Chichester Rally 27th - 30th May 2016

For the Ashlett contingent the rally started on the Thursday (26th) not too auspiciously it must be said.

Daislebee, Moksha and Pellew were launched as the water rose towards high tide in the early afternoon. There was the usual fiddling with rigging and general preparations for sea which is Pellew's case involved some adjustment to a rope on the fore stay....needless to say as Tony pulled and tugged, it parted and in a none too graceful dive he pitched head first over the bow. Ian and I, watching, immediately awarded him 5.6 for style and only a little more for content. Thank god for camera phones....

In.....

Out .....

Shake it all about...

Unfortunately Tony's troubles weren't to end there. Having dried and changed he then discovered water that was coming in through a recently repaired cracked which had re-opened - not the sort of thing you want at the start of and extended voyage..so sadly we left Pellew in dock of repairs and Moksha and Daislebee set of for Shepards Wharf, Cowes to meet up with the western Solent gang.

A much less dramatic than our last crossing but still fun sail took us across to where Sundance (Marcus), Moonstone (Barry and Pauline) and Blue Peter (Andy) were already enjoying a beer. We joined them and then all adjourned to the Duke of York to eat.

Friday 27th May

Being the organiser I felt some sort of responsibility to get to the rally so departed just after breakfast to make the most of the tide taking us east. There was no wind to speak of so motoring was the order of the day. Sundance and Blue Peter joined me and Moksha caught up by about the submarine barrier off Portsmouth.

Blue Peter enjoying the sun

Blue Peter, Sundance and Moksha - line astern

Boat Beacon - Chichester

There had been several arrivals already and launching was well under way, berths being found and acquaintances being made or renewed.

Although some arrived the following day 22 boats took part - interestingly only the one lugger amongst them. - 3 Dabbers, 10 Coasters, 2 original Drifters, 2 Long Boat Cruisers, a Gig, a Winkle Brig, a Deben Lugger and of course a Cornish Shrimper.

Sharon arrived to continue her sailing lessons and very kindly took me to Force 4 to use the vouchers I had been given for my birthday to purchase a PLB which seemed like a good idea, although quite expensive for something you hope you'll never have to use.

The dinner in the yacht club went well and the Drascombe Chairman, John Stanage, had made his way over from Ireland and introduced himself to the crowd.

Saturday 28th May

The weather was very kind to us over the while weekend and following briefing the fleet set sail ..or motored... out of the lock and into the harbour, making their way down to East Head for lunch.

Deben Lugger and Gig 'Hippo' mixing it with some Mirror dinghies

Little Dipper..and the youngest crew member

In the lunch break I managed to get a sail with Alex in his Deben Lugger - very light and quick...fun to sail.

We also managed to sort out the rigging on Dabbler so that Norm and Trish could make better progress but that didn't seem to help Trish stay upright....

Trish ..sat down ?

Bob in his Winkle Brig 'Cockle'

We had a sail back exploring a few different channels with Sharon becoming much more adept at tacking and feeling the wind....a nice steady wind to play in.

After a sail back the barbecue started early to take advantage of the weather and we were blessed with a really lovely evening.

Sunday 29th May

The following day followed a similar pattern, although my crew was changed for Peter and Trevor Spink and Trevor's young daughter, Esme, not forgetting the dog,,who was really well behaved. Following briefing we set of to explore the Thorney Channel and a little backwater looking for seals. Although some had trouble in finding and then using the entrance to the channel quite a number found their way up in time for lunch with a lonely seal obligingly hanging around to have his photo taken.

Some of us tried to get out of the top end of the channel and after a little time aground managed to worm our way through. There was then a race back towards the marina with a number of Cape Cutters who were also enjoying a rally in the harbour.

The afternoon/evening were so lovely that we headed on past the marina up to Dell Quay where the sailing club made us most welcome and we enjoyed a beer or two on their new sun drenched decking area.

Trevor's wife, Emma, joined us for the short journey back to the marina which brought to an end a lovely day on the water.

Monday 30th May

Monday was a day of free sailing or recover for the drive home for many but for a small band it was the start of a new adventure ...a cruise to Weymouth...more of which later.

Portchester Rally 28th April - 2nd May

The fleet set out from Ashlett on Thursday...not ideal conditions for 3 skippers with new boats or indeed the first sail of the season ..challenging would describe it..Siobhan trailed from Poole to join us at Ashlett for the weekend.

Usually pleased to achieve 5 or six knots under full sail - 5 knots under jib alone !!!!  The trip from Ashlett to Cowes normally take 90 minutes or so...not just over an hour....

We arrived at Shepards Wharf to find Sundance already in residence. The voyage across produced the need for the usual sail readjustments together with some breakages that required fixing, before adjourning to the Duke of York just up the road form the marina.

We opted for a quiet day on the Friday so motored up the Medina to Newport with the rising tide and spent a quiet evening in the Bargeman's Rest, listening to the live music.

The next day was an early start to escape with the tide,stopping for breakfast half way down the river just above the Folly. We then took the easterly tide across to Portsmouth.Nick in Isabella departed early for home (Ashlett) and some repairs.

