Weymouth cruise

Initially quite a large flotilla was scheduled to leave Chichester on the Monday (30th May) following the rally over the weekend. Not all were planning on going as far as Weymouth but Poole seems a good halfway house.

As it happened the weather was not forecast to be good so three of us initially planned our departure for about 11.00 (Daislebee, Moksha and Sundance) with another three (Siesta, Torridon and Egret) debating whether to stay in harbour or venture out. (As it happened they sailed to Bembridge and stayed there a couple of days as the weather passed, before returning to the harbour).

Just before we left Moksha, who had been moored on the waiting pontoon called up to say he'd have to pull out as he had been hit by a large motor boat that had lost control and taken out his fore stay.

Damage to Moksha

So Sundance and Daislebee set sail in good winds and a flat sea...that was all to change and by Lee on Solent sails were in,..engine on and spray hoods providing shelter from the spray.

We arrived at Ashlett to find things a little calmer, and with Pellew repaired, Tony was on the water and had been joined by Nick in Isabella.  Ian had brought Moksha back by road and was busy talking to insurance companies.

The strong winds continued the next day (Tuesday) so we had a trip to Lymington where Force Four received a significant boost to their turnover, mainly courtesy of Nick who had despaired of his depth sounder and splashed out on a new one.


Wednesday 1st June

The weather settled and although the wind was strong, together with the tide it promised swift passage to Yarmouth, with Newtown Creek as a reserve. By this time we thought Tony had sorted the boat out...but...no ...more excitement to come.

Making over 7 knots west in great conditions, a fitting came loose causing a block to hit Tony in the eye. He was only able to see out of one as the conditions approaching Yarmouth got a little rougher.

Consultation with the Coastguard about assistance from the Harbour Master didn't work out well...no they insisted on a life boat and a PAN PAN was put out.
In itself not a problem except the tasking took a long time and as I stood by and gave updates on Tony's position, the operator insisted on transposing key figures in the Lat and Long....thankfully the Lymington lifeboat were fully aware of where Yarmouth pier is, which I included in the messages..so all was not lost.

Lymington In shore lifeboat in action

A crew member was put aboard and Tony whisked into Yarmouth by the RIB and eventually off to hospital (courtesy of HM Coastguard as no ambulances were available on the island ?!!)

He was actually dealt with very quickly and retrained without a mark just some soreness to show for it...a major disappointment to the three if us waiting with comical eye patches at the ready....

Thursday 2nd June

The winds that had got up continued so Marcus took me on a walk...12 or so miles...but it was lovely, along to Allum Bay, then up onto Tennyson Down, along to the monument and then down into Freshwater for a refreshing pint and then back to the boats.

Needles and Allum Bay

Tennyson Down towards the Needles

Marcus under the Tennyson Monument

On our return we found the Gaffers Rally in full swing.

Flags of the Gaffers in Yarmouth

We also found a very smart Shrimper moored alongside us, Paul in Tilly Whim, who was aiming for Dartmouth. It was his enthusiasm that prompted us to try for Weymouth direct instead of dropping into Poole as originally planned. He joined us for drinks and nibbles and I hope we will see more of him as he was keen to join the South Coast Cruising Group.



Friday 3rd June

Paul set of early, and leaving some time after him we could see his sails on the horizon. We left by the Needles passage and had a good sail almost all the way to Swanage. (I heard later that Paul made the trip to Dartmouth in one go...some 70 miles in all)

Needles Channel

Thereafter we had to motor to Weymouth, pausing in Chapman's Pool for lunch and pop into Lulworth Cove as we passed.

Chapman's Pool

Lulworth Cove

We arrived in Weymouth and were soon ensconced in the Cove, eating fish and chips on what turned out to be National Fish and Chip Day.

The Cove - Weymouth

Saturday 4th June

The Weymouth Folk Festival was in full swing over the weekend and the southern quay was full of Morris dancers and various stages with performances going on. We opted for the quiet life and took up the offer from Simon Hoare, who had recently bought Nick's old Coaster Virginia, for a tour around the Coastguard Station, in exchange for some bits and and some rigging advice from Nick.

So a short taxi ride later found us being shown round the helicopters at the base.

Nick then talked Simon through the intricacies of Virginia....including the infamous table assembly - personally the helicopter seemed more straight forward......

We lunched at the Cove pub overlooking Chesil beach and then returned to the boats.

Chesil beach and Portland

 Andy and Annie, Barry and Pauline and Ian and Glenys joined us for drinks and a nibbles supper together with an old colleague, Steve and his wife Liz, who keep a boat in Weymouth.


Sunday 5th June

The range was still out of operation due to the half term holiday and this influenced our decision to leave Weymouth that morning. There was little wind which meant a long motor to Chapman's Pool where we had lunch and waited for the tide to turn round the head.

Motoring across the bay

Marcus - waiting for boarders

Whilst we were in the pool a thick mist came down and we started to make plans to stay there overnight but the sun soon burnt it off and we set out - destination Poole

Pellew with St Albins Head in the distance

Marcus - leaving the pool towards St Albins Head

The wind piped up and we had a good sail from the head into Poole where we moored up in Blood Alley.

Marcus running towards Poole

Monday 6th June

Destination Christchurch...we set off after breakfast on a warm sunny day with little wind, although it did get up enough to provide a pleasant sail.

Pellew leaving Poole

Sundance out of Poole

Nick - coming alongside - Christchurch pool

Tony coming alongside - Christchurch pool

After lunch in the pool behind Hengistbury Head we travelled up the harbour to Christchurch Sailing Club where we had arranged to stay overnight.

Upstream to Christchurch

There we were made very welcome, particularly as I need to repair my mast head light. All sorts of offers including a lift to the chandlers...in the end I jogged it and with assiatnce from the others lowered, fitted and raised the mast up again. We ate in town, meeting up with Andy and Judy P, before turning in for the night.


Tuesday 7th June

We set off when the water in the harbour allowed us to move through it and the flow in the entrance, The Mole, wasn't too extreme. We needed to be at the tidal gate at Hurst before it turned against us. As it was with a good wind we were through and into Yarmouth for a short stay with time to spare. Nick continued on to Newtown Creek, where after waiting for the tide to turn and having stocked up, we joined him for a barbecue on board.

Sundance and Pellew negotiate The Mole

Three of us - short stay Yarmouth

Yarmouth harbour entrance

Newtown Creek - entrance

Newton Creek - looking out to sea

Wednesday 8th June

Nick elected to set out for Ashlett, and Tony, who'd supported the local chandlers decided to have a maintenance day so Marcus and I set out for the River Beaulieu across a Solent that showed barely a ripple.

Solent calm

We stopped for lunch near the top end of the river and enjoyed the quiet and the beauty of the scenery.

Upstream River Beaulieu

Then taking the tide back down, we had a cracking sail back cross to Newtown to meet up with Tony.
The evening was spent using up the last of the rations...red wine mainly.... and feeding scarps to the terns.

Thursday 8th June

We bid farewell to Marcus as he made hi way back to his mooring within the creek and Tony and I drifted and then had a good sail back to Ashlett, where an incident free recovery completed the finale of the cruise.

A great time had by all with a fair amount of drama and excitement mixed in...until next time...