Stivers and the Solent for Junior Sailing!

Published 14:45 on 1 Jun 2026

The recent spell of glorious conditions continued nicely on Saturday morning for the Junior Sailing group to take full advantage!

With unbroken blue skies and a light westerly breeze, the group of Zests and a Tera sailed off at a leisurely pace, down Hawkers, into the Little Hawkers and Stivers channels, and finally out into the open Solent again. Despite the light winds, the ebb tide of the Solent and a favourable wind shift to the southwest made for more sailing all the way back to the river entrance. The calm Solent also provided the time and space for some inter-boat activity - more wet than dry!

The end of the Spit then proved a perfect place to stop off and cool off, as well as collect shells, observe from a distance the bird eggs laid in the shingle, and search out other finds washed up recently on the shingle.

To complete the Keyhaven round-the-island, the breeze even held for a final sail back up the main river all the way to the slipway!

Another memorable Junior morning - especially well done to those who were venturing into the narrower channels and the Solent for the first time - and all the group who confidently and successfully kept their dinghies moving along in the lightest of breezes with barely any assistance!

A big thanks too, as always, to the parents ashore and afloat for supporting these children's sessions.