August cruise and Bank Holiday rally

Starting to panic that the season is drawing to a close - I don't know why, it's only August but it seems to have changed to a quite autumnal feel.

Monday 18th August

With that in mind I grabbed a few days and set off to the boat on Monday with my younger son, Adam, as crew. It will mean moving things about a bit as I am so used to being alone but once we get sorted it will be ok.

We stopped at Tesco for provisions and it was immediately apparent that having a crew more than doubles the food bill.......

We got to the boat by about midday and set about putting things away properly to ensure there was enough space for us in the cabin, and set off down the Itchenor Reach in bright warm sun but with the wind on the nose so motored.

Adam had been burning the candle at both ends so fell asleep below and only surfaced when we were tied up to a buoy in Mengeham Rithe where we had arranged to meet Richard and Adrian.

A few drops of rain started and looking at the clouds I decided to put the clear plastic tarpaulin up that has served as a 'tent' for some time - crude but effective. No sooner was it up than the heavens opened and the calm sunny conditions were turned into a maelstrom of wind, rain and waves. I sat in the cockpit and hoped that Richard who had rung earlier wouldn't chose this moment to arrive..... you might have guessed..... fortunately as he came alongside the weather calmed down and we managed to secure him without getting soaked.

Supper was had and Adrian arrived to complete the fleet, ready for departure the next morning.


Tuesday 19th August

Bright and sunny Adam and I set off by about 09.00 leaving the other two to sort themselves out. We passed the Chichester Bar Beacon and tried a 'selfie' with it in the background - not flattering so I won't post it here so just one of Adam

Crew...

The wind was good but wouldn't let us point to Bembridge, our destination, so we kept as close hauled as we could and headed out to sea eventually tacking into White Cliff Bay

Mengeham Rithe - south and west to White Cliff Bay IOW

White Cliff Bay with Yarborough monument

As you can see in the centre right of the photo there is a large monument above the bay called the Yarborough monument. It was built in 1849 in memory of Charles Pelham, Earl of Yarborough,who was the first Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Apparently the monument was moved to its current position in 1860 to make way for the building of the  Bembridge Fort.

A note for sailors - not a great anchorage - the holding is good but the beach is noisy when populated as it was in August and the wash of ships far out in the channel seems to roll inon a regualr basis making it quite uncomfortable - it is very sheltered for the wind when there is any west in it

We left there after lunch, judging that with the neap tides we'd be able to get into Bembridge about three hours before HW - and so it proved to be. We r/vd with Richard and Adrian who drawing less had got in sometime before us. 

Bembridge Harbour from the marina walkway

Wednesday 20th August

Adam had to leave to get to a music festival so we departed Bembridge by about 10.00, arranging to meet Richard and Adrian in Langston Harbour that afternoon.

We had a great sail across to Portsmouth in sunny and warm conditions. I has re read the pilot book as we needed to drop him somewhere on the Portsmouth side to catch his train. As a result I was monitoring Ch11 and listening to the busy harbour traffic - following the pilot instructions, having used the small boat channel as usual, we headed north to the Ballast buoy - there we called up and were granted permission to corss the main channel, where I intended to look at landing possibilities in Camber Dock, and area I had visited many years before.

As we crossed I could see lots of space on the pontoons of Gunwharf Quays and so I called up to see if we could 'touch and go' , "Certainly Sir, anywhere you can see some room. There will be a £5.00 landing fee...."   We went to Camber.....

North approach into Portsmouth and across into Camber dock

Camber dock is the home to the White Link ferries and the space between the ferry and the wall is quite narrow but it opens out into a small harbour with fishing boats and leisure craft and a dry stack boat storage.. We got chased in by another ferry arriving that made it interesting but once round the corner I dropped Adam on a barge so he could scramble a ladder to the quay.

Landing crew

As I came out on Camber I noticed a man doing some maintenance on Spinnaker Tower..... rather him than me.

Spinnaker Tower - above Gunwharf Quays

I mooched around the harbour, stopped in Gosport Marina and shopped in Gosport before setting out of Langston Harbour.

