Sailing into Cowes and Yarmouth IOW

A video pilot about two of the most important ports in the Solent

[@sitatt]

Thanks loads, sir! Poole based here and have bought my own small sail cruiser for my family. I was born in Lymington and raced there for several years upon leaving the forces in the 90's. This is my first foray into boat ownership, she's an old but seaworthy Lymington-built tub and as an engineer by trade, I do all of my own work on her! I have completed my Day Skipper and am confident in venturing further afield. Videos like yours really are priceless to relative newcomers to cruising and we owe a lot to people like yourself who put in your own valuable time to bring really sound knowledge, experience and education to us 'newbies'. Thanks again for taking the time to do this! Cheers

[@SailingGently]

So pleased you liked the videos. sounds like you have all the skills and knowledge needed to have a wonderful summer sailing - being able to fix things is the most important qualification I think! Fair winds and safe landfalls Michael

[@patrickhorgan8389]

A trip down memory lane....Thank You.👍

[@SailingGently]

Glad you enjoyed it Patrick... The visit was the same for me!

[@ozprimo]

Brilliant stuff mate! Love the mooring hook. So simple and yet somehow already a classic indispensable bit of kit.

[@SailingGently]

Glad you like it! Yes it's a really good tool I think

[@bunksunbound5785]

We’re berthed in the Solent, so you’ve been in our home waters. Wonderful and informative video as ever Michael, and we love the hook & moor boat hook too-fiendishly clever! Fair winds… 👍🏼👍🏼

[@SailingGently]

Glad you enjoyed it - I loved it when I had trots on the Hamble...

[@ianbrown1255]

I was there at the weekend on my Jeanneau 41 DS…fantastic spot and worth a visit!

[@SailingGently]

It sure is Ian... nice weekend too

[@TheAtma50]

Wonderful videos ... Stay Safe & Fair Winds!!

[@SailingGently]

Thanks Bob, you too!

[@FeelingCurrent]

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences Michael 🙏

[@SailingGently]

My pleasure Steve... Glad you enjoyed it

[@normanboyes4983]

Absolutely benchmark stuff. Michael. 😀👍

[@SailingGently]

How kind Norman. Glad you liked the video

[@marktaylor484]

Excellent as per usual. Fair winds.

[@SailingGently]

Many thanks Mark. Glad you liked it

[@LondonerBerlin]

Interesting video again. I last sailed & moored in Cowes & Great Yarmouth in 1972 as a teenager with a 19ft bilge keel bath tub ! I have lived now in Germany since 1988. Currently sailing in the Baltic in my ageing Beneteau First 24. Also a lot more boats than several years ago and marina prices going up, but not yet like the UK and Solent

[@SailingGently]

Thanks for sharing Martin... It's an area full of memories for us all... Interesting the Baltic is also filling up!

[@MilesCarterUK]

Another great and interesting video - this time in my home cruising ground. Looking forward to hearing about Alderney.

[@SailingGently]

Miles hi, So pleased you liked the video... I've got out of synch with the releases and the Alderney video is at kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpe3d5Ksa5V4o8k

[@alexmoore302]

I’m no sailor but this is fascinating Michael! I’m looking forward to hearing about the next part of your travels.

[@SailingGently]

Glad you enjoyed it Alex. Thank you for watching

[@tomriley5790]

Lovely video! Enjoy your sailing!

[@SailingGently]

Thanks so much Tom...

[@Jolie_sailor]

Thanks for another video. You channel is great with a lot of fantastic info.

[@SailingGently]

Thank you for watching. So pleased you liked it

[@ooweesaler]

Yarmouth is clearly a must go to place, Cowes too. Nice video, Off to Brixham for a week on the boat weather looks to be all over the place.

[@SailingGently]

The Solent is a nice place but crowded and expensive... bit like the west country...

[@SuperDirk1965]

I usually approach the mooring buoy with the stern. Tie off to the stern and then I run another line through the buoy that I then take forward.

[@SailingGently]

That's a good method Dirk. Thank you.. I found the device just made the whole thing easier and worth it if you use buoys a lot

[@seenbyme6696]

Fantastic video, I do appreciate your work 👍 I live in lymington so I'm rather familiar with the area. I must say the hook and Moor device seems a game changer. Thanks for the info 👍

[@SailingGently]

Lucky you to live in Lymington... perfect sailing base... I found the device really helpful

[@terryansell6641]

I used to live on the Isle of Wight many years ago and I so miss the island

[@SailingGently]

I can imagine Terry... I have tremendous affection for the island for many diverse reasons

[@tomreid3244]

Thanks Michael. Hook & Moor is quite an awesome piece of kit. I might even rig the dog up. He runs past me knowing I can’t get him. Until now !!

[@SailingGently]

Glad you found it interesting Tom... I think they make longer ones that may be useful with the dog! :-)

[@yarmouth-harbouranalytics5539]

Thanks for all your kind comments about Yarmouth 😀. Really interesting video for cruising sailors in the Solent.

[@SailingGently]

Thank you for bothering to post a comment... I have really enjoyed my return after many decades to Yarmouth...

[@valpopa73]

Thank you for sharing.

[@SailingGently]

My pleasure Val

[@jameswillis3848]

Subscribed, nice easy content to watch

[@SailingGently]

Thank you James. So pleased you liked it

[@vinodk70]

Highly Informative ..hook & moore 👍🏼

[@SailingGently]

Glad you enjoyed it Vinod....

[@chriskiwi2601]

You must be getting somewhat excited Michael with your trip to the Bahamas getting closer.

