An English Summer 12

 

It is time for Stargazer to continue her passage west. The tides turn in our favour, during the long June daylight hours, throughout next week. 

We will be anchoring overnight, for the next several hundred miles. In part, this is out of preference. But only in part. I had hoped to spend some time, revisiting old haunts, in Poole. The Poole marinas, however, are full, and cannot receive us. It is the same story through the western Solent, out to Weymouth. Maybe beyond, I stopped calling.

This strange summer, a new social phenomenon has emerged: the-stay-at-home, no-show. The shelf-clearing, supermarket panic buyer, of the start of the pandemic, has transformed into a berth-blocking, marina booker, at its end. At each marina I phone, weary staff explain, that they are fully booked. Chat a while, and they add that, many of those with bookings, do not turn up. But, on the system, the visitor berths are blocked. This deters residential berth holders from vacating their berths, further exacerbating the shortage of available visitor berths.

"We may be able to fit you in, if you call again, when you get here," the dock masters say. Then again, maybe they won't. . . . It is not a game we wish to play. Give us the freedom of anchorages, any day! There is much to be said for them, when on passage. Provided that the weather stays settled.

Before we leave port, we must stock up well. We cannot count on, readily, accessing the conveniences of shore, for an undetermined period . Water is our first priority. It is heavy, and slow to portage aboard, by dinghy.

Then come food, and the gas, with which to cook it. Fuel is not a concern. Stargazer's diesel tank is still full, from departure. For electricity we have our solar panels. I cannot deploy them effectively underway, the rig casts too many shadows. So we will need some 'rest days,' at anchor, to recharge Stargazer's batteries.

Winds are forecast to be from the south or south west. Meaning that, the classic passage anchorages, will be well sheltered. If they are headwinds, they are on the light side. Beating into them, with the tide under us, will create apparent wind, to bring them up to a passage making strength.

Stargazer prepares to put to sea, with an eager anticipation.