Feeder cruise and Poole Rally 30th June - 5th July

With the Poole rally having being brought forward this year - to try an get some decent weather, and also catch some of the Dart rally attendees on their way back, things were looking decidedly dodgy - No-one ended up sailing back from Poole and the week before the weather looked ominous.

What a difference a few days makes - although plans changed and the intended r/v in Mengham Rithe on the Wednesday night was only partially successful - Peter and Richard made it, Adrian got delayed drinking 'coffee' on someone else's boat in the marina, and Adam and I only got down early Thursday morning, all four of us left the harbour by about 10.30, for the long, tide assisted run down to Keyhaven. Unfortunately the wind was on the nose and it was a motor all the way, but the weather was great, and apart from getting a load of green water over the top just past Cowes at Gurnard we arrived together off Keyhaven and made our way up to the quay.
All was going fine until I went to help Marcus, who had come across from Newtown, tie up along side - slipped - and was suddenly swimming over the side - complete with iPhone in pocket ..... however I pulled it out quickly and handed it up to Adam. I then discovered that I was grazing my knees on the bottom so stood up and walk round to the stern ladder to get back on.
A good wipe of the phone and some WD 40 and no harm done - thank goodness.

The rest of the crowd were already there, Barry and Pauline, Andy and Anne, Dave Q, Nick and Vernon and we adjourned to the pub for grub.

The next day - Friday - we left the quay to catch the 11.00 slack through Hurst - not before I got wet again - only this time is was planned - well sort of. a rock of the boat and a poorly position frying pan meant that I had to wade out to retrieve it from under the boat - the things I do for a cooked breakfast......

The Solent Fleet departing Keyhaven

Some of the fleet off Hurst

Hurst Castle from the North Channel

Dave Q

The sail across the bay was very good with the wind getting up to a low F4 and the Rally gathered in Blood Alley as normal. After a BBQ and drinks the raft which was about 20 boats wide broke up slightly for the night.

Sunset over the western end of Brownsea Island

The following day, after a stock up from Tesco Extra, we joined the fleet out in Studland Bay. There was a Shrimper rally in harbour  over the same weekend and with the Drascombe gang out in force, for once there were more tan sails on view than white.

Marcus off Old Harry

The fleet returned to Blood Alley, although we were sometime behind them having adjourned with Brad and Bob to The Banks Arms - followed by a BBQ on the beach.

The sing song on the raft was a robust affair, brought to a halt at 11.00 for the sake of the neighbours - Bolitho was the chosen party boat, a move which I was to regret until at least lunchtime the next day ........

Sunday was a quiet day, with a short sail over to Arne where we spent the day in the sun at anchor. We made our way over the the haven for the night, intending to join Brad and Bob for a Chinese but following problems with their rear lights on the Jeep, Adam and I ate alone and met them for a drink later on.

Monday saw an early start with a fleet r/v at the entrance of the harbour at 07.30,

Brownsea Castle

The fleet split up at Hurst and we joined Adrian and Richard in Yarmouth for the night.

Sunset in Yarmouth IOW

The next day we set off early again to catch the tide back to Chichester were we left Adrian and Richard and pressed on for the marina - the end of a great rally and a wonderful trip in the sunshine at last.

The alternative Dart Rally - 19th / 26th June

Plans changed and changed again and then changed again. Originally sailing to the Dart, leaving Chichester on the 19th - then Adrian kindly offered to trail Daislebee down for me, whilst I pulled his boat, Torridon, and then the weather and reports from those already on the Dart resulted in Adrian, Richard and I spending a week in the Solent where we determined to try and knock off a few first for me, as I had travelled as widely as the other two and it was a good opportunity for them to show me around.
Sunday was spent in the marina as the wind was F6 and above and not good for getting out. Monday saw us down the harbour in slate grey skies but moderate wind and best of all dry.

Adrian and Richard leaving harbour

We headed for Ryde, a first for me and after a very pleasant sail arrived without too much of an incident, although Adrian nearly made friends with one of the forts.

Tied up in Ryde

We visited the flesh pots of Ryde - introducing Adrian to a Chinese banquet and crispy duck ....

The next day, after shopping and lunch,  we set out for Cowes and Newport. Although I've been there before I had never travelled up the river by boat, so another first.

