WICOR'S WORLD
WORKING THE TIDES
This is an interest not a chore if you really love sailing.
WATCHING THE TIDELINE
Wicor is a Mecca for wading birds, geese, ducks and herons. The water is not dead as in so many harbours, and 'Cockling' still goes on.
PASSING PORTSMOUTH
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You have to pass Portsmouth going in and out of the huge harbour, and there is a feeling of history which goes beyond the obvious monument HMS Victory. It is also much more fun to avoid the Navy and the Ferries than to follow a procession of other yachts up a river.
JUDGING THE WEATHER
Although well protected, Wicor was not, in olden times, called "Windy Bend" for nothing. In most harbours and almost all Marinas, you can't tell what it's like outside. Here as your boat swings to wind and tide you get a good idea of whether "to go or not to go".
POSITION
With S W winds prevailing, and sailing time limited, you can be sure of a good long beat up the Solent towards the Needles Passage, and a fairly reliable run back (about 40 miles as the Cormorant flies). Chichester Harbour is also near enough to be easy in any respectable weather, (out by the Dolphins and back through the Forts is usually a happy plan). If you are going Foreign, you are well placed to decide which side you are going to leave the Isle Of Wight.
THE CHANDLERY
Have a look at the stock. You won't find many funny gimmicks but you will find paints, lubricants, gas, screws, shackles and vital items of all sorts. If you have an old gaffer or traditional boat, you may even find something as rare as it is authentic.
THE YARD
Like the chandlery, this is run by practical people for practical people. The equipment, skill and knowledge is all there when a job gets beyond your own ability to cope.
IN SHORT
If you are a Marina Mariner whose fridge is more important than his main halyard, you won’t fit into 'Wicor's World' at all easily. If you are any other sort of sailor, you will find here a lot of the old magic, which first made you interested in boats."
— J R - West Midlands

WORKING THE TIDES
