The alarm goes off an hour before dawn, at 6am. We’ve decided to go early on the last of the flood tide, to avoid more wind and rain this afternoon. We slip our lines as the sky lightens and head out into the drizzle. We try just setting the staysail, but it’s not enough. We hoist the main, but leave the jib down. It’s downwind all the way home. We’re goose-winged for much of it. The early murk lifts and it’s a pleasant enough gentle sail. We turn in towards Hamble just as the Winter Series fleet emerge for their first race of the season. Then up the river, pack up and back to Hamble for a late breakfast.