Poole Rally - 26th to 31st August

Thursday - Friday

The forecasts for the days before the Poole rally included strong wind warnings and heavy rain. Reports from the fleet that was already out in the Solent weren't good, with many and varied changes of plans being proposed to get from the Solent to Poole, including trailing. However the situation improved sufficiently for me to leave the marina and sail to East Head where I met with Richard Goldsmith at about 20.00. He had tales of setting out from Cowes earlier but being forced back by the weather!!! The wind and tide had calmed down to give him a reasonable passage back to Chichester, having decided that his engine problems ruled out a trip to Poole.Richard departed to get to his mooring on the tide and I got my head down for a few hours.Waking at 00.30 to heavy rain I decided to leave it awhile, only to find as I got comfy again, the rain had stopped.The passage down the Solent was unremarkable, the rain mainly petered out and I only saw two ferries, apart from them I had the Solent to myself.

I arrived at Keyhaven at about 05.30 and tied up to a buoy.

Waking at 09.00 I moved up to the quay, joining Barry, Jim, Nick, Adrian and Marcus, together with Steve and Vi Hill in their NAD and Josh in the Scaffie.

The launching of a trawler inches ahead of my boat caused some palpitations

but all went well and at 13.00 we were passing through the narrows at Hurst en route to Poole where we arrived at about 16.00, anchoring in Blood Alley.

The raft soon dried out and Brad and Bob proudly showed off their large bass they had caught - I don't think Pauline's measured up somehow.....

There were many conversations going on - but I can't imagine what Nick and Marcus were discussing......

The sunset in a magnificent red glow as we settled down for the night.

Saturday -

Dry sunny and blustery. After a leisurely breakfast I took Bob to Town Quay so he could watch his beloved Bournemouth (draw as it turned out) v. Notts County. Having tied up at the Yacht Haven he disappeared to buy ice and replenish beer stocks.

Chris and Adam arrived at the quay, having caught an early train from Maidenhead and we nipped into the Tesco Extra, just behind the haven, to stock up ourselves.

We then set off and motored past the Sunseeker quay - patio doors on the sides as well as the back ......

We set sail across the harbour and joined the rest of the fleet that had come round Browsea Island from the east and made our way round to Cleave Point for the lunch r/v. It was Chris's first proper sail on Daislebee and he was disappointed to see a reef in her mainsail. Round the south of Brownsea we duly raised full sail and were soon creaming along South Deep.

We touched bottom during the lunch raft but were soon afloat again on the second high and the fleet departed for the planned overnight anchorage in Arne Bay.

On arrival it was decided that it was too shallow and we wouldn't be afloat again until late the next day so we de-camped to Shipstal Point where the Coasters and others went in close, others with deeper draughts stayed out nearer the channel.

Sunday -

Another blustery day, but with bright sunny intervals and the odd very light shower during the morning.

Much discussion took place amongst the fleet due to head back to the Solent and the general consensus, in view of the forecast, was leave the main rally early and set off mid afternoon to make the best of the tides and weather.

From Shipstal we navigated a route between Round Island and the southern shore of the harbour - the chart plotter providing very useful at identifying the thin ribbon of blue cutting through the green.

We made our way by a variety of routes to the lee of Goathorn Point for lunch where much further discussion took place as a new forecast had placed some doubt over the original plan.

Sat in the sunny lee of the woods it was hard to imagine but a glance at the trees tops confirmed the option to delay and leave the following morning.

Pauline had brought a small kite with her and not to be out done, Brad and Bob had bought a Winnie the Pooh version ( very military...) and spent many happy hours with match sticks and fishing weights until it was fit to fly. The result was a win to Pauline but it set the tone for next year where kites will form an obligatory item of equipment.

Brad persuaded the boys to try and 'catch' some razor clams so to much amusement, a shore party was convened, complete with salt to persuade the clams out of their holes.

Brad nearly entertained us all by falling in the mud but managed to save himself.

A very convivial evening set in and Adrian got out his keyboard to accompany some 'singing'

(surely all Coasters come with one as standard....)

Monday -

Brad and Bob had to depart at 05.00 am for work and did so very quietly. The rest of us had breakfast and as the boats floated those that were sailing to the Solent made our way towards the harbour mouth. the decision to wait was vindicated and we had a great sail across the bay. The fleet split at Hurst with Nick joining Barry at Keyhaven, Jim and Vernon pressed on to Ashlett, Marcus to his home port and Adrian to Cowes. Steve sailed the Scaffie back from Hurst with Josh helming the bigger boat. We dropped in to Yarmouth but finding it full plugged away against the tide to join Adrian at Shepards Wharf. After a very good curry at the Saffron we turned in for the night.

Tuesday -

We set out with Adrian in lovely conditions - following the north coast of the Isle of Wight we dropped into Wootton for a quick look round and then across to Chichester were we arrived mid afternoon. After a short break we sailed up the harbour to the marina and packed up for the journey home.