[@SailingGently]

Yes Chris, still lots of 'ducks' to line up but your right.... Very exciting!

[@WidleyWesident]

Two of my favourite places to overnight. Enjoy your time in the Solent (be warned, the diesel in Yarmouth is a bit steep, but a whole lot cheaper than Beaulieu)

[@SailingGently]

Yes Widely I absolutely love Yarmouth... Departure point for so many adventures

[@ratusbagus]

My mooring hook isn't a hook and moor, I think it's by Norfolk & Chance so back to the boat hook then. Hope I don't have to explain that. I've never been met by a rib at Yarmouth, but then I can't afford their in season fees, but they ARE much less expensive than Lymington. Out of season you can go straight into a finger at the harbour office pontoon. I've anchored off Hurst in the right conditions but too late you've gone now I expect. Oh and you missed that steak! BTW did you notice the lack of Fawley Tower?

[@SailingGently]

Yep! I've had some 'moments' picking up buoys Ratus as well! Its a good tool I think. I agree UK marina prices are off the scale - that's why I'm heading back to the caribbean

[@nmorton100]

Great video. Love your approach and looking forward to following your trip through the Caribbean. Quick question...when you were thinking of sailing there yourself, you mentioned the visa issues leaving the UK (all the 90 day stuff). What are the visa regs when you're in the Caribbean...can you just sail around for as long as you like or is there some strategy required?

[@SailingGently]

Glad you liked the video... The Caribbean is really easy compared to the EU!!! Most islands (except the French ones) are independent countries and are pretty laid back once you have checked in... the gap between islands is normally around 20 miles and there are anchorages everywhere.. Most liveaboards do seem to move around but I can keep my boat in French Martinique 365 and as far as I know the 90 day rule does not exist for any of the French islands (St Barts, St Martin, Guadeloupe,Martinique) You can come and go as much as you like... So once you are in the Caribbean other than clearing in and out it is free and open

[@nmorton100]

@@SailingGently Ok great. Many thanks for the reply and looking forward to following along. I like your ‘sailing in to’ series so they will be great in the Caribbean. Safe passage and good luck.

[@SailingGently]

Pleasure...Thank you.... I'm not sure how popular the 'sailing into' series will be centered in the Caribbean, with European subscribers, but I imagine my American/Canadian followers will find it useful

[@charlie6751]

Thanks for the wonderful information living out on my yacht over in North Borneo iam shocked at the UK marina prices as its a good while since I've been back there, built my own mooring a while back as I was tired of getting the anchor caught up on seafloor junk ,it was well worth the effort ,how's the move to the Caribbean going ?

[@SailingGently]

I'm the same Charlie, having sailed in the Med for the last 10/12 years its been a culture shock...financial shock... Would love to be where you are.... Caribbean project is proceeding OK... Still a few outstanding issues and I won't truly believe it's happening until I get her loaded on the ship!

[@charlie6751]

@@SailingGently hope the yacht transit goes smoothly iam sure they know what they are doing transporting vessels overseas yes if you ever get chance sea east Asia crusing has its advantages cost tropical weather its always warm and ever so friendly locals your more than welcome on my yacht anytime there's always a place for you here

[@SailingGently]

That is so kind Charlie... It is a wonderful cruising ground - Came through it during my circumnavigation and loved the experience

[@derekness7900]

You didn’t mention East Cowes marina as an option-it is really good, great facilities and a good pub next door

[@SailingGently]

Derek I know... I'm sorry about not mentioning the East Cowes option although it was on the chart I put up... Trouble is I have never ever been in there so had no first had experience!

[@derekness7900]

@@SailingGently Yes it is a good marina- great toilets and showers, and the lifeboat pub next door, and in 5 minutes you are in the Solent . There is even a Waitrose down the road in east Cowes for provisions!

[@SailingGently]

Thanks Derek, When I am next in Cowes I will visit then when I do an update include it in the presentation,

[@roysheeley]

Great video! Yarmouth is fantastic! If you had asked me, the local broker(I say hello at 8:37min,) I would have been able to give you details of a few people who would have fixed your steaming light for you. :-)

[@SailingGently]

I made the comment Roy as I walked to a couple of boat yards and telephoned several other marine repairs places but they were all too busy to help me... Sailed into Cowes and it was fixed the same day! But Cowes is hugh and Yarmouth is small but perfectly formed :-)

[@SailingGently]

Yes Roy I saw you walk by both in reality and on video... Had a lot of positive feedback about Yarmouth... Clearly a well liked place

[@SuperJV4x]

have you sailed from the Atlantic to the Black Sea? thx

[@SailingGently]

No, I haven't... Spent a year in Turkish waters and got there from the Atlantic/Gib but headed south rather than north

[@grandmajosephine383]

Michael, how old are you?

[@SailingGently]

I was born in February 1942 Josephine which makes me 36 in my head and 80 on a calendar

[@grandmajosephine383]

@@SailingGently well you hopped over the lifeline quite agiley for a 36 year old.

[@SailingGently]

@@grandmajosephine383 it's all in the mind but sadly not in the legs!

[@megaluckydog1212]

Awfully sad day for the launch. Gutted, sorry.

[@SailingGently]

Yes it is sad...

[@megaluckydog1212]

@@SailingGently Its 05:30 and waiting for Charles' accession. i have received this though i have unfollowed. This Canadian does not forget.

[@SailingGently]

@@megaluckydog1212 Sorry you were troubled but I suspect you not receive any notifications of new videos... Technology is seldom perfect I find...