Southampton Castle

April 9, 2025, dawned with a sense of purpose and a touch of nervous excitement. Today wasn’t the grand departure into the vast unknown, but a crucial prelude, a practice sail from Gosport to Cowes. Our mission was clear: to put Halcyon Sea, with all her recent upgrades, through her paces and ensure we felt confident at the helm before truly casting off on our long held adventure.

The conditions could not have been more perfect. The wind, a playful yet steady breeze, filled our imaginary glasses with what felt like champagne sailing. Just outside the Portsmouth Harbour entrance, the moment arrived. With a practiced rhythm, the main sail was hoisted, catching the wind and filling with a satisfying billow. Moments later, the Genoa followed suit, and Halcyon Sea heeled gently, responding beautifully to the combined power of the canvas.

The sail to Cowes was nothing short of exhilarating. The boat danced across the water, slicing through the waves with anewfound efficiency. We revelled in the responsiveness of the upgrades, the smooth glide a testament to the hard work and preparation of recent months. In a mere two hours and 18 minutes, one of our fastest passages yet, the familiar shores of Cowes welcomed us. It was a resounding success, a confident nod from the sea that we were on the right track.

The journey to this point, however, had been far from a carefree sail. The past few months had presented their own set of challenges. Tracey‘s redundancy, while a significant life event, had ultimately acted as a catalyst, solidifying our decision to finally realise our long-cherished dreams.

Packing up our house a place filled with years of memories was an emotional undertaking. The process of selling many of our belongings felt like shedding layers of our past. Deciding what was truly essential for life afloat and then the Herculean task of shoehorning it all onto Halcyon Sea, tested our ingenuity and patience. There were numerous leaving dos, each a bittersweet farewell to cherished friends and familiar faces. Amidst the goodbyes, there were floods of tears – tears of sadness at leaving, tears of relief at progress, and tears of anticipation for the unknown.

But here we are, at the starting line. Halcyon Sea, laden with our worldly possessions and our hopes for the future, had aced her practice run. And nestled amongst the blankets our loyal little dog Pepper, a steadfast member of our crew, was ready too. The upgrades were working, our spirits were high, and the sea was calling. We had navigated the emotional tides and the logistical challenges. We were ready to go. The real adventure is about to begin.

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