Portsmouth to Langston

I went through the inside Submarine barrier gap and found that Richard and Adrian were tied up waiting to get into Southsea marina.I caught up with them and just about had time for a beer before the sill came down and we could get into the marina.
We had a good curry in the restaurant based there before retiring for the night.


Thursday 21st August

Our original plan was to explore the upper reaches of Langston, but with the threat of deteriorating weather we decided to sail for Chichester and left Southsea at about 11.30. The wind was south westerly and pushed us along very nicely. Richard and Adrian elected for Mengeham whilst  I carried on to the Emsworth pontoon for a late lunch.

Shortly after I tied up a 27 Albin Vega arrived on the pontoon - Lizzie-G, skippered by Denis Gorman. He was on the final days of a 3 month adventure down to Falmouth and across to France, Channel Islands etc..
I thought the boat and its name were familiar and it turned out they had been featured in one of the sailing magazines when he took part in the 2013 Jester Challenge. He's currently writing a book of his experiences and what got him into sailing.

I left Denis, intending to join the others but looking at the weather and tides decided to head straight up to the marina where I arrived at about 19.30.

Tony Wood was there together with Andy, who had brought his Coaster all the way from Lancaster, - we adjourned to the pub.


Friday 22nd August

The next day Andy went out early and Tony was persuaded to come for a sail in the beautiful sun. We headed up to Dell Quay before returning to help as the boats arrived for the rally itself.

Dell Quay - Chichester harbour

Most launches went quite smoothly with the exception of one - I won't mention names to save red faces but the manoeuvre could be called the 'Bosonover method of launching'. Too many ropes undone too soon....

Waiting for the tide......

After laughing fit to bust we gathered around to help a colleague in distress.....

Heave ho.....

Dinner was taken at Chichester Yacht Club as usual and seemed to be enjoyed by all.


Saturday 23rd August

For the first time ever the skippers and crews were gathered together for the briefing before the appointed hour, although there was much discussion as to briefing at 10, ready to go actually meant briefing at 09,30 go at 10.00...not that it mattered and perhaps the glorious sunshine had everyone eager to get out and about.

The plan which was well executed was to depart the marina on 'free flow' and head up the channel to Dell Quay where Richard Wood would be lurking with a camera.

The wind was superb in the upper reaches and the fleet was soon cavorting about until to hooter sounded and we all turned to run up to the quay.

Fleet from the back

Bundy Bear

Felicity

Martha

The wind became fluky as we turned to head down the Itchenor Reach so I decided to furl the sails and motor ... a unusually wise choice for me..... once down the far end into clear water the sails came out again and I had a good sail down towards the East head lunch stop.

En route Jeff Lander called up, already down at the Head and suggested Pilsey Island as a more suitable location as Easy head was very busy and quite rough, so we diverted and the members of the fleet that hadn't stopped for lunch already or turned back already, gathered at anchor for a very pleasant lunch break.

It was there we heard news of Stewart's misfortune...in the gusting fluky wind he had put his engine on tick over as a precaution...in one strong gust he had gone to release the main sheet only to find himself moving rapidly forward into the side of a moored yacht, punching out and breaking the window and breaking his not unsubstantial bowsprit in the process. The main sheet had caught the engine controls, engaging forward gear with some revs and he hadn't been able to correct in time.... still no one was hurt and all is repairable except perhaps pride.

The BBQ was held in the lee of some bushes by the slip way with everything form the the Pound shop special through to a gourmet gas barbecue that Jamie Oliver would have been proud of. The sun smiled on us and as it set, with full stomachs we made our way round the the yacht club to enjoy the Real Ale festival and some jazz, not necessarily in that order.


Sunday 24th August

I needed to earn some brownie points so was up bright and early squaring the boat away and packing the car before departing for home at about 8.30 - I understand the rest had a great day, visiting Dell Quay Sailing club for tea and cake and enjoying a sail in the harbour. I gather most packed and departed that afternoon evening as Monday was a wash out were ever you were.

A great week and a great rally



To be continued..... I hope to be able to add some more photos in so do come back and visit.