Day 27 - Wednesday, 16th July - truly beautiful early morning in Portland marina at 5.45. Totally calm with the water completely still and mirror-like, reflecting the clear blue sky and the boats perfectly.
An early start to make sure we left by 07.00 so we could clear the Lulworth ranges before they opened at 09.30. With very little wind, we had to motor again, sadly, but no real hardship on such a lovely morning. Our motoring speed has been reduced by some fine weed growth along the waterline so we needed the tidal assistance that built as time passed and cleared the range area with quarter of an hour to spare.
We continued under motor all the way to Yarmouth for a very relaxing five hour passage. Saw a porpoise breaching once a couple of miles before the Needles and then raced through Hurst Narrows with the full tide under us, showing over 13 knots speed over ground for a time!
Arrived at Yarmouth just after midday, when it was relatively quiet and we were given a spot alongside the pontoon next to the fuel station. We were then amazed, and occasionally entertained, as the harbour filled to bursting, for some reason. Boats were rafted four and five deep in places. Seemed strange for midweek in July but there were several foreign boats and the private schools have broken up, I guess.