We had a little cruise to Christchurch last weekend. Christchurch is quite shallow so is restrictive to the fin keelers but for us bilge keelers and lifting keel boats it is an absolute dream of place to visit.
Three boats made the trip, Pete and Cathy on their Shrimper 'Coffee Bean', Kirk on his Seal 22 'Hannah Snell' and John and I on 'Ciao Bella'. We had a civilised start time, leaving the mooring just after lunch. The forecast was for F2 or F3 Northerly on the way there and very light SW on the return.
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| Coffee Bean Goose winging towards the bar. |
The Northerly turn out to be a southerly which made no odds, once out of the harbour we had a nice easy sail around Hengistbury head and goosewings our way to the bar. The beach along the East side of Hengistbury head is lined with some lovely beach huts but beware if you are thinking you'd like to buy one... they are chuffing expensive.
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| Why spend 1/4 million on a shed when you can have a small sail boat instead. |
The run was against us slightly on the way in but not too bad, nothing could prepare me for the attack of the flying crabs being launched by a couple of kids on the sea wall, strangly funny :). Although we kept the sails up until well into the river the engine did the work as we avoided various small craft.
Christchurch Sailing club had reserved some spaces on their visitor pontoon for us and we were greeted by the Commodore. The club has a fantastic location with a balcony overlooking the river and great views to the Isle of Wight. We whiled away the afternoon and evening out here until the chill got to us.
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| Ciao Bella and Hannah Snell with the club house in the background |
The welcome at the club was really nice, the members chatted freely and bar and food were good quality and value at £3 for a decent pint of Doom Bar and less than £7 for Fisherman's pie.
The return was necessarily early. The latest we could leave would be 8am.. Coffee Bean left at 6:30 but Hannah Snell and us made the most of ever second to relax :) To be fair I wasn't feeling tiptop and had picked up some kind of bug which was making me very lethargic... some may connect this with the £3 a pint at the bar but I can guarantee that a hangover wouldn't last five days and I'm still suffering :(
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| A misty morning start. |
We motored back down the river and out through the run before hoisting the sails. Hannah Snell extended his trip East bound into the Solent and we turn back West for Poole. The Wind was SW and our first long tack took us at good speed almost due south. My ailment was taking hold now and I completely handed over control to John while I slept, waking occasionally. I helped tack back towards Poole then woke sometime later as, due to the lack of wind, it was time to fire up the motor.
I recommend a night in Christchurch, it's a lovely location and you'll be well looked after.
