The forecast was for severe gale force winds overnight and for once the forecasters got it right, including the timing. Most of the big ships anchored in the Solent reported to Southampton VTS that they were heading out to drift beyond the Nab tower for safety reasons. They are safer out there using their engines

After leaving Southampton, I stayed off Calshot for two nights, there has been little wind in the morning but biting cold Northerlies later. I did a bit of fishing with no success, even a collapsable crab pot I put down overnight was epty in the morning, I was hoping to catch something to use as

After two days resupplying and meeting my mum, stepdad and uncle, I cast of from the marina late morning and made my slow way down the Solent. Winds were light to non existent but I had plenty of time so resisted the urge to turn on the engine. Tacking back and forth across a busy