SUCS in the Solent Sat 4th June

The Margaret Smith & Alum Bay

Our host for today is the very knowledgable Dave Wendes and his boat Wight Spirit.

Looks a bit dull and overcast doesn't it? Well it was a bit and with F4-5 on the exposed SW flank of the Island the planned wrecks were out of the question, so we decide on our alternate, the Margaret Smith.

Trouble is that there seems to be an epidemic of fleece hats!

Not for Pete though, he just wants to know if his bum looks big in this.

While Lucy wins the most uncordinated semi award.

Still at least she is concentrating on getting ready, unlike Pete & Charlotte. STOP IT!

Margaret Smith

MARGARET SMITH. Steel motor dredger of 309 tons, capsized off Yarmouth in the Solent in 1978. Max Depth 16m

Not a lot of slack on this one (well it is the Solent), but with passable viz and a bit of light, we scuttled along the top edge and worked our way down. I'm with Lucy & Neil doing a simulated decompression dive for Sport diver. So its over emphasis of just about every part of the dive. The ship is on it's side and that makes all the deck openings large black holes. So with thoughts of congers our torches pierced the gloom only to be met with - nothing. Not a single conger. Must have been on there hols. Still round we go and get to the bow and wham current in the face. Ok reverse and lets go back. Skirted round to the stern.

Well it wasn't out first choice, but actually not a bad wreck. Need to be on it well before slack so you are actually on the wreck at the start. The window here is very short and neaps would be better.

Good dive- 29 mins @ 16m

After that it was the new trail round Alum Bay, while some of us did a search for historical timbers.

Who went? Gareth, Pete, Rich, Charlotte, Terry, Lucy, Neil, Dave, Mike, Damien.

Wight Sprit

Neil & Dave making good use of that lift.

You are not going to believe this, but Lucy steered us all the way back to Lymington and even managed to avoid the IOW ferry. Although we did almost run aground twice.

Well that early morning start took its toll and they start to drop like flies. Top - Charlotte, Pete, Gareth:- Bottom - Rich.

Dave looking for his ship or a parrot - you decide.

Knew he was off his trolley.

Goodbye Dave, see you next time.