Have been receive Solent coastguard for the last couple of days even when in Calais. We left Brighton at 9am this morning. Overnight the wind had been howling and was forecast 5/6 for today. As soon as we left, it poured with rain and gusted up to 24 knots. Put in 3 reefs and made good progress to wind. The sea was very lively. Slowly the wind changed direction until we had to tack back and forth. As we approached Selsey Bill, we realised only Ian had been round before and in his case this was in a life raft after the yacht he was in collided with a tanker and sank! Gradually the wind dropped and the sea calmed down. We decided to head for Portsmouth and are now in the Mary Mouse having dinner. Plan to be back in Shamrock tomorrow evening.