gales, gails & more gales

Here we are sat in Haslar Marina, portsmouth, watching a private (ish) show by the red arrows. We've come to the conclusion they're completely nuts.
We were out in our first gale yesterday, running downwind with just the jib out and really quite enjoying it. Unlike the night before, beating into it on our way to Cowes. Haven't been quite so wet for a long time. We certainly earned a beer for that trip!
Reading out to play on the mooring buoys this afternoon, then heading over to Chichester Harbor, via Langstone, to pick up a mooring for tonight.
Hopefully the wind will start to moderate in the next couple of days so we can head over to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands for a few days.
We've been pretty much everywhere on the Solent, another day or so and we will have been everywhere that's worth the visit. Tome for some more milebuilding before we get back to skills and drills.
Only 3 weeks kept begpre the exam, and I think there are a few nerves beginning to show! Time to start working them hard.