The video log of this sail is at https://youtu.be/n4wA9di9Sbw?si=vKznbb8V9YR98pAT

Broadmarsh slipway at the head of Langstone harbour was our meeting point (on 5th September) for what turned out to be quite an epic Cody sail, thank you Simon M. for organising such shenanigans.

Simon and Martin were to sail in Simon’s fairly new (to him) comet trio, James and Sandy also in a comet trio and, as usual, myself and a guest sailor (potential Cody fodder) Rick, were to ride along in the almost famous Skismo, a 1973 GP14. The plan was to sail all the way round Hayling Island in an anti-clockwise direction making use of the ebbing tide down to the Solent and the flood tide into Chichester harbour back up to the tip, almost, of Langstone harbour.

This is a sail I have not done before and for Rick, my guest, it was his first ever sea sail, having only ever sailed his GP14 on lakes. The wind was a tad fresher than expected but certainly manageable. Each of the three boats had one reef in. “It might get a bit choppy at the exit” said Simon, “but nothing to worry about’ he continued reassuringly. Blimey! A bit choppy! As we beat our way out of Langstone harbour into the big wide world of the English Channel and towards our next waypoint, Langstone Fairway, we noticed the increasing height of the undulating seas beneath us. We had sailed 5nm by this point.

The seas got bigger, the swells shorter and before we knew it, we were facing breaking waves right on our path to the next waypoint at the entrance to Chichester harbour. Langstone Fairway was our turning point but it was obvious we would be going through a washing machine had we done so. We decided to tack again and sail just a bit further out to sea. This did the trick, although we were pitching up and down in 4ft peaks and troughs they were breaking less, although one breaking wave caught me off guard and landed square on to my back as I sat on the freeboard minding my own business.

Another 2nm along the coast and both the waves and the wind started to ease and Bar Beacon was now only 1.5nm from our bows.Once we had turned Northbound into Chichester harbour we had the wind behind us, the sea state had turned to almost flat calm and Hayling Island Sailing Club’s bar was beckoning. The last 1nm into the harbour was busy with other helms and their considerably bigger toys coming in and going out so keeping a good look out was crucial at this stage. We landed at Black Point, the Northern tip of HISC and had a very lazy lunch, in beautiful surroundings, in gorgeous sunshine and of course, in great company.


Making use of the flood tide we set off Northbound towards Sweare Deep where eventually the bridge onto Hayling Island caminto view. Yes, the bridge that is lower than the
height of the average mast. We beached our boats on very uneven ground just short of the bridge, unloaded our belongings and one by one we capsized our boats and pushed/pulled them under the bridge.

After a swift bailing session we then each had to negotiate the rather intimidating concrete footings of the old Hayling Billy Railway bridge, decommissioned in 1963 (they are taking their time removing them!)

By this time the wind was slight, the sea flat as a pancake and all that was left to do was not run aground as we approached Broadmarsh public slipway for our eventual exit. A most excellent sail and one I would highly recommend to anyone who has not done it. Thanks again Simon for organising (and not
aborting when it got somewhat lumpy).

Simon.C