The Drascombe Golden Jubilee- 50 years of Luggering

In my last post, the small fleet that had departed Studland had arrived at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy (WPNSA) on the Wednesday afternoon/evening where we found Brad on Siobhan already waiting with beer in hand.

Thursday was arrival day for those coming by road and so the duly elected volunteers (pressed ganged) - Brad, Tony and Chis on slipway duties, myself and Ian on car park and rigging area and Glenys and Sharon on Reception went into action.

The first to arrive were Henk Wels and his friend Arend who had made the long journey from Holland. The trickle during the morning became a steady flow in the afternoon and then a flood as people escaped work early or completed long journeys from Scotland and similar distances.

Very hot day in the car park

By the end of a long day everyone had arrived and were enjoying the village atmosphere on the pontoons.

Sharon had arranged a Sailors Supper for the first evening and following this we gave a briefing about the plans for the weekend and some do's and don'ts on the site.

Each day started with a briefing at 09.30 and Friday's concerned the voyage to Lulworth for lunch.

The Briefing - Andy Cooper

It was a beautiful day with a strengthening wind and the fleet set out making an impressive sight across Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay.

Across the Bay - by Tom Richardson

En route to Lulworth - Mdb.photos

Leaving WPNSA - Mdb.photos

Yours truly - Mdb.photos

The fleet - Mdb.photos

Lulworth Cove - Mdb.photos

Entering Lulworth - Mdb.photos

Lulworth - Tom Richardson

The return journey was not so comfortable but all were in good spirits by the time they got back to WPNSA with many approaching me and commenting that that was their biggest and most adventurous sail in their luggers, or that they had achieved an ambition of visiting Lulworth by boat and many other heartwarming comments.

That evening was self catering with a large contingent visiting the Cove for fish and chips

Sunset at Chesil beach - viewed from the The Cove  - DP

Saturday was the day of the 'Pursuit Race' - now we all know Drascombes don't race...but if you are in front you want to stay there, and if you are not in the front you try and get there...if you fail you start fishing or similar..... and so it was our Pursuit Race was rapidly re named a Parade of Sail around a prescribed route, after the harbour master pointed out that to race required a risk assessment, written requests and a fee......

Laying out the course for the "Parade of Sail" - Ray Dittrich Photography

There was little wind to speak of to start with and it was less of a Parade..much less a race and more drifting in style.

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Last resorts - Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Queen Mary Sailing Club Sailability Longboat "Zingaroo" skippered by David Jillings - Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Line honours - Dominic Jarman in Samphire - Ray Dittrich Photography

The afternoon entertainment consisted of a similar Parade buy on this occasion the competition was for the best dressed overall. To add spice to the occasion "Katharine Mary" the very first lugger every built, who you may remember took pride of place on the CB:L London Boat Show stand back in January, was back on the water. She was accompanied by "Zingaroo" the latest boat to be built who you may have seen in an earlier blog entry, was launched and named by HRH Princes Anne at Queen Mary Sailing Club for their Sailability section, only a few weeks before.

"Katharine Mary" the first Lugger built 50 years ago  - Ray Dittrich Photography

"Katharine Mary" and "Zingaroo" first and latest - Ray Dittrich Photography

"KM" - Ray Dittrich Photography

"Zingaroo"  - Simon Harwood and Kyle  Crew and  David Jillings helm - Ray Dittrich Photography

First and latest - Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

The Golden Jubilee dinner took place that evening with much merriment , some speeches and prizes awarded and some very kind impromptu comments from the audience.

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

Sunday  was the last day of the celebrations for most and as a nice touch Ruth Worsely and her husband Howard had offered to conduct a short a simple service - although they had brought their Coaster along for the celebration weekend Ruth's full time job involves being the Bishop of Taunton and Howard is also involved in the church. So we gathered for a few hymns and readings, remembering Drascombers who are now longer with us, Hans Vandersmissen , Like Churchouse and Douglas Hopwood to name but a few.

Ruth Worsely - © Andy Cooper

Howard's rope trick - © Andy Cooper

The CBL crew - © Andy Cooper

Group photo time - © Andy Cooper

People began to haul out for the long journey home, with happy memories of a great weekend. Those of use who sailed from the Solent took advantage of the Sunday ceasefire on the range and set back across the bay to overnight in Studland, feasting on mackerel caught en route, and made our way back to Ashlett via Shepards Wharf over the following days.

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.

Queen Mary Sailing Club - RYA Sailability

On Thursday this week, I was pleased to be able to assist Stewart Brown, in the absence of Sharon and Simon who were on holiday, in representing Drascombe by Churchouse at a very special ceremony held at the Queen Mary Sailing Club based on a large reservoir in Ashford, near Heathrow.

The ceremony was special in two ways:-

Firstly it was the naming ceremony of the last long boat to leave the wooded copse at Aspley Sawmills, before Drascombe by Churchouse moved to their new address near Nether Wallop, Stockbridge.

and secondly and perhaps more importantly the ceremony was for a Drascombe Longboat adapted for use by RYA Sailability sailors, and HRH Princes Anne was doing the official naming.

For those that are unaware of Sailability schemes, the RYA supports programmes designed to get people with disabilities and learning difficulties onto the water. This obviously requires special designed or adapted boats in order to be safe and inspire confidence in the students. The Drascombe Lugger was popular for several years as a safe steady boat that the students could feel at ease with, and for all the reasons that they are good family boats.

