The Drascombe Golden Jubilee- 50 years of Luggering

In my last post, the small fleet that had departed Studland had arrived at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy (WPNSA) on the Wednesday afternoon/evening where we found Brad on Siobhan already waiting with beer in hand.

Thursday was arrival day for those coming by road and so the duly elected volunteers (pressed ganged) - Brad, Tony and Chis on slipway duties, myself and Ian on car park and rigging area and Glenys and Sharon on Reception went into action.

The first to arrive were Henk Wels and his friend Arend who had made the long journey from Holland. The trickle during the morning became a steady flow in the afternoon and then a flood as people escaped work early or completed long journeys from Scotland and similar distances.

Very hot day in the car park

By the end of a long day everyone had arrived and were enjoying the village atmosphere on the pontoons.

Sharon had arranged a Sailors Supper for the first evening and following this we gave a briefing about the plans for the weekend and some do's and don'ts on the site.

Each day started with a briefing at 09.30 and Friday's concerned the voyage to Lulworth for lunch.

The Briefing - Andy Cooper

It was a beautiful day with a strengthening wind and the fleet set out making an impressive sight across Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay.

Across the Bay - by Tom Richardson

En route to Lulworth - Mdb.photos

Leaving WPNSA - Mdb.photos

Yours truly - Mdb.photos

The fleet - Mdb.photos

Lulworth Cove - Mdb.photos

Entering Lulworth - Mdb.photos

Lulworth - Tom Richardson

The return journey was not so comfortable but all were in good spirits by the time they got back to WPNSA with many approaching me and commenting that that was their biggest and most adventurous sail in their luggers, or that they had achieved an ambition of visiting Lulworth by boat and many other heartwarming comments.

That evening was self catering with a large contingent visiting the Cove for fish and chips

Sunset at Chesil beach - viewed from the The Cove  - DP

Saturday was the day of the 'Pursuit Race' - now we all know Drascombes don't race...but if you are in front you want to stay there, and if you are not in the front you try and get there...if you fail you start fishing or similar..... and so it was our Pursuit Race was rapidly re named a Parade of Sail around a prescribed route, after the harbour master pointed out that to race required a risk assessment, written requests and a fee......

Laying out the course for the "Parade of Sail" - Ray Dittrich Photography

There was little wind to speak of to start with and it was less of a Parade..much less a race and more drifting in style.

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Last resorts - Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Queen Mary Sailing Club Sailability Longboat "Zingaroo" skippered by David Jillings - Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Line honours - Dominic Jarman in Samphire - Ray Dittrich Photography

The afternoon entertainment consisted of a similar Parade buy on this occasion the competition was for the best dressed overall. To add spice to the occasion "Katharine Mary" the very first lugger every built, who you may remember took pride of place on the CB:L London Boat Show stand back in January, was back on the water. She was accompanied by "Zingaroo" the latest boat to be built who you may have seen in an earlier blog entry, was launched and named by HRH Princes Anne at Queen Mary Sailing Club for their Sailability section, only a few weeks before.

"Katharine Mary" the first Lugger built 50 years ago  - Ray Dittrich Photography

"Katharine Mary" and "Zingaroo" first and latest - Ray Dittrich Photography

"KM" - Ray Dittrich Photography

"Zingaroo"  - Simon Harwood and Kyle  Crew and  David Jillings helm - Ray Dittrich Photography

First and latest - Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

Ray Dittrich Photography

The Golden Jubilee dinner took place that evening with much merriment , some speeches and prizes awarded and some very kind impromptu comments from the audience.

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

© Andy Cooper

Sunday  was the last day of the celebrations for most and as a nice touch Ruth Worsely and her husband Howard had offered to conduct a short a simple service - although they had brought their Coaster along for the celebration weekend Ruth's full time job involves being the Bishop of Taunton and Howard is also involved in the church. So we gathered for a few hymns and readings, remembering Drascombers who are now longer with us, Hans Vandersmissen , Like Churchouse and Douglas Hopwood to name but a few.

Ruth Worsely - © Andy Cooper

Howard's rope trick - © Andy Cooper

The CBL crew - © Andy Cooper

Group photo time - © Andy Cooper

People began to haul out for the long journey home, with happy memories of a great weekend. Those of use who sailed from the Solent took advantage of the Sunday ceasefire on the range and set back across the bay to overnight in Studland, feasting on mackerel caught en route, and made our way back to Ashlett via Shepards Wharf over the following days.

Cruise to Weymouth for Golden Jubilee

The main fleet had set out on the Monday 3rd on passage to Weymouth for the Drascombe Golden Jubilee event, but work and other commitments meant that I could only launch at about 19.30 on the Tuesday evening and so it was, leaving Ashlett by about 20.30 once I was ready.

I had several plans running through my head. Ideally straight through Hurst Narrows and across the bay to Studland to anchor up and grab some sleep before departing on the early tide with the others who were already snug at anchor off Studland beach.

Other options included anchoring on the bight of Keyhaven and waiting for the morning tide to slip out and head straight to Weymouth in one go. Lymington and Yarmouth were also overnight options.

As ever weather dependant and as I set off, the wind was dying and the tide fair for the Needles.

Calshot and Fawley on the way to the Needles

I had a passage plan for the trip to Studland as this was my favoured option.The tide at Hurst would be running out at about 2 knots and if the wind was light there shouldn't be anything in the way of overfalls and steep choppy waves to worry about. A few sketched tidal streams of the bay, some compass headings and some way points and I was happy.

There was no wind by the time I arrived at the Castle but those dark patches of water, swirling around look so much more malevolent at night. I swept through, using the North Channel and encountered quite a strong counter current just passed the Castle.

Once through this and out in the Bay I settled down with the radio, a flask of coffee and some fruit cake to see me through the night. Motoring was monotonous but there was no wind to speak off  and so under a starry sky I made my way across to Studland.

 Exactly on 02.00 am I was dropping my anchor just short of the rest of the fleet and settling down for what remained of the night - an uneventful but satisfying voyage.

The next morning we had to depart on the tide at 08.00 and in spite of little sleep I was wide awake and ready to go in good time.

I had joined Pellew and Isabella, two Drifter 22's, Sundance and Siesta, two old style Drifters and Moksha, a Coaster, for the rest of the trip.

We had to motor most of the way to St Albins head but a fresh breeze blew up for awhile and we started to sail in earnest. ...and then we met the Range...

We knew we would have to go out to the 6 mile mark , but , as most yachtsman on that route, hoped the military might be having a day off.

Not a bit of it...not only were they firing but we had chosen one of the few days of the year when the 9 mile exclusion zone was in operation....

It made for a long day and plans to spend the night in Weymouth before arriving at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy were modified and we headed straight into Portland harbour  a day early.