Tea was taken at Salty's cafe at Wicormarine where we meet up with Simon and Sharon from Churchouse and then we made our way round to our hosts at Portchester Sailing Club. Sharon crewed for me, so it was unfortunate that the heavens decided to open a heavy squall passing through with very strong winds. She stayed below to keep dry whilst I tamed sails and moored up. Sharon and Glenys Cowie fetched in fish and chips (thank you both) for the fleet who made themselves comfortable in the bar of the club. We were joined by Little Dipper crewed by the St Deny's gang.

The next morning we again had to be up and about early to avoid drying out on the club pontoon so we moved off onto unused buoys but the sun was warm and no wind so we lazed in the sun ...shorts were even briefly produced. The wind soon filled in and we set off down the harbour. At the entrance there was a big crane and divers to negotiate, apparently getting ready for dredging the channel for the new aircraft carriers.

We set off back towards Cowes, where Sundance continued to her home port of Newtown. The rest of the fleet after a night in Shepards crossed back to Southampton Water to haul out.

A cold, bright and at times wet rally... but very enjoyable all the same. Thanks to all who came, tried to come or supported us from a distance.

Ready to go...almost

Thursday saw me back at Ashlett - servicing the engine and making last minute preparations for next weekend's cruise.

Sharon came down to see how the engine service went..and as usual with someone watching it took far longer---tools didn't seem to fit,,,some gaskets in the service kit seem to have been left out..

We had to visit Lymington to get the extra bits,,but Sharon knew the chandler from working at the Boat Shows so handy discount obtained.

Once all the bits were obtained it went very smoothly, even the fuel flow was established with ease...the hardest bit being Sharon's giggles as she blew down the fuel line.

The main benefit was having a note taker who religiously recorded what size tool and and part went where...very useful for next time.

Rigged and ready to go...almost

Launching is planned for Thursday,,,with departure on the tide for Newtown.

I still have a couple of jobs to do ..the main sail isn't properly laced on, and I need to replace the lifting line on the drop rudder as well as not forgetting to tighten the bolt on the lifting rudder or risk losing it at sea......

Roll on Thursday...and hope the weather outlook improves...

Progress ..slow

Grabbed a couple of days to start getting ready....and by the time I had to head home I'm sure there were more jobs to do than I had done.....

I touched up the wood work and fitted the brown shampoo bottle as my patient device to stop further mast rub.  Having sorted out all the ropes and re-threaded them , I was grateful for Sharon's help in raising it, especially as it needed to come down again to untangle some crossed wires, as it were.

Even now it needs to come down again as the masthead lights look as though they've been knocked and look a little tilted at the top.

The Rhino sheathing came off........but left behind the glue that proved very time consuming to remove...so much so that I have put the idea of sheathing the whole side, on hold. Just too much effort in a few years to replace it.

So I only managed to get one side polished, but it does look much, much better.

I tried out the ClitIt Bang on the coral bloom residue and it worked like a treat, but it was too cold to be lying under the boat so I'll finish that other day.

I emptied the cabin - completely ..Sharon's face as box after box of bits and bobs emerged was a picture...Like the one below...

Contents of Daislebee

A good sort through and it was amazing what went to the skip or potential charity bag - but the cabin looks spic and span...for awhile at least

So a good session, but still to put sails on,, polish the port side and service the engine before the season can begin.

Getting there.....

List of jobs...some will get done...some...well you know how it is...

The visit to the Ashlett Dining Club gave an opportunity to work out what needed to be done before the season starts...what could be done...and what it might be nice to try and do,....

1. Clean and Polish   - hull looking shabby and marked so a must do job.

2. Rhino tape sheathing                          

 - the experiment I covered in a blog at the beginning of 2014. It has lasted 2 years as an experiment and is  working well so looking to fully cover the hull in a clear protective layer.

3. Engine service  - Service kit ordered

4. Spare fan belt  - Ordered

5. Repair white gel coat chips - Gel coat acquired

6. Sort out mast rub from blocks

 - Solution acquired - to be fitted (brown shampoo bottle cut  to fit blocks and allow rope travel and stop mast rubbing/ chafe.

7. Battery maintenance - Solar panel purchased- to be fitted


8. Boat tidy and review of contents - Severe clear out of accumulated 'useful' bits and pieces


9. Measure for cockpit cover  - Done - purchase of material next step


10. Cockpit tent     - Chase up Habitent or make my own ???

11. Clean up anti fouling   - needs abrading and touch up in places - apparently Cilllit Bang will remove the white deposits left by coral bloom picked up in Chichester harbour

12. Wash ropes  - Done ..re-fitting ...ummm errr.

13. Replace mooring ropes  - Getting worn and besides a different colour would stop people using the anchor warp in error.

14. Inside storage  - explore the creation of large 'halyard bags' to provide stowage along inside on hull. (Glenys ,you are going to be busy - never mind weddings)

Anything else that occurs ....... in between must remember to go sailing