Increasingly though, many Sailability centres are turning to the Drascombe Longboat as the ideal boat for groups. With adapted wheel steering and a helming position ideal for wheelchair users to feel secure in, they have become increasingly popular for this type of activity.

So it was that an adapted Longboat was soon to join another of its type that the Queen Mary Club had purchased some years ago.

If you want to know more I have added a link on the right.....

An unusual view - perched on their vertical launching ramp

Drascombe Longboat - Zingarro - Queen Mary Sailability

 Here you can see the wheel steering arrangement and the fitted seat behind for the helm

Shameless advertising - Longboat in the background

HRH Princes Anne naming the boat

Unveiling the plaque

Watching the launch

Stewart (in blue) and  Douglas Dick, one of the many volunteers at Queen Mary

With four classes of children form local schools, councillors, the mayor and hierarchy from the RYA, Thames Water, Sport England as well as many of the sailors and volunteers at the club the ceremony was very well planned and included the cutting of a cake and the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the occasion

I hope the members of the club have many happy days on the water with Zingarro.

Pictures ©Sportography.tv

Solent 'Cultural' Cruise - Sat 10th - Friday 16th June

The cultural cruise started over several days for some, with Brad and Bob coming over the bay from Poole in Siobhan and Dom Jarman and his crew in Samphire, a Coaster previously owned by Marcus Niner, launch at Bucklers Hard on the Friday.

The rest of us, Tony in Pellew, Robin in his Shrimper and me in Daislebee,  launched and set out from Ashlett on the Saturday rendezvousing in Shepards Wharf with the others. It was a brisk sail with a strong westerly tide but caused no problems. Geoff Aston came out in his lugger for some of the journey but headed for home after awhile due to other commitments keeping him at home.

Rafted in Shepards

Friendly staff - charming

We adjourned to the pub that evening and were joined by Marcus who drove up from home, but left us as he had an early start to catch up with us the next morning.


Sunday

A lovely day dawned and leaving Dom behind we set off for Portsmouth. I think we all expected Marcus to be behind us and we were surprised to find him gilling about off Ryde waiting for us in his Drifter Sundance.

We joined up and sailed into Portsmouth and made our way up to Portchester. After waiting on the outer pontoon for awhile, the wind got up and we moved into the club pontoon as the racing finished. A BBQ was in full swing and the club officials were incredibly welcoming and we set in for an entertaining evening, including a visit to a local hostelry later that evening and a quick visit to some oriental culture....to get some Singapore noodles.

Portchester pontoon

Monday

We waited for the tide and set off about midday for the brisk and exciting sail to Ryde. Brad had not been in there before so a first for him.
Robin, Ross and I walked to Seaview which was interesting and then rv'/d with the rest at 'spoons' in the town. A convivial evening.

Robin - posing for a photo

Ryde Sands at low tide - looking west from Seaview towards Ryde

Tuesday

 Whilst waiting for the tide a bit of shopping was done and then in inaugural golf championship was held at the crazy golf course by the harbour.

Duly won by the bandit Marcus, it was a lot of fun and has lead to plans to create a cruise around crazy golf locations next year......

We waited a little longer for Adrian who had come out of Chichester in Torridon  and as we left Ryde, he was just passing.

A good sail ensued with the wind getting up as we rounded the point heading for Yarmouth.

Tony and Robin arrived ahead of us and as Bard and I tied up in a slightly different area I got a call from Marcus to say his starter cord had come apart and he was drifting so as Tony and Robin came round to join us they were surprised to see Bob and I setting out to sea past them.

We caught up with Marcus and towed him into the harbour, where the harbour master helped him into a berth.

He was soon fixed and we settled in for supper which that evening was fresh tagliatelle, with two pack of those mussels that come vacuum packed with wine and garlic  - a few additional prawns and we were ready to go-- of course with some quickly toasted garlic bread... went down well but next time a little creme freche might coat the pasta better.

Wednesday

The fleet split up on the Wednesday with Bard and Bob returning to Poole - apparently they caught a fair sized bass en route - so we had a quick team photo ...

The motley crew

Marcus needed to be home that night so Adrian, Tony and I sailed with him to Newtown Creek and spent the night there

A lovely evening in Newtown

Thursday

Adrian needed to be back to set off after breakfast to get to Cowes or Bembridge - in the event he made it all the way back to Chichester.......

The wind got up later and Tony and I waited for it to die a little before setting off to Lymington where we were due to meet Sharon who wanted a sail.

The wind and tide made for a very rough sail - even fully reefed Daislebee romped along - the wind vane was pushed up the radio ariel  and wedged there until I reached the calm water of Lymington harbour where it resumed its normal position.

We tied up at Town Quay and had a fish and chip supper with Andy and Judy Peter who came down for the evening. After they had gone we wandered to the pub on the quay and were shocked at the prices £9.60 for two pints....back in Ryde that would have got you 2 pints and a gin and tonic !!!!!

Friday

Sharon arrived on a early train and after a little shopping we set out. It was a beautiful day and we headed over to Newtown on the tide.

Tony buzzing us from astern

Steady course

After lunch, we swopped crew and Sharon sailed a D22 up the Solent.

At the helm of a D22

We arrived back at Ashlett and hauled out to make our way home..a great cruise with fantastic weather...next up Weymouth