Egret off Ryde

We had to keep close inshore to get the lee of East Cowes point - the water further off shore was quite rough and the wind was head on the whole way. Although we set off in grey skies by the time we were tied up at Newport the sun was shining brightly although the wind was still very strong.

Tied up in Newport IOW

The following day I paid a visit to the Classic Boat museum. Not much of a museum fan usually but this was fascinating, especially the boat, a little bigger than a gig that was dropped to airmen who had been shot down and ditched in the water. 

In the afternoon we made our way down to Shepards Wharf in Cowes to give ourselves more options the following day.

Thursday saw us leaving Cowes for a good sail back east to Bembridge - watching out for Ryde Sands and in Adrian's case the two large white, tall, long, big, easily seen Wootton Ferries ... ask him .......

Fishing Smack off Osbourne Bay

Bembridge saw us at Duver marina where the following day we walked around the harbour, visiting the chandlers and the pub, where Richard proceeded to embarrass a bar maid struggling out of his jumper and revealing rather too much of himself.....

After lunch we planned to leave for Southsea, where we had promised ourselves a curry at the marina based restaurant. Steve Maynard called to say he was on his way over and we thought about changing plans but with the Island race the next day we thought it best to stick to the plan. So after a quick hello, goodbye we set sail for Southsea. Great wind and a swift passage. The curry was good as well.

Saturday had us up early - well for A and R anyway, as we had to clear the sill by 09.30. A good sail back to Chichester with a raft up for lunch and then home to the marina until next time.... Wednesday that will be then ... good fun this retirement lark.

 A good week with several first and the promise of more to come next week - let's have some good weather ... please

Chichester Creek crawl - June 13th- 15th

Jeff L organised the rally and then had to be persuaded to join in..... not really but with the weather forecast there were lots of drops outs and fingers crossed by those attending.
 Richard G , Adrian K and I meet up on the Itchenor visitors pontoon for lunch on the Monday - in glorious sunshine and a decreasing wind. Nick P and Marcus N were making their way from Warsash and Newtown respectively and Ken C planned to arrive the next morning.
We decided to r/v at Hayling Island SC pontoon in the (unfounded) hope that they would be open for dinner. Jeff called to say he was out on the boat but planned to stay on his mooring until the next day - a plan that was swiftly reversed when the three of us steamed passed him and he soon joined us at Hayling Island. After a self catering supper we moved off up Mengham Rithe for the evening - with a beautiful sunset.

The next day was bright and sunny and we had a leisurely breakfast before Ken joined us.

It was then up to Emsworth for lunch, before returning back down the harbour to go 'creek crawling' There was much discussion and debate by 'them in the know' but eventually, as predicted by Jeff, a creek revealed itself on the falling tide and one by one we made our way up - I left Daislebee at anchor and travelled with Jeff - he made me row...... although we soon reverted to engine in the strong current.

Apart from Marcus, who inspected his anti fouling on the bar at the entrance to the creek for awhile,  we all made it up, with Richard progressing almost to the shore line before the rapidly ebbing water forced him to be pushed back down the creek by Marcus and Ken.

The water soon returned and the fleet made their way out and back up to the Emsworth pontoon, where following a visit to the Blue Bell by some of the party for some excellent fish and chips, we spent the night.

Marcus and Nick departed early the next morning and the rest of us made our way back to our various locations within the harbour -I just got caught with the rain in the last mile or so to the marina - not bad considering the forecast.

A great rally with an interesting diversion - now stored in the GPS.

Second thoughts

My planned 3 days on the boat was severely curtailed due to strong winds - it all started well - down to the boat on Wednesday, some provisions from Tesco and a visit to Cover to Cover to check out their spray hoods. Funny how many of their catalogue pictures feature well known Drascombes and often their owners as well....

I was away down the harbour just after lunch, but had already abandoned plans to cross to the island, hoping that the forecast winds would not be too strong within the harbour.
Crossed paths with Jeff Lander in his lugger 'Lugworm' on the way down and had a quick shouted conversation - I think he may have been trying to warn me .....

East Head was deserted and after supper I rowed in and had a walk around.

The sand gets wind blown into some fantastic patterns.

There was a old clinker 'gentlemans' motor yacht in the bay and he provided the evening's entertainment by rowing to the shore with his black dog, a lab I think, and managed to keep the dog in the dinghy until he hauled it up the beach so the dog could get out without getting wet. They set off for a walk and eventually reappeared at the top of the dunes - whereupon the dog tore down the beach after some gulls, straight into the water - accompanied by much shouting and cursing from his owner, who then rowed back to his boat with a wet, sandy but happy dog . Deep joy on that boat no doubt.

