Pensioners' Day Out

[Daisy]

I'm not sure what I've let myself in for!

The pensioners' club my OH belongs to has organised a day's sailing on Thursday - over to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Lovely - what a nice way to spend a day, sitting back and enjoying a trip over to the Island, have lunch and then sail back. I didn't ask, but I imagined a large pleasure boat built with comfort in mind.

I now find out it's two 30 ft yachts, and they will provide wet weather gear if necessary, but we must wear sailing shoes. Gulp! OK, I've got the shoes and a windproof sailing kagoule. We haven't sailed for over 20 years, and that was dinghy sailing and I had a wet suit. I don't for one minute think I'll have to do any serious stuff, but I really have no idea what to wear other than my trusty decks!

[Oma]

That's what you get for not finding out what your letting yourself in for first before agreeing

Have you checked the weather for that day ? hahaha

[Plantaholic]

That is a very adventurous trip for pensioners Daisy, hope the sun shines.

[Grauntie Mag]

Just remember, Daisy, in the words of the song...’you’re never fully dressed without a smile’
I’d go for the wet suit. 😁

[Sunshine]

You’ll be fine! xx

[Daisy]

Thank you, every one! I never learn!! Grauntie - the wet suit is long gone and would be several sizes too small. As for the weather - I still can't get much on my computer and can't check the weather. I think it should be dry, but don't know how windy.

I'm sure it will be lots of fun - it will, it will, it will.

[Enfys]

It will.......take your Sea Legs just in case. What an adventure 😀⛵️

[Gemini]

OMG!
Considering this is a Pensioners Club Daisy, presumably safety will have been a big consideration
I hope it's lot of fun, do report back!

[Glammanana]

I'll be thinking of you dear lady it takes me all my time to go over to Liverpool on The Mersey Ferry even when the River is like a mill pond.
If no wet suit available get yourself a black plastic bag with arm holes cut out

[Daisy]

Glamm - I can just picture me in a bin bag - it's not a pretty sight! I used to love sailing, and was disappointed if there wasn't a stiff breeze to make it fun. I loved going to work on the Mersey Ferry, Glamm. Just enough time to grab a big mug of builder's brew before the long walk up to church Street where I worked!

Gem - I'm sure we'll all have to wear buoyancy aids and be told not to touch anything!

Enfys - I presume if the sea's very rough it will be cancelled, unfortunately.

I've sorted out layers and layers of clothes for everything from pouring rain and freezing cold to Caribbean sunshine and sea like a mill pond!

[Gemini]

Glamma, I wouldn't be able to go either, for fear of seasickness!
Luckily Daisy is made of sterner stuff

[Daisy]

Gem - I do suffer from travel sickness, but not in the fresh air on the sea - hopefully!!!

[Nanto2girls]

Hope you enjoy tomorrow Daisy.

[Glammanana]

This last holiday DD had a couple of weeks ago we had promised ourselves an island trip around Majorca but the weather was so windy that I couldn't even contemplate it its something we had wanted to do the past few times we had been there but unlucky again this year.

[Daisy]

Glamm - you were unlucky with the weather in Majorca - I would think usually it would be perfect for a gentle sail.

Well, we did it and survived to tell the tale!

The weather was perfect - blue skies, blue/green sea, white fluffy clouds here and there and a gentle Force 4 wind. The trip out to Cowes was quite tame with just the headsail up (the little sail at the front) but the return journey was more exciting with both sails up and lots of tacking as we were sailing against quite a strong tide.

Most of us had a go at helming, and we and the boat all survived! I got teased a bit for my very unorthodox zig-zag progress at the helm.

We sailed up the Medina River of the Island to a lovely pub for lunch - yummy fish and chips and a shandy for me. The only difficult bit was mooring alongside the other boat and having to climb over them to get to the pontoon - but my fish and chips were calling and I scrambled over ok.

It was a good day out but not what I'd call relaxing. I'm badly in need of an early night tonight.


I've tried to upload a couple of photos, but for some reason my post can't 'see' them. I'll put them in Albums tomorrow.