With no club trip programmed this weekend, due to the Jersey Symposium, a couple of us opted not to battle with the Bank Holiday traffic and instead stayed local (to battle with a stiff Westerly, which seemed to veer NW as soon as we reached the Hamble).
We headed west from Hillhead with an F4 against us, it was a bit of a slog but an hour or so later we entered the Hamble and after dodging the procession of pleasure craft we paused at Hamble village for a coffee.
Continuing up river we found the strong Spring flow more than negated the wind that now whistled its way down river on its way to the Solent. Ignoring the chattering of the rigging we shot past the remaining yachts that were still tethered at their berths, their stable mates off to join the seemingly endless stampede to open water.
In contrast the Upper Hamble was a picture of serenity and despite the Jolly Sailor looking very inviting we resisted temptation and continued with the flow.
Timing our return with the ebb we cruised down river (though somehow we still had the wind against us) and once at the entrance we were suprised to find the mass exit still going strong.
With the Westerly now on our backs we found exhilaration in the strong following sea that pushed us back along the coast and also helped make this twenty miler feel a bit of a breeze.
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