Exhilarating Tale of Solo Yachting: A 711 Nautical Mile Voyage on South Coast Waters

Imagine the sense of relief as the overnight rain dissipates, making way for a calm, sunny morning. That was the day he embarked on his solo voyage in his Fairline Targa 40, aptly named ‘Easily Distracted’. Greeting the dawn as the freshly cleansed boat was pulled from the water, he marvelled at the hull and drives caked in underwater life- a growth that explained the recent loss in engine revolutions per minute. Despite never having to do a mid-season scrub before, an hour of thorough jet washing later, he was ready to return to the sea. His destination? Salcombe, taking advantage of favorable tidal streams and the south-westerly force 4 wind on his stern. As his yacht powered onto the plane, eventually hitting 26 knots at its usual cruising revs, he breathed a sigh of satisfaction. Intrepid sailors know that the sea is unpredictable. Although he set off at a cracking speed, the swell of the ocean prompted a subtle easing off of the throttle and soon, he settled into a more relaxed cruising rhythm of 1,200rpm. Two hours later, he arrived triumphantly in Salcombe. His timing granted him a mid-estuary mooring buoy, complete with stunning views and a short tender ride into town. Picture a chilled afternoon basking in the sun, watching the clouds drift lazily overhead, followed by a quiet evening, accompanied by a meaty shepherd’s pie and a gin-less G&T. All the while, waves lapped gently on the shoreline, providing the perfect maritime soundtrack. However, the tranquility was replaced by turmoil in the face of an unrelenting deluge and heavy winds funneling down the estuary. Even the use of earplugs didn’t stifle the relentless sound of water slapping the yacht’s chines. In his quest to find sleep, he retreated to the aft cabin. Despite waking to more tumultuous weather, he was soon welcoming new crew mates and toasting their arrival with a well-deserved pint in a scenic local beer garden. Over the following days, he and his friends cruised sun-drenched waters, witnessing the awe-inspiring sight of the 66m superyacht Elysian, and even responding to a distress call from a stranded dive boat. While they didn’t manage to perform the rescue, they were certainly close. From the thrill of yachting during turbulent weather to serene moments of reflection and camaraderie at port towns, the solo sea voyage truly captured the magic mixture of exhilaration and tranquility that sailing offers.