A weekend on the waves

Where shall we go this weekend? This must be a common question among those lucky enough to have a boat moored within the Solent area.

For me the real attraction of the Solent is the great variety of locations and sailing challenges that it has to offer, and I like to venture slightly off the well-beaten track to spend time in more natural and less frantic environments.

In this article I will plan a weekend in the Solent that is based on a Friday early evening departure, and returning early evening on the Sunday. The plan is primarily intended for boats based in the Hamble, Itchen, Portsmouth and Cowes but is still viable for those based in Lymington or Yarmouth.

Time to go

When to go where is largely determined by the tides and this particular itinerary is best undertaken at neaps or a few days either side. This ensures that the tidal stream will usually be going in the right direction at convenient times,