We are "anchored" between pilings on the Beaulieu River, across from Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Locals have advised us Beaulieu (pronounced Bulee) is both scenic and quiet, and it has high speed wireless Internet.

This is our first experience hanging between pilings, something which is quite common in the UK. For a yacht as large as Wind Horse, in this tight environment, things have to go correctly the first time. There are no second chances. The alternative means large boat yard bills for those in our way! The river width for much of its length is narrower than we need to rotate.

The Harbor Master, Mike, sends two of his crew out in boats to help us with the mooring lines. Coming in just after high water means we have a knot of current on the nose, perfect for control (an hour later and the current will be running at three knots plus).

The marina and boat yard just off our bow is called Buckler’s Hard. They have been building vessels here since the fifteen century. In the sixteenth the frigate Agamemnon, said to be Nelson’s favorite, slid down the ways. The buildings adjacent to the boat yard are a museum.

There are 550 yachts on docks, moorings, and pilings in the river. The river and surrounding thousands of acres have been in the Montague family since the sixteenth century. The present Lord Montague traces his family’s lineage back thirteen generations, all of which have resided in Beaulieu.

All of this is ensconced within the "new Forest". We were curious to find out how new this forest really is. Turns out just under a thousand years new. William the Conqueror organized the New Forest for hunting in the 11th century.

The river is busy on weekends with locals and foreign flag (French here) visitors taking in the quiet beauty.

Meanwhile, parked in the boat yard storage area is this 1930s…

… Bentley. Can you imagine the anguish if someone were to scratch this beauty!

The Montague home/castle is open to the public. Inheritance taxes are high in the UK and opening the family crib to the outside world is one of the ways of keeping the estate in the family.

This part of the home dates to the thirteenth century. Like many old buildings this was originally affiliated with the church. The walls are lined with boring old family portraits. However, we are told the private part of the residence has a more interesting collection of art.

The grounds include a wonderfully restored abbey and a museum containing the Montague family auto collection. This mini was one of our favorites. Thirty years ago we owned one of these in New Zealand. As Yanks, used to Detroit Iron, it was a shock to drive a car from which a VW Bug looked big. They also had a Shelby AC Cobra on display. At one point Steve owned an AC Bristol, the Cobra’s forerunner (and the proximate cause of a two year lapse in driving privileges).

During high tide you can take the dinghy into the village, or enjoy a walk through the New Forest.

We admired this Scottish designed and built yacht. She has balanced lines and will be easy on the helm as well as the eyes.

An Eclectic Energy wind mill was mounted on the mizzen. The owners were pleased with its output and we can vouch for the fact that it is exceptionally quiet (http://www.d400.co.uk/index.html).

We are starting to make plans for storing Wind Horse. She is going to be land bound, hauled out at Berthon’s in Lymington. This will be the first time we have left a boat where it needs to be winterized, so there is a learning curve. The maintenance list is short, and most of what we have to do over the next week involves getting ourselves ready to move ashore (a much bigger project than what the boat requires).

In the meantime the sky is black, there are fierce rain squalls, and it is blowing a gale. Arizona sounds pretty good this afternoon.