We had planned an early passage this morning, but our engine checks revealed a mysterious bolt lurking in the bilges near a patch of oil and we dared not set off without checking its origins. We methodically took the saloon apart to give full access to the port engine. This involves moving all the furniture to the forward cabin, lifting the carpet and underlay before swinging the two settee sections out of the way and raising the floorboards. With the aid of a makeup mirror we found the bell housing between the engine and gear box where the bolt belonged. By using a socket set and a new washer we were able to put this back and tension it properly and whilst down there we refixed two sound insulation panels that had fallen away and an engine heater tube bracket that had come loose. We took the opportunity to top up the oil levels and check the raw water and fuel filters and even had a look at the log impeller which had been causing problems - a heart stopping moment as sea water briefly floods into the bilge.

Engine checks revealed we were safe to sail and we had to prepare to leave quickly as our schedule had us passing Selsey Bill around slack water with any tidal flow in the same direction as a gentle south westerly breeze. We were delayed slightly by the half hourly lock schedule but we made over 17 knots with the tide behind us and soon caught up. A call ahead to Berthon Lymington marina established that they planned to close their fuel pontoon around 5pm on this bank holiday Monday and so we still had to push on, and averaged 15 knots by the time we tied up there. Another 470 litres of fuel for just 78 nautical miles! At least we got the 450 litres Berthon fuel discount, but it was still 31p/litre.

We had experienced slight seas, a little moderate off Selsey Bill with good visibility and open canopy temperatures in the 70's. There was a slight misty spray coming back into the helm position at these speeds but the engines seem a lot less smokey than in previous years, after we had the injectors changed last winter. There was plenty of space at the marina, as they had put their prices up again and it cost nearly £40 for our berth including the electricity. It would have been even more as they wanted to charge for a 51" berth, presumably having measured the davits on a previous visit.

For us entering the Solent is like arriving in the big city, noticeably much busier and more expensive than anywhere else we cruise. We kept up a steady speed whilst adjusting our course as necessary to avoid other craft. Once we were all secure, we headed ashore to enjoy an evening in our favourite Bluebird restaurant, the highlight of any visit to Lymington, and one of the reasons it is such a popular stopping off point. The owner even recognised us from last year, when bad weather had kept us in Lymington for a week, and welcomed us personally.

Cruising Statistics

Distance:78 nm

Total to date: 592 nm

Avg Speed: 15 knots

Duration: 5:10 hours

Diesel: 470 litres, 31p/litre

Wind: SW 3-4

Mooring: £36/night

Electricity: £3.50/night

Waypoints

Sovereign Harbour
50 47.40N 00 21.00E

Beachy Head (5nm SE)
50 41.50N 00 22.00E

Selsey Bill (6nm SE)
50 38.00N 00 40.00W

Pullar
50 40.30N 00 50.00W

Chichester Harbour
50 43.35N 00 58.00W

Horse Tail
50 43.30N 01 00.00W

Horse Sand (0.5nmW)
50 45.00N 01 05.40W

Gilkicker Point
50 46.00N 01 09.00W

Browndown
50 46.50N 01 11.00W

Mother Bank (0.5nm W)
50 45.50N 01 12.00W

Cowes Roads
50 46.30N 01 16.50W

Gurnard (0.5nm NW)
50 46.00N 01 20.50W

Lymington Spit
50 44.00N 01 30.00W

Charts

SC 5605

SC 5600