Marchwood Cruise 11 & 12 July

Published 17:28 on 22 Jul 2026

Our enjoyable annual cruise to Marchwood Yacht Club took place over the weekend of 11/12th July.  We have been visiting this club for many years and they are always very welcoming.

We thought in the midst of a heatwave we wouldnt have any weather issues. Hot high pressure weather normally means no wind, but mid week before the cruise the weather apps were all showing some strong North Easterly winds particularly on Sunday.

On Saturday eight boats enjoyed a mixture of sail and motor on the downwind leg in modest winds.  Marchwood is a member run club located at the top of Southampton Water opposite the container port.  As Steve Cray so eloquently put it, this is the spot for admiring Industrial Ballet.  We had our first viewing as we sailed in the narrow strip of water to the left of the main channel near Marchwood as a biggy slowly passed us a couple of hundred metres away.  It's always an awe inspiring site.   Jayne the efficient OOD helped us all to berth and we sat a while in the shade and observed other  container ships being tugged and turned into position.  In the late afternoon 5 cruise ships departed their berths, none without a symphony of blasts from their horns.

'Tugs and container vessel pirouette on the stage in front of our berths'

'Another big one has three tugs help her in'

For the pontoon party we found shelter from the heat under the Starting Huts shadow for a delightful hour of chat, we then made our way into the clubhouse for a meal.  Mairi and her daughter did a great job in the heat to cook and serve us all 3 course meal and we enjoyed a drink or two before retiring, some to watch England beat Norway 2.1 in the World Cup.

On Sunday morning we dispersed in different directions, some going on to join David & Amandas cruise at Lymington.  Well done to Crayzee Feeling, Quintette, Windreaver and Ursa Minor who beat back to Chichester in the strong wind.

Thanks to everyone who joined us, as enjoyable as ever. Apart from the above vessels we also enjoyed the company of Raven, Sounio & Perfectly Fine.

'Raven & Sounio using the stiff NE to take them down Southamption Water'