Mariquita Book - mk2.5

UK PRE-SEASON
25 APRIL 2015
DIARY ENTRY
We passed a fleet of overnight racers, just past Hurst
Castle, heading out of the Solent into the building
wind and sea we were running from. This made the
smiles onboard widen realising that we were so close
to the warmth and safety of a home port. All hands
were gathered aft, taking in the sights and talking
about the first pint or meal they’d be having once
they got ashore. We cleared the deck as best we could,
making the boat as presentable as possible for the
discerning eyes of Solent sailors. Pulling up just past
Yarmouth, we hooked up with what would be our
summer mooring off The Towers, and out came John
Caulcutt and Ben Wood in a rib to be the first to
welcome us to England! Before long the whole crew
were transfered to the Royal Solent Yacht Club for a
pint of Doom Bar. Then off to Salty’s for one heck of
an order of fish ’n chips … a more picturesque arrival
could not have been imagined. With the engine off,
there was a collective sigh from the crew. It hadn’t
been an epic like The Odyssey, but it had been our
voyage, and now it had come to an end. Like all good
things. M.O.
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