Challenge Series RIB winner Roger Chaplin emailed us over a report of his day out... I went down to Brockenhurst, just outside Lymington, last Friday with my wife (Margaret) and we were joined by my son (Alan) and his partner (Gill). We decided to stay for two nights in the Rose & Crown at Brockenhurst, to make a weekend of it. Down to the Lymington Yacht Haven on Saturday morning - and the weather was just perfect. A very slight breeze blowing, the sun was shining (all day!) and it was pleasantly warm for late September. We met up with our skipper for the day - Dary - and he gave us a run through of the safety measures on board the RIB. Good to know what to do in case of 'Man overboard' - particularly if that happened to be the skipper! Fortunately we didn't put any of the safety measures to the test during the day. We cruised slowly out of the harbour and river mouth, then Dary opened it up for the run across to the Needles. I think I said there was just a slight breeze blowing - but not when the boat you are on if making 30-40 knots!! My wife and I had taken woolly hats and gloves - and we were both glad of them. Had a good close up view of the Needles, then turned back north and went up the coast of the Isle of Wight to Yarmouth for a coffee break. Back on the RIB, we cruised along the coast to Cowes, slowing down to have a look at Alum Bay and a couple of other beauty spots on the way. Stopped for an hour or more at Cowes, while we went into town for some lunch and a drink. Very pleasant in the sunshine, and not too crowded. Back on the RIB we decided to go up Southampton water to see what cruise ships were in dock. The Queen Mary 2 was tied up by the new Cruise terminal - that sure looked big from our small RIB down on the water. Interesting too, as my wife and I were on board for a cruise up to Norway in June (celebrating our Ruby wedding). A little further along, the 'Independence of the Seas' (Royal Caribbean line) was docked - and we will be sailing to the Canaries on her in November! By then it was time to head back to Lymington, which took about an hour from the port area. I hadn't realised we had come so far along the coast, as we had done it in stages. Good fun belting along in the RIB, through all the various boats and ships out on the Solent that afternoon. I think the fine weather must have tempted anyone with a boat to come down for a final (fine) weekend before the winter arrives! Back at the Yacht Haven just before 5pm, all safe and sound - apart from slightly aching legs after taking the strain of all the leaping over the waves! All in all a great day out - thank you all at Concept2.