Ad Lib 38

 A tale of two dogs and a cat, replaces that of Stargazer’s planned passage. The dawn forecast check revealing wind speeds rising to 25 knots, in the Alderney Race (Raz Blanchard), by evening. Too much for comfort. Albeit the tide timings are perfect. 

“That Doggie, In The Window” of the Poole inshore lifeboat station (no indication given as to “how much,” or whether “for sale”), is cleverly crafted from cast off yellow RNLI deck boots.

Perhaps the curriculum, of the Lifeboat College, is broader than its name suggests?

Meanwhile, the cat in question is concealed in a quiet corner of the Cobbs Quay boatyard. Evidently named by an aficionado of Hoyt Axton's 1979 Country hit "Della and the Dealer."

"It was Della and the Dealer and a dog named Jake

And a cat named Kalamazoo

Left the city in a pickup truck

Gonna make some dreams come true. . . ."

Canine companion, Jake, subsequently coming in for a cursory mention.

". . .If that cat could talk what tales he'd tell

About Della and the Dealer and the dog, as well

But the cat was cool, and never said a mumblin' word. . ."

Ad Lib 37

 Come to Poole Quay, for a day, to help you work rest and play. To misquote the iconic Mars strap line.

Simply saunter in the sunshine.

Or perhaps, “row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. . . . 

. . . .merrily, merrily, merrily, for life is but a dream."

A repair team, replacing work-worn timbers on the Quay wall, takes a break. Admiring the view.

On the opposite shore, an industrious Sunseeker commissioning crew are, in quick succession; launching, stripping protective wrappers and system testing engines and thrusters.

Before sounding a single long blast, on imperious air horns, and casting off for sea trials.

Ad Lib 36

Two wins in one day:

  Stargazer's fuel filler pipe is swiftly disconnected and drained without spillage. The errant cap retaining cable, complete with end fitting, emerges with the gush. (See Ad Lib 28). In the ten years, since we last met, Mike has grown his Purbeck Marine business to employ a team of nine Technicians. After our reunion chat, he therefore despatches Zak, to draw the thorn from Stargazer's metaphorical paw.

Stargazer's skipper is no less fortunate. With a win on his Premium Bonds. Alas, it is not the life changing one million pound 'jackpot.' More of a welcome boost to the summer ice-cream fund. (For readers not in the UK: Premium Bonds are a British, state operated, savings product. No interest is paid, instead savers are entered into a monthly prize draw. Their ‘luck’ increasing with the size of their stake.)

Ad Lib 35

 Stargazer treads a dawn paved with gold.

Turning her bows west at the foot of the Chichester channel.

Fourteen knots of north east breeze on her starboard quarter. The gilded sunrise glowing in her portlights.

The morning ferry turns for Portsmouth, as Stargazer slips past Horse Sand Fort and into the Solent.

The sun is wide awake, by the time we pass The Royal Yacht Squadron, on the well groomed Cowes waterfront.

A leviathan tanker in ballast leaves Southampton. Tethered to a tug, for help in the tight turn, at the Prince Consort cardinal. Stargazer hugs the shallows to stay clear.

A familiar craft emerges from Newtown Creek, making for Lymington. Martyn and Hilly's Styria, a Hallberg-Rassy Rasmus. We met during Stargazer's first Biscay cruise (See Living the Dream - Sail South to the Sun). Years later, we rode out Storm Evert together, in the isles of Scilly (See An English Summer)

So far, Stargazer has made unexpectedly good time. But the price we pay is that an adverse tide still pours through Hurst narrows, at the western end of the Solent. We duck behind the Keyhaven spit to avoid the worst. Studying the lighthouse at our leisure. Re-emerging once the flow slackens sufficiently.

Stargazer romps across Poole Bay. Past the Christchurch entrance, hidden beneath Hengistbury Head.

We race up Poole harbour. Radioing for a sixteen thirty bridge lift as we go. Conscious that, on weekdays, there is no seventeen thirty lift. (To reduce rush-hour road congestion.) With a long wait until eighteen thirty. Stargazer arrives with seconds to spare. Up goes the 'old' Town Bridge. Sunseeker power boats, fresh from the production line, rafted three deep beside it.

There is a short pause, whilst traffic diverts between bridges. A chance to get our breath back, stow sails and deploy fenders. Before the dramatic, scissor style, 'new' Twin Sails bridge releases Stargazer. For the final leg: Past the RNLI’s national training college and maintenance workshops, then on up to Cobbs Quay. Our former home.

Ad Lib 34

My friend Helene, from Vannes, messages to suggest that I take a look at page 15 of the 2026 edition of Pass-Ports magazine. To which she has just put the finishing touches.

Stargazer's skipper was invited to contribute pictures and anecdotes because Stargazer was amongst the top participants in the Passeports Escales scheme during 2025. This grants five free nights in most French marinas.

I wrote in French but supplied an English translation. In case my French proved too gramatically wide of the mark to be understood. As happens from time to time. Both versions are used. The French, I am encouraged to note, without the need for editorial tweaks.

The 'storyline' revolves around Stargazer's love of craggy French granite. Exemplified by the Granit Rose of Ploumanac'h. . . .

And our 'secret' anchorages, sheltered by the tall cliffs of Belle Ile.

Boats, of course, come in for a mention: The memory of Armel Le Cleac'h explosively taking wing, alongside Stargazer; 

Plus Stargazer's annual reunions with Eric Tabarly's Pen Duick and Bernard Moitessier's Joshua.

Click here to view Pass-Ports Magazine 2026  Where picture quality is far crisper than in the (pixelated) screen grabs above. Original shots reproduced below:

Ad Lib 33

 

Even the breeze takes a break for the May Day Bank Holiday. With only the sun at work, burning through the morning mist.

On Emsworth Quay, the ancient ritual of Waiting For The Tide plays out:

Painting.

Pottering.

And, for those with suitable craft, paddling out to greet the flood.

Ad Lib 32

 Tom, the friendly viking, six foot something of flowing beard and braids, brings his floating home, Eio, alongside. Leaving Stargazer visible only by the orange fender perched upon her pulpit. Eio, on closer examination, sports much new hardware: windlass, rigging, deck fittings, windows and electronics. Signalling an imminent intent to wander.

Maybe the mercurial early May weather has deterred the Northney denizens. Or perhaps it is the late high water times. Either way it is a soporific Bank Holiday Sunday in harbour. With few boats stirring.

A chance for Stargazer's skipper to scrutinise the weather forecasts, for a window in which to sail west. The indications are that the breeze may shift easterly, and pick up to passage making proportions, on Wednesday.

Some tidal dexterity is needed. For Stargazer requires: depth in the Northney entrance and on Chichester Bar, plus a fair tide at Hurst narrows. Preferably depth in the North and Looe Channel short cuts too. There are also bridge lift times to consider, once in Poole.

Fortunately, the spring tide is today. Meaning that depth constraints will reduce through the week. Whilst the wind, we hope, prepares to turn fair.