Creeks Rally 4th - 7th July

Jeff Lander's Creeks Rally held over the 4th - 6th July proved a great success. The weather even bucked the trend and produced glorious blue skies and sun on one day at least.

Tuesday -  I arrived in the mid-afternoon to find Peter T launched and ready but Chris C having trouble with a leak in his starboard keel which forced him to recover and abandon the rally. We had a BBQ on board Siesta and planned to get away in good time the next day.

Wednesday - The rendezvous at the entrance to Snow Hill Creeks saw 12 boats, skippers and crew, rafted up in the entrance. Peter T and I arrived late and decided lunch was in order, whilst Richard G took the fleet up the creek and round the inside edge of East Head. The weather dry and bright with the occasional mizzle but nothing to dampen the spirits.

Snow Hill Creek

On their return we made our way across the harbour to the back of Hayling Island Sailing Club, were most of the fleet managed to follow Jeff's instructions to keep next to the Sparks Marina pontoon, except for yours truly who managed to make himself into a cardinal mark for the fleet to turn round, running aground at the entrance. Thankfully I was very soon joined by Roger and Helen on Bundy Bear who just wanted to be sociable......

Hayling Island Creek

We adjourned to the sailing club for an excellent meal before turning in tried but happy. I resolved to move once afloat as I was on the edge of the channel and didn't want to find myself leaning the wrong way down a steep gradient later that night. As it was I fell asleep, waking at about 01.00 am. I decoded rather than risk moving to an equally steep area in the dark I would move to Mengham Rithe and pick up a buoy.

Thursday - The day dawned a little grey and being afloat already I decided to explore Fisherman's Creek by Sparks marina, with little success so I waited until I could join the rally in the creek and we all departed for the Emsworth Channel - destination the Royal Oak at Langstone.

Fisherman's Creek

Bundy Bear near where I was aground

Hayling Island Creek

The day developed into a very hot and sunny one. I left Daislebee on the Visitors Pontoon at Emsworth and embarked with Jeff L in his lugger where we and an intrepid few made our way via small channels to the Royal Oak for a pint.

Northney and Langstone creeks

Outside the Royal Oak

Vernon and Tony on the raft

Elizabeth and Richard round the corner

The return journey saw drama when Bundy Bear reported that she'd lost her centre plate. Richard G was dispatched to offer assistance and confirmed that the whole plate had fallen through the slot, snapped it's webbing and had been lost somewhere in the northern area of the harbour.....

We all returned to the Hayling Creek for another night of socialising - Bundy Bear moored at Sparks to facilitate an early pull out and visit to Churchouse Boats for repair.

Friday - The dawn dawned wet and grey and with tide pressure on some Jeff closed the rally and the boats dispersed to moorings and slipways apart from Siesta, Virginia and Sky Lark who ventured out and over to Bembridge for a few days.

Good to see new faces - welcome to Roger and Helen, Julian, Hazel and their friend Pat, and Tony.