Visiting the Isle of Wight by rib for first time.

[lakelandterrier]

I've done round IoW a few times but always clockwise. so there's a challenge to add to the bucket list
The run from St Catherines Point to Needles is great, not sure it is quite the same going to other way round from the view?
Which ever way round I think hitting St Cat around slack water is probably a good idea

[Matt]

On the bucket list challenges, I really fancy doing Cherbourg (or St Vaast) and back in a day - going over for lunch. That'd be a good challenge. Tried to persuade my sailing buddy we should do it in our old RS800 once (one way, I think it'd be a bit much to get back the same day in that), but he wasn't up for it.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Matt

On the bucket list challenges, I really fancy doing Cherbourg (or St Vaast) and back in a day - going over for lunch. That'd be a good challenge. Tried to persuade my sailing buddy we should do it in our old RS800 once (one way, I think it'd be a bit much to get back the same day in that), but he wasn't up for it.

Eminently if not easily doable....but why rush and do it in a day?
St Vasst is well worth at least a weekend visit alone.

If you DO want a "challenge" try it in force 8!..although I can confidently predict a one way passage (especially the overfalls on approach) will be quite enough in one day

[Matt]

Yeah, St Vaast is lovely, although not been for many years now. Was a restaurant there where as a youngster I had my first taste of wine that I really liked - it was a Sancerre.

I like the idea of a day just for the challenge, it reduces the chance of tomorrows forecast not being quite right, too.

I haven't got much interest in battling gale force winds these days though - far too many of my childhood memories are of being stuck on my parents (very slow) yacht in miserable weather getting chucked all over the place, barfing everywhere (first the cat, then the other cat, then me, then my dad - and my mother clearing it all up). That said, I'd be up very for doing it on a yacht "in style" - an IMOCA 60 for speed, or maybe a Swan 60 for class.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Matt

Yeah, St Vaast is lovely, although not been for many years now. Was a restaurant there where as a youngster I had my first taste of wine that I really liked - it was a Sancerre.

I like the idea of a day just for the challenge, it reduces the chance of tomorrows forecast not being quite right, too.

I haven't got much interest in battling gale force winds these days though - far too many of my childhood memories are of being stuck on my parents (very slow) yacht in miserable weather getting chucked all over the place, barfing everywhere (first the cat, then the other cat, then me, then my dad - and my mother clearing it all up). That said, I'd be up very for doing it on a yacht "in style" - an IMOCA 60 for speed, or maybe a Swan 60 for class.

I think it would be a crime to do StVaast in a day. Don’t forget it’s locked too, the gates are open 2.5hrs either side of HW iirc. The oyster bar on the front by the marina is worth the visit alone. Tatihou is worth a day as is The Hogue & the Vauban tower (built to keep out the English [emoji6])

[Matt]

I agree. The challenge I'm positioning is to lunch in France and be home in time for tea. An actual visit to St Vaast would also be lovely - although it would involve me fitting out the cabin to overnight on it....

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Matt

I agree. The challenge I'm positioning is to lunch in France and be home in time for tea. An actual visit to St Vaast would also be lovely - although it would involve me fitting out the cabin to overnight on it....

Plenty of hotels in the town[emoji6]

[Matt]

I'm not spooning with any of you lot.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Matt

I'm not spooning with any of you lot.

Apparently it’s obligatory these days[emoji848]

[Nos4r2]

Haven't been to Saint Vaast for many years, last time I went the Iles Saint Marcouf Napoleonic fort was accessible and spent most of the day there. I think the whole place is a wildlife sanctuary now.

[GuyC]

Was he as small in real life as the paintings suggest?