Poole Rally...or not, as it turned out.

The Poole Rally is a firm fixture in many Drascomber's diary and this year, in spite of the weather, was no exception. Unusually more boats sail to the rally than actually launch at Poole and the fleet started to gather early this year with Richard G and I leaving Chichester mid afternoon on the Monday. The weather was ok dry and quite bright with a light SW F3 which soon altered or Bembridge/Ryde plans as the tide ran away and saw us entering Portsmouth and tying up to the Hardaway Sailing Club pontoon. In Adrian's absence cooking fell to me and we had a BBQ using my new attachment fixed to the boarding ladder.

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Hardaway pontoon - complete with new sprayhood

Richard and Egret

Tuesday - heavy showers and bright periods punctuated the morning as we waited for the tide to turn in our favour and we decided to adjourn for lunch to the pub. As we passed a GibSea moored to the pontoon Richard helpful adjusted the fenders which didn't seem to be doing much good as it had a nose down attitude. We mentioned it to some people from the club who might have known the skipper, and left for our meal......

On our return we found the yacht sunk at the bow - apparently the skipper had taken out the log and put a softwood plug in it's place - lesson learned - never leave a plugged boat unattended.

 A local contractor was soon on the scene and, as we departed, the barge was being moved into position for recovery.

It was very rough as we headed out of harbour and passed Gilkicker en route to Cowes. As we crossed the shipping channel into Osbourne Bay, the wind ripped my baseball cap off into the sea. With strong winds and tide, as well as a cruise ship bearing down, I felt discretion was the better part of valour and waved good bye to it.

Shepard's Wharf was welcoming as usual and a quick and cheap fish and chips turned into a full curry as our resolve weakened.

Wednesday - After shopping and ducking into coffee shops to avoid the rain we decided to depart with the tide for Keyhaven after lunch - the heavens opened just as we got ready so we sat tight for a while but used a break in the clouds to get away. The respite was short lived though ...............

Isle of Wight barely visible on right about 1/2 mile offshore

We ploughed on and the weather improved until it became quite sunny off Newtown/Yarmouth.

Just prior to the entrance to Newtown, Richard called me on the radio to tell me he had fished a replacement baseball cap out of the water so as we tied up in Keyhaven I was looking forward to the addition to the hats wardrobe on board.

Amazingly it turned out to be the very self same hat that I had lost - complete with elder sons name label inside.

24 hours and over 15 miles in the Solent and a 20 foot boat had come across the hat still floating.......

The journey of the hat

Peter T and Vernon were ahead of us, tied up at the quay and already enjoying the hospitality of Barry and Pauline. They had been joined by Brad who had come over from Poole, stopping in Christchurch to get his breath back from what he described as one of the worst sails he had had in a small boat. Richard and I tied up and wandered up the the road to join them.
Some of the Ashlett fleet came round by road and the BBQ got into full swing with a lovely dry sunny, if windy evening.

The band in full swing

With the promise of foul weather the next day the decision was made to stay in Keyhaven so we headed off to bed and a lie in.

Thursday - Although bright and dry the wind was very strong so after a leisurely breakfast Peter, Brad and I walked along the coast path to Lymington, researching Oxhey Lake en route as a possible venue for another time.

Oxhey Lake

Brad                      Peter

After Peter rescued some plastic sheeting from a builders skip..... we found the pasty shop and sat on Town Quay under an umbrella as the rain came down, quickly adjourning to the pub. Thereafter the delights of Lymington including the 99p shop..... (more of that later) before a bus ride back to Milford and a short walk back to the boats.

It was then back to B & P's for BBQ No2 where we were joined by the Ashlett fleet who had come in on the tide after a rough passage. This time however the weather was appalling and we sheltered alternately by the BBQ or in the garage.

Friday - B & P had looked at the weather forecast the night before and had promptly booked a ferry to France for a few days - not looking good.

However the rain held off and the wind although strong, was in our favour - so well reefed or jib and mizzen, we set off late morning and roared up the Solent - 8 knots plus under jib alone........ In spite of spreading out along the route, as usual, we all arrived about the same time and the fleet set off up the Medina past Cowes, heading for Newport.

Bolitho - Drifter 22

Moksha                      Gadfly

Siobhan

At Newton we were joined by Simon F in his Drifter, complete with Mac the Scottie, and at last r/v'd with David and Ali in their Drifter 'Wild Goose' who has been chasing us round the Solent all week.

The Bargeman pub provided an very good Irish band and with the promise of poor weather, the Olympic torch in town and another good band the following night we decided to stay - not in the pub... on the boats... although for some it was a close thing.

Saturday - A day of leisure - walk to the chandlers - pub, walk into town, shopping - pub, watch the Olympic torch - pub, supper on board - beer, followed by band in, guess what, ... the pub.....

Torch in Newport

Sunday - Probably the best day of the week - a slow start and leaving on the tide for a cracking sail down to Newtown Creek for lunch.

A relaxed rally organiser - close ups are available on request...

Brad and I had a huge BBQ, so much so that we couldn't manage the excellent bass that he had caught on the way down. Some went for a walk on the beach, whilst I was given a lesson in knots and whipping (down, Vernon, down ....).

The fleet broke up at about 16.00 as boats started to depart for home ports and other destinations. Peter, Vernon,  David and Ali  and I set off for Ryde A great sail but we couldn't get there too soon as wee needed the depth of water. As it turned out we had planned just right and slid into the pontoons with inches under the keel.

What a difference a day makes - a deserted Solent

Ali    Adrian  Peter  David

Richard who had left us on Saturday, had gone and meet up with Adrian and we all joined up again in Ryde.

Monday - After all the weather we had had there forecast seemed very poor for the next few days so Richard and I took the window and early start offered us and left Ryde at about 08.00. After a mainly dry but rough passage we arrived at the Chichester entrance right on high water and had an easy passage up the channel. After a brief stop for coffee at East Head, Richard made his way up Snow Hill to his mooring and I set off to Chichester marina. There the heavens opened and I got the worst soaking of the week, putting the boat to bed... damp and soggy I set off home - and we do this for .. fun...


So a Poole Rally that never was - weather bound in the Solent, but still a great time in good company and some great memories such as the near slap in the face by a wooden bench as Judy P got up from one end leaving me on the other - least said I suspect....   or the 99p motion activated frog, rivet, rivet, that Brad secreted in the bushes and had Pauline convinced that there were ducks on next doors pond.


Until next time.......