"First of October" (5th - 7th October)

Obviously a bit of a misnomer but traditionally Stewart Brown runs a rally near to the 1st as a end of season event. Last year, much to my disgust, I was travelling up the M1 to take Chris to Uni for the first time whilst the rally attendees basked in hot sunshine at various ports and inlets around the Solent.

This year the terms dates were kinder, and the weather, at times very nice - at other times however it was fairly awful.

Wednesday

In order to meet the Ashlett fleet I set out on Wednesday. It was overcast with a stiff breeze and coming down the harbour at out of the entrance posed no problems. However, once I had turned for the forts the combination of wind and tide heaped the seas up considerably and it was no surprise that there were only a few other boats out, either plugging west or flying east.

My usual compatriots, Adrian and Richard were coming out either Thursday or Friday, and I had arranged to meet Nick Payne off Ryde assuming he could sail east , which in the wind proved no problem and we met as planned.

After a brief discussion about the merits of Ryde v. Cowes we opted to make more ground westward and set off for Cowes.
The sea had calmed considerably and I was at last able to sail, albeit with a reef in.

Nick went out further than I and took on a big container ship - deciding to give it right of way.

Nick v Grimaldi

A moments loss of concentration combined with a strong gust saw Nick taking a considerable amount of water over the gunwale, losing a mooring rope over the side. He recovered well, bailing out and lowering sail, and together, we made our way into Shepards, where it was altogether more relaxed.

There were a couple of big ships in at Shepards - the closer one in the picture is running as a sail training vessel by a Christian Charity and the wooden masted boat behind was over from the Carribean for the winter and is a charter boat.

At this time of year the evening starts early and after a long day at the helm we adjourned to the Duke of York just around the corner.


Thursday

A delightful sunny and warm day dawned in Shepards and we lounged around or at least I did - Nick was still getting water out of the boat and drying kit. After a walk around town where Nick showed me  Town Quay which may prove useful in future, we set out for Lymington.

Once out of Cowes and facing the full force of the wind from the west I quickly put a second reef in, but as I crossed over towards Beaulieu my chart plotter went down and once in calmer water I dropped sail and motored down the north shore. The sea had been rough enough to break a cup and disconnect the power to the plotter. I fixed this on the way down towards Lymington. Nick meantime sailed blissfully back and forth under jib and mizzen.

Nick's back there somewhere

I met Marcus in the entrance  and together we motored up to Town Quay, dogging the large ferries, where we were joined a hour later by Nick who had sailed the whole way.

Again we adjourned to the pub where we were joined by Andy Peter and the "Birmingham Navy", about 14 men from Birmingham on their annual charter event - more like a rugby tour than sailing but they were having a good time.

That night, exactly on time (01.00 am) the Force 9 gale blew through - thank heavens for the sheltered quay we were on. The rain was intense and the wind very strong - but by 04.00 it was all over and the next morning was bright and sunny.


Friday

A leisurely breakfast in the sun was had, and Marcus and Nick had a wander in the town before we set off at about 13.00 heading for Keyhaven. We all had reefs in (from the previous day) but as we sailed down the channel it became apparent that the wind was much a steadier F 3/4 and so I soon lost the reef and had a cracking sail a across to the Yarmouth side. The water was flat and the only sound the gurgle under the forefoot. However the tide was running and I had to be careful, on the return tack, not to get swept down on Hurst Castle.

In the lee of the spit we meet up with Barry and Pauline in their Longboat cruiser Moonstone and sailed past each other, circling to take pictures.

The Keyhaven advance fleet -
 Moonstone, Virginia and Salicorne

On the way up the Keyhaven entrance I took advantage of the high water and ran all the way up to the back of the castle in about 2 m of water. Then before the ebb kicked in took the left hand arm along the inside of the sea wall. It was eerie, being the the wind shadow of the wall in absolute calm. There was a line in the water where there was  a little wind and then a windy area outside that. As I ghosted along I could hear the conversations of the people walking along the bank and the sound of the pebbles being scrunched underfoot. I could also hear, ominously, the crashing of the breakers and the wind on the other side of the wall....
It started to rain hard so I turned at the top and made my way back to the main channel and up to the quay. We had been joined by Andy Peter who let us into the club and made tea for the cold and wet seafarers who had come all the way from Lymington.
The rest of the fleet, who had set out from Ashlett at about the same time we had left Lymington arrived over the next hour of so and by the time the curry was being served the whole armada was present enjoying the feast.
Adrian and I adjourned to Stewart's boat where I experienced some difficulties with the tap on the red wine box causing the odd mini wine lake in Stewart's cabin......

Saturday

The next day dawned bright enough as far as the weather was concerned but personally I was finding it a little cloudy round the edges - still coffee and a bacon roll sorted that out and by 09.30 the fleet of some 12 boats departed to catch the east tide towards Cowes.
I set off well and was holding my own against the others in the early stages but made the mistake of fixing a mark and sailing for it - in this case the promontory of Cowes itself. I didn't realise but I was losing boat speed and the others who decided to sail for the wind as opposed to a direction were soon leaving me behind.

There was a large barge going through her paces as we approached Cowes

Once I cottoned on to what was wrong I was away again and caught most of them up as they entered the harbour. I decided to sail in and at one point had a ferry ahead and a tall ship behind -I headed for the shallow water of the moorings area and waited until they had passed.

Tall ship coming in behind

I gave up sailing just passed the Island marina, as did Salicorne, Blue Peter and Virginia, and we made our way up to Newport Quay.

 Newport in the distance

Beef and Ale stew with dumplings from Tesco out of a tin is to be recommended - particularly when followed by good beer, good music and good company in the Bargeman's Rest on the quay.


Sunday

Brad would be proud of me, six skippers adjourned to Wetherspoons for breakfast - Andy even had Eggs Benedict.... we put the world to rights over coffee but all too soon it was time for me to depart if I was going to catch the east going tide. I was barely afloat but having said my goodbyes set off down the river.

The sea was dead calm so it was a long motor most of the way although it did get up enough to sail into Chichester and most of the way up the harbour.

I decided to stay on board one last night which although I was tired proved a mistake as the next day ....

Monday

....was pouring rain and I packed up in the wet leaving cushions and bedding on the boat for a little while longer...just in case.....