Portland Bill

Motor sailed into the wind across Lyme Bay with the sail angle improving all day so that we just had to put a couple of tacks in to make past the Bill.  We spent a couple of nights in the Marina and our great friends Ann & Stuart came over for an evening meal - well infact Ann bought most of the meal! 

The weather prospect for at least 10 days ahead was for east winds so the choice was to leave Spring Breeze in Portland (at vast expense) or motor sail home when the wind eased.  A bit of a lull in the strength of the wind meant we were able to set sail at 10:00.  We had tide with us for a couple of hours but hit the adverse tide off Anvil Point which had a dramatic effect on our progress.  So by gunning the engine a bit we eventually weathered the point and motored towards the Island.  Coming through the Needles Channel, with the tide under us we actually achieved 12knots on the GPS.  Motored into Cowes after completing our big trip.