Thursday 3 May Cowes to DartmouthAfter a ciabatta at Tiffin (Cowes Yacht Haven) and a haircut for Benj, we left Cowes at 1400 on a fast running tide and easterly wind, sailing at up to 8 knots down the western Solent, passing through the Needles Channel at 1600, after which we had to motor against increasing tides. The passage was planned to get us to the infamous tidal race around Portland Bill at the critical time, in this case between midnight and 2am. This we achieved, and made Dartmouth at 0730 Friday morning.