1st September – Monday – Hamble to Gosport and Brighton

Departed at 10.30 for the 12 mile trip, arriving at 13.00.  Good sunny and windy sailing to Gosport, Haslar marina to meeting old friends Graham and Pauline.  They keep their boat at Haslar and have also been on a summer sail to the South West of England.

After a chat Pauline and I went on the ferry to Portsmouth to have a mooch around Gunwharf Quay.  It is a large outlet village with many eateries.  We settled on Blancs bistro and met Mick and Graham there for dinner.  Drinks back on ‘Liberty’ and a good catch-up prior to the Boat show.

They also managed to get us an inner berth, so no Rock’n’Roll as our last visit.  Big thanks.

2nd September – Tuesday – Gosport to Brighton.

A long day ahead for the 44 miles to Brighton, starting at 08.30 we arrived at 16.30.  The first four hours were hard going with dark skies, and cold winds.  Wind over tide again just put the finishing touches to an unpleasant few hours.  As the day wore on the weather improved and the sea settled into a sunny calm afternoon.  We arrived in Brighton in warm sunshine. 

It looks like a metropolis from the sea.  The marina is the largest in England.  We were asked to go into the bottom of a ‘U’ shaped pontoon, as they were expecting some tall ships.  Bit tricky and thankfully they knew that and sent two guys to take our ropes.

Quick walk around to get our land legs and an Ice Cream to make me smile.

It is amazing that after being on a boat for so long you can still feel unwell!!

Info: £31 per night.  Good facilities with hairdryers and plugs.  There is an ASDA store on the marina complex as well as every type of eating establishment.  There are shops underneath the bars and restaurants.  Number 7 bus to town.

3rd September – Wednesday

A Grand Day Out in Brighton.

We walked to town approx 30 minutes.  There is a bus from the marina and a small vintage railway along most of the east promenade.

The pier is still a great draw and was very busy on this sunny day.

We went along the seafront and then cut into the ‘Lanes’ where all the antiques shops are.  The area I really like is the North Laine area which comprises three streets of bohemian shops and eateries which has a great feel to it.  I managed to find some totally un-necessary fabric for my stash.  Walked back through Kemptown and found a very unusual junk shop, great end to a great day.

We did not visit the Pavilion as we have been before, but would highly recommend it.

4th September – Thursday

Hair dyeing and blog.  Walk to Asda and chandlers.  Mick found a second hand plotter (another computer for the boat which duplicates the plotter inside the boat) to go in the cockpit and is currently reading the instructions, very happy nerd. 

Just when you think you are doing alright in life this happens…

……there’s always someone with a bigger boat, but this will win most of the time.

Good job the sun had gone in as we were literally put in the shade.  Apparently at 30 knots it takes 700 litres of diesel per hour.  So most of us could not even afford the fuel.  It is being delivered to Norway.