Lady’s Sailing in Southampton Guide

Today I want to bring you my guide to sailing in Southampton, England. This is one of the best places to go to the seaside near London if you want to sail.

Sailing in Southampton

It’s a sunny morning on the Solent. The birds are calling, the water is sparkling, and I’m ready for a day of sailing in Southampton.

I’m here for a regatta, and as I look out from the balcony of the Royal Southern Yacht Club I wonder which boat will be my racing vessel.

I soon find out. After a briefing, my crew walks to the dock and boards a sailboat with shiny white decks and teak seats.

The boat—and the whole regatta—is sponsored by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, which is also the sponsor of my trip to Southampton.

It also seems they’ve brought the blue sky for our day of sailing in Southampton, which my inner Californian celebrates like the sun worshipper she is.

Sailing Regatta in Southampton

After a quick sailing lesson (a little too quick, in my opinion), we motor out of the harbor and into the open water.

Despite the fact that I grew up sailing every weekend—my family had a boat in Santa Cruz and I’ve been told that my first day on board was a few days after I was born—I don’t remember all the details anymore (is the main sheet the sail or the rope attached to it?).

But my sailing skills come back to me—thank goodness for muscle memory—and I’m doing my best to contribute to what will hopefully be our victory in this regatta in Southampton.

Sailing Races in Southampton

There are four races today, and while the wind is eerily absent when we first arrive, it gusts up to a powerful 25 knots by the time the regatta is underway.

These are true racing conditions, and I’m happy to feel the spray of saltwater on my face as the waves splash on board. Sailing in Southampton is living up to its reputation.

We place third out of four boats in our first race, which isn’t quite as good as we hope but better than we do in the following races.

By the time the regatta ends we’re in last place and I start to think I could use a bit more help with my sailing skills.

Sailing in Southampton

By the time we get back to the harbor I’m cold and wet and the English weather has chased the Bermuda sun back across the Atlantic.

But it’s been a great day sailing in Southampton, and I’ve had fun learning to sail all over again.

Now that I have my skills back, I can’t wait to return to this part of Hampshire and race on the Solent again someday. If you get a chance, I hope you can too.

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