Portsmouth Dockyard Rally 29th Aug - 1st Sept

Four of the usual suspect gathered at Ashlett in the 29th Sept  - Marcus came up from Newtown to the quay in Sundance and Brad trailed over bringing Siobhan from Poole. Tony (Pellew) and I joined them and all were launch ready to depart on the Wednesday tide.

The destination was Portsmouth, so we set of when the tide allowed keeping close to the north island (north side of the Solent) as we headed east, to take advantage of the eddy that runs along the shore. Out in the main stream the tide runs west which puts quite a lot of extra time on the journey.

The wind was northerly and quite fair but it did start to rain as we arrived in Portsmouth Harbour.

Our destination was Hasler Marina on the Gosport side. Arriving first I was initially directed to the usual visitor pontoon area by the green lighthouse that makes Hasler so recognisable, but just as the others arrived and tied up we were directed to some other berths in the main part of the marina. It appears they were moving boats around so they could start their dredging program. So a strange sight of small boats, with their tents half rigged created a sight for the residents as we passed en route to our new berths.

Once installed on our berths we rigged up properly for the night.

The fleet

Siobhan and Daislebee

Pellew and Sundance

My tent is a D&D Hammocks 3 x 3 tarp. I managed to get it in maroon which fits in really well with my spray hood, sails and sail cover. Looking at their website more recently they don't seem to do this colour anymore but the quality and fittings are very good.

The sunshade option

As you can see from the picture below each edge has 5 attachment points as does the centre line - it can be used as a tent but on a small boat it makes and idela quick and easy tent to keep the cockpit dry.  Use this link to visit the DD tarp site

After paying our dues and settling in we decided to visit the fleshpots of Gosport - The Star , a Wetherspoons in the High Street being our target.

Brad was dressed for bad weather in his black mac and wellies - which, when he popped to the loo were swiftly utilised as decorating items...

The Wellie Chair

The late afternoon passed in comfort sat in the cosy armchairs but we decided to adjourn to the Great Wall of China for a meal..Tony remembered it from his misspent youth in Gosport  ..if fact I think he was worried some of the waitresses might mention him to their mums !!! The meal was great value at £16 a head for a veritable feast ..not perhaps gourmet but a fun meal for hungry sailors.

Thursday

Bright and dry we breakfasted on board before venturing off across the water to Portsmouth via the Gosport ferry, to join the queue at the historic dock yards...and boy was it a queue.

Just a note on the tickets - the full price for the Dockyards is something like £28 but they can be got on various website for £18 or so..they do last a whole year and as we found there is far too much to see in one visit.
Once inside we had a look at the Jutland exhibition and then took the ferry over ot the Explosives museum which with our own personal guides (Brad and Tony) was very interesting.

We also explored HMS M.33 which is the only remaining British veteran of the bloody Dardanelles Campaign of 1915-1916, and also of the Russian Civil War which followed. Apparently the ship is one of just three British warships from World War I still in existence.

It made a Drascombe/Shrimper look very comfortable.

We also visited Boathouse No 4 in which there are various attractions from yesteryear including an example of a Cockleshells Heroes canoe as used by 'Blondie' Hasler and his team. There are other interesting boats that have been restored as well as a large number, in the main arena, of craft of all shapes and sizes undergoing restoration - one of these included a very old landing craft that had Brad's attention immediately.
That was all we had time for..and indeed the energy for, but is was a great day and we will undoubtedly be back next year..it gives a great focal point for a rally.

Friday
We set off back to Ashlett, but in no particular hurry as we needed the water in the creek before we could pull out so we dawdled and Brad and I tried to 'snurgle' (1) into Hill Head harbour but decided to leave that for another day.
(1) Snurgle :- a term from the Drascombe dictionary..generally translated as trying to get in somewhere with too little water, too early on the tide.

We arrived back at Ashlett and made good use of the Tony Wood recovery service (his electric winch makes light work of recovery) before having what has been come to be known as a 'Drascombe cook in' in the club house.

Saturday
I departed after a bowl of Museli...leaving the others to enjoy their fry up. Marcus was still afloat, heading back to Newtown later that day..and I had a new car to collect.
That was all we had time for..and indeed the energy for, but is was a great day and we will undoubtedly be back next year..it gives a great focal point for a rally.

Friday
We set off back to Ashlett, but in no particular hurry as we needed the water in the creek before we could pull out so we dawdled and Brad and I tried to 'snurgle' (1) into Hill Head harbour but decided to leave that for another day.
(1) Snurgle :- a term from the Drascombe dictionary..generally translated as trying to get in somewhere with too little water, too early on the tide.

We arrived back at Ashlett and made good use of the Tony Wood recovery service (his electric winch makes light work of recovery) before having what has been come to be known as a 'Drascombe cook in' in the club house.

Saturday
I departed after a bowl of Museli...leaving the others to enjoy their fry up. Marcus was still afloat, heading back to Newtown later that day..and I had a new car to collect.

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.