PicoMicroYacht rarely visits the club. One notable visit was about two years ago when it set off from MRSC for a voyage round the Isle of Wight. This led to the well remembered club phrase 'in a Pico!!!' because I left my planning notes on the dock and these were passed on to club secretary. She was not to know the Pico in question had been adapted to make the voyage feasible and safe.
This time it was a beautiful September day and I set off for a voyage to Emsworth with the MRSC 'harbour explorers.' I was asked to go ahead due to my slow speed and said goodbye to the safety launch crew standing on the dock, Martin, Mike and Bob.
Chichester harbour has great natural beauty which varies with the light and the state of the tide, endlessly different. If you like nature you cannot ever be bored.
At the start to the day it was the silvers and blues that dominated the seascape, the clouds revealing wind to come.
As the sun rose in the sky, the mood changed again and greens were introduced, with the sky becoming more atmospheric and threatening.
Soon I was nearing Emsworth and the mood had changed again. As I looked back the safety launch appeared silhouetted against a creamy grey sky.
Near to our destination, the 'Terror' arrived. This boat was built in about 1890 to dredge for oysters, which it did successfully until the early 1900s. Then the oysters became infected with typhoid, killing among others, the Bishop of Chichester. Despite the consequentially decimated oyster business the Terror managed to survive the 20th Century, being restored completely for pleasure trips about ten years ago.
Just off Emworth, the sailing dinghies from the local club were gathering to race and PicoMicroYacht had to keep well clear.
The destination reached, those on the voyaged enjoyed a coffee or a cream tea at Flintstones Tea Room by the Emsworth quay. This tea room is the one to be recommended in Emsworth, in my view.