Chichester Harbour Rally Friday 3rd - Monday 6th May 2013

Having moved the main rally to the Bank Holiday at the end of the month, this weekend's event was really set up in order to provide motivation for me, and others, to get their boats ready for the season. The last few years have seen quite poor weather over this weekend, hence the change of dates for the main event. Little was I to know how good the weather would actually be. As the week progressed and the weekend drew nearer hopes raised and blossomed.

As it was I got to the boat on Thursday to finish some servicing that I hadn't got the tool for when I had been down the previous weekend. (Note to self - 7 mm spanner is the most useful tool in the box).

The impeller and oil filter changed,  I topped up the oil and then used the trick taught me by Crabbers to blow the fuel back around the system pushing the air out in front of it. Batteries on - key in ignition and ...hey presto... started first time.

Daislebee ready for sea - almost

I had spoken to Tony Wood (Martha), who was out in the harbour with his brother, and set out down the Itchenor reach to meet them. When we met I decided to continue down the Harbour Master's pontoon ti get a new 'rent' sticker for the harbour dues.

Back in the marina Tony and I barbecued and drank red wine as the sun went down.

Sunset over the marina

Friday - Next morning we waited for Adrian Kneller (Torridon) to join us and met Stewart Brown on the pontoon who had brought a clients boat down (another Adrian) to rig and launch for him.

The three of us set off down the harbour to East Head where we met up with Richard Goldsmith (Egret).

The weather was fantastic and we were joined by the incoming West Solent fleet, Jim Hopwood (Hippo), Marcus Niner (Salicorne), Ian Cowie (Moksha), Andy and Annie Cooper (Gadfly), John Gingell (Lucille), Steve Hill (St Jovhill) and Peter Tiplady (Siesta).

We then made our way back up the harbour to the Itchenor Visitors pontoon to spend the night were we were joined by Martin and Jane Lings in their Coaster and Arian Wyatt, who Stewart had launched at the marina, in his Drifter 22.

The wind was meant to get up over night but in the event it stayed calm and Tony and I managed to smoke most of the fleet out trying to light and cook on last seasons BBQ's - in the event the frying pan proved quicker and safer......

Saturday - The next day the wind was strong and we spent most of the day on the pontoon, with various shore parties using the water taxi to get ashore for a walk.

The entertainment in the morning was provided by some very skilful and brave Mirror dinghy sailors from Itchenor SC.

I can confirm the water was ......cold!!!!

The wind died significantly later in the afternoon and we made our way (minus Adrian W) down the harbour to the creek behind Hayling Island Sailing Club.

Sunset in the creek

Sunday - The following day dawned fine and sunny but with little wind. The creek is very tidal and we had all dried out over night and sat watching the water creeping back again until all but two of us floated again (no names....) In fairness I found out that the tide was significantly lower than forecast that day due to hte weather conditions and 20cm is a large margin on a flat sand beach.

Hayling Island Creek - click on photos to expand

The remainder of the fleet waved across at the two neaped boats and set off for Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. We didn't feel too sorry for them - dry flat sunny beach in a very sheltered location about 100 yds from the club house, bar, showers etc......

It was generally a motor across to the island but the wind did pick up and the last hour was a very pleasant sail. We laid up on the beach on the port hand as you enter the harbour and spent a lazy afternoon in the sun. where we were joined by Roger and Anita Whiffen (Little Dipper) and Charles and Rachel van Oppen in their open Deben Lugger (Debutante)

In the evening we adjourned to the Pilot Pub and enjoyed a good meal before tired but happy we returned aboard out boats.

Monday - The next day initially dawned very foggy but cleared within the harbour as the sun burnt it off, although I understand it descended again later.

Foggy beach in Bembridge

The rally really concluded at Bembridge as it was a useful jumping off point for those bound for Southampton and Newtown as well as those who needed to get back to Chichester.

Siesta, Little Dipper and Daislebee set off at about 08.00 in mist which soon descended into pretty thick fog. Ordinarily we would have turned back but armed with a chart plotter and an AIS app on my phone we could see the shipping channel was clear and there were only a couple of yachts who were heading in the same direction. We continued on and as forecast the yacht 'Peggy' crossed our bows as we neared Chichester and the Bar Beacon appeared directly ahead of us as we motored safely into harbour.

Once inside the fog cleared as if by magic and hundreds of boats could be seen playing in the sun.
We parted company with Little Dipper and continued up to the marina. Having tied up I was just showing Peter the AIS app when the phone rang...it was Brad who had been monitoring our passage back from the island and could see I was back in the marina...spooky....

A great weekend, great company and some adventure thrown in.  Roll on the next rally.