Cruise to Weymouth for Golden Jubilee

The main fleet had set out on the Monday 3rd on passage to Weymouth for the Drascombe Golden Jubilee event, but work and other commitments meant that I could only launch at about 19.30 on the Tuesday evening and so it was, leaving Ashlett by about 20.30 once I was ready.

I had several plans running through my head. Ideally straight through Hurst Narrows and across the bay to Studland to anchor up and grab some sleep before departing on the early tide with the others who were already snug at anchor off Studland beach.

Other options included anchoring on the bight of Keyhaven and waiting for the morning tide to slip out and head straight to Weymouth in one go. Lymington and Yarmouth were also overnight options.

As ever weather dependant and as I set off, the wind was dying and the tide fair for the Needles.

Calshot and Fawley on the way to the Needles

I had a passage plan for the trip to Studland as this was my favoured option.The tide at Hurst would be running out at about 2 knots and if the wind was light there shouldn't be anything in the way of overfalls and steep choppy waves to worry about. A few sketched tidal streams of the bay, some compass headings and some way points and I was happy.

There was no wind by the time I arrived at the Castle but those dark patches of water, swirling around look so much more malevolent at night. I swept through, using the North Channel and encountered quite a strong counter current just passed the Castle.

Once through this and out in the Bay I settled down with the radio, a flask of coffee and some fruit cake to see me through the night. Motoring was monotonous but there was no wind to speak off  and so under a starry sky I made my way across to Studland.

 Exactly on 02.00 am I was dropping my anchor just short of the rest of the fleet and settling down for what remained of the night - an uneventful but satisfying voyage.

The next morning we had to depart on the tide at 08.00 and in spite of little sleep I was wide awake and ready to go in good time.

I had joined Pellew and Isabella, two Drifter 22's, Sundance and Siesta, two old style Drifters and Moksha, a Coaster, for the rest of the trip.

We had to motor most of the way to St Albins head but a fresh breeze blew up for awhile and we started to sail in earnest. ...and then we met the Range...

We knew we would have to go out to the 6 mile mark , but , as most yachtsman on that route, hoped the military might be having a day off.

Not a bit of it...not only were they firing but we had chosen one of the few days of the year when the 9 mile exclusion zone was in operation....

It made for a long day and plans to spend the night in Weymouth before arriving at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy were modified and we headed straight into Portland harbour  a day early.