The wind got up over night and at about 5.00 am the man and his dog departed and shortly afterwards so did I  - thinking that the wind over tide conditions when the tide turned would be truly horrible, so in bright sun but with heavy clouds gathering I set off with a scrap of jib out doing 5 knots......

To avoid getting soaked I ducked into the Bosham Channel and in the lee of the trees picked up a buoy, where after a brief return to my bunk I had a very leisurely breakfast.
I then had my first go at working on the boat - yes, working - money for gainful employment working - that type. The table and my 'Comfort Chair' as recommended by Richard G worked wonders and I got quite a lot done on the current project - until the battery on the laptop ran out. I had left the inverter in the car so that put an end to that but I did a few odd jobs around the boat before setting off for the marina at low tide.
The wind and accompanying waves in the main channel were horrendous  - surfing up between boats with the dinghy being flipped over and over until the painter wound up tight - thankfully I had already taken the seat out.
In the calm of the Itchenor Reach I sorted it all out and on the approach called up the marina to lock in - from the time it took them to respond they obviously didn't think anyone would be coming in or out that day.....
Getting in the berth looked as though it would be hard work but I slipped in very neatly - getting some applause from some on lookers - just as well I didn't make a hash of it then.

I helped some chap who had run his trailer wheel off the edge of the slip way get it out again. He had a smaller boat than mine and much lighter to - he was planning to meet some friends who were launching at Fareham,  outside Langston and go across to the Island... he must have been 70+  - I told him it was like sailing in a washing machine but unperturbed he set out for the lock once he'd finished rigging - I hope he was ok.

So I earned some brownie points by coming home early - I'll save them up for next time .......

Chichester Rally - 29th April - 2nd May 2011

After several months of emails, registrations, discussions with farmers etc the first day of the first Drascombe rally of the season was upon us. Based for the first time at Chichester marina there was a large number of boats arriving - most by trailer, some by sea and others lucky enough to be resident at the marina already.
The Royal Wedding didn't seem to put people off, although some arrived early and adjourned to the Yacht Club to watch, whilst others arrived later once the proceedings had concluded. The biggest difference the wedding made to most was the almost total of absence of traffic on the roads. - I've seen the M25 busier at 04.00 am.....

In all 31 boats, skippers and crew arrived and were safely launched and tied up in time for the meal at Chichester Yacht Club that evening. After the meal, following a brief welcome, all round introductions and a toast to the happy couple, some of us sat back to watch and listen to the thunder and lightening swirl around the marina, whilst others who left a little earlier got wet on the walk back.

The following morning dawned bright and sunny but with strong winds from the NE (F5/6). Following a briefing that broke a promise that we were not going to Dell Quay, and some advice about the lock, the fleet set out under jib and mizzen or well reefed mains to go to ..... Dell Quay.

This was useful, as some needed a shake down sail to sort the boat and others were new to their boats and wanted to find out a little more about them in open water before getting involved with moorings and crowds around Itchenor.

The fleet then made it's way to Bosham, were a few landed briefly before being scared off by the £6 charge and the rapidly reducing water levels. Lunch was taken on buoys or at anchor before most of the fleet set off back towards the marina. A few intrepid souls headed down towards East Head but reported that the journey back was a tough one, against the wind.

Veronica and Bob kindly brought the trestles and ladders later that evening so that the traditional ladder BBQ could take place - which went very well and was accompanied by music from the usual suspects and a presentation to Josh Hill by Stewart Brown, of the Churchouse trophy that is awarded annually to the individual who most personifies the Drascombe way of life. Well deserved Josh.

Sunday was a repeat of the first day - good weather but strong winds so Dell Quay was favoured again. Lunch for some was taken on a dragging anchor in what little shelter the harbour offers in a strong NE and was followed by a sail down the harbour and a motor back again. The yacht club appeared to be the favourite for most for a evening meal although some hardy souls had another BBQ.

Monday proved too much for most with even stronger winds - a few did venture out but most came back in quite quickly, apart from Douglas H who seemed to think the wind was just right for him.

The sea arrivals departed by train to collect trailers - discretion winning the day, whilst the others pulled out one by one and set off for home.

A very enjoyable weekend all round