduces her draft. One metre, One point nine, three metres. We are clear.

Close reaching across Poole Bay. In perfect summer sailing conditions. With the tide urging us east.

Old Harry stands sentry duty, to seaward, beneath the emerald crown of Ballard Down.

We stand north to clear any overfalls, which the under sea ledge, off Hengistbury Head may kick up. Too far off to make out the entrance to Chistchuch.

I run a quick tidal calculation, whilst eating lunch. It suggests that Stargazer will have sufficient depth, to skim the inshore edge of the Shingles Bank. A more direct route, on a faster point of sail, than taking either the Needles or North Channels. We angle down, watching the depth guage. The candy striped Needles lighthouse abeam.

The Solent tide sucks Stargazer in, beneath the Keyhaven light. Making nine knots over the ground. The water alternately short, broken, whitecaps and seething, oily, swirls.

Beneath the Isle of Wight's wooded shores , the breeze is blanketed. But Stargazer maintains her six to seven knots, over the ground, with the help of the tide.

Off Cowes. . . . .

. . . .Stargazer gybes for Southampton. Keeping a sharp lookout for scurrying, push-me-pull-you, ferries. . . .

. . . . .and larger craft. Whose bulk conspires to disguise their speed.

Stargazer secures amid the boaty bustle, of the Hamble. The place of her launch, if not birth (for that was the Swedish island of Ellos), fourteen years ago.

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The harbour begins to stir. The shriek of the wind now a tuneful, twenty five knot, whistle. On the moorings, off Lake Yard, keelboats rig up for a Bank Holiday blast.

Dinghies are carried down the pebbled foreshore. Toward the rising tide. For a fishing expedition.

Beyond the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) base, known locally as 'The Marines,' ('Forbidden Area. Strictly No Photography.') the timbers of the old (World War Two) seaplane jetty stalk their way across the shallows.

Marking a change in the character of the harbour. From sea estuary to inland river. Rockley Point's wooded banks, crowd down to the water's edge, in the distance. Met, on the opposite bank, by a sylvan, green, crescent, formed by Gold and Pachins Points. Which shield Arne Bay behind them.

Above the jetty, the Hamworthy shore arcs inward. High banks and lush scrub, providing sufficient shelter, to tempt paddle boarders afloat.

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A stately old Catalac turns skittish, at Lilian's behest. Thundering down harbour, with twenty five, gusting thirty, knots of breeze on her tail. The Purbeck Hills, moody and mysterious, beyond.

Moored craft nod and fret. Unsettled by stampeding white horses. The trip boats make for the sheltered channels of South Deep: Arne, Goathorn and Blood Alley. Sea trips are cancelled. River excursions, to Wareham, much in demand.

Down at Baiter, the inshore boats are all on their berths. In the fishermen’s dock. The traditional, open, seventeen foot, flat bottomed, Poole Punts. As well as their modern successors. The thirty foot, fibreglass, catamarans, with the benefit of sheltered wheelhouses and powerful engines.

The only sign of activity is Punt owners arriving, scoops in hand, to bail yesterday's downpour from their undecked vessels.

The forecasts speak of strong, but diminishing winds, on Monday. Whilst Lilian whirls away to seaward. Leaving a transition day on Tuesday, before zephyrs set in from Wednesday. With a fair tide, eastbound, throughout the week.

Stargazer's current plan, is to make the best of Tuesday. With a multitude of ports and anchorages to choose from, to sail until we run out of wind, tide or daylight.