Reccy Trip with Ed
On the 5th July, youngest Son Ed and I took Selene across to RVYC so that I could check the depths for the forthcoming ECA Rally Selene would host exactly 28 days later, so that I could advise everyone in the cruise notes.
It was a one day trip, so we left early and got caught in a very big thunderstorm going down the Emsworth channel, and tied up to a buoy through the worst of it. We had to motor all the way, and whilst Ed slept, I went through two more storms. Viz was so bad, I had to put nav lights on!
We arrived in the middle of the Squibs National Championships, and it was damp and horrid for them. Selene dried out OK, only showing about 300mm above the waterline, and sitting square. The sun popped out just long enough for us to grab a sandwich in the sun at the Fishbourne, and then it rained again.
As soon as we could get out, we did, and the rain held off, and eventually we had some wind so that Ed could sail Selene - he absolutely loved it!
Treasure Hunt with Malcolm & Mavis
On the 22nd & 23rd July, Malcolm & Mavis joined us for the treasure hunt organised by Vic & Brenda around Chichester Harbour.
It was good fun, and we came joint first with Tony Browne. We rafted up at Itchenor, and the meal in the club was excellent.
When we got back on the Sunday, Malcolm & Mavis came back to Woodpeckers for a BBQ.
ECA Rally Royal Victoria YC
I spent the day on the Thursday fitting the new electric toilet, and then took the boat out onto the visitors pontoon. However, the temperature alarm went off just over the sill and I crept with a very hot engine onto the visitors pontoon. I finished the toilet, and after the engine cooled down, I re-started her and she was fine - must have been some weed?
Andy Moran picked Julia up on the way down (Lynn wasn’t well enough to come) and I collected them from EYH. We had chinese take-away. Then first thing Friday, we went over on to RVYC to be in-place. It was an early start as per the Ed reccy trip, and so we had the day to ourselves. As it was Cowes week, we took the bus into town and enjoyed the atmosphere and the Pimms!
The first boat to arrive was Vulpes Expeditus with Dick & Alice Tyrell on Friday evening at about 10:30pm, but Julia & I were asleep - although Andy was still going. Then on the Saturday morning, up went the battle flag, and we awaited our new arrivals. For some reason (probably Cowes week) it was like National Car Parks on the RVYC pontoon, but I got everyone on - just.
Next to arrive was Honolee with George & Janet Bucksey, and soon after we got a call from Seagull saying they were on the rally, but had put into East Cowes because of their draft and were coming by taxi. That was Keith and Lorna Tiffany, and their friend Jerry.
A prospective new member Andrew Carter then arrived in Shamrock on his own, and we welcomed him to the Association. Shortly afterwards, another single-hander, our Commodore, John Burton arrived in Rousillon of Wylye. Then Colin Huggins appeared in Ebb Tide, Steve and Alison Pearce in Louisa, and finally John & Jackie in Daydream.
The drinks party on Selene was up to the usual standard, and we were joined by Vice-Commodore Andy Penny-Brown, and then we all wandered up to the club house for an excellent meal where we were joined by Steve Pearce’s wife Bronwyn and two friends.
Thus we had nine boats on the rally, and 21 for dinner. Another successful rally!
On the way back Keith & Lorna sailed up close in Seagull and took our camera from us, and took some great pics of the cruising chute. However, we had again overheated on the way out of Fishbourne, and this time we couldn’t get her to cool down, so we sailed all the way back in very light winds - cancelled lunch at Haslar, and sailed onto a vacant buoy to await the Sill. We had to hang of the piles as we touched on the first attempt - the tide was late! and even on the second go, we had to get Andy to lean on the side. We overheated again, and I had to get Motortech out later in the week, and they got it sorted out, and I learned a lot about how the system works now.
Gins Farm with Aly & Graham
On 19th August, Aly & Graham joined us, and we went to Gins. The weather was wet and lousy for most of the weekend, and Aly was a bit green on the Saturday until she put a seasickness patch on.
There was a 4-5 SSW going, so we were able to beat and go where we wanted, which gave me a chance to look at the new sails. The main still has a few problems in the foot at the clew, but I am generally very pleased. Then it rained and the wind died through the forts. It picked up again and when we got to Gins, we had to hang on a buoy for an hour and then got onto a raft outside a brand new Discovery 55 on the pontoon. The sun came out, and another boat - a storm 33 rafted alongside us. The new boat were having a champagne drinks reception, so it was unusually noisy, but a great atmosphere.
The jazz night was brilliant, and we had so much fun, and enjoyed the company so much. Julia & I had already decided to switch from the RVYC to the RSYC, but this just sealed our decision. Aly & Graham really enjoyed it too.
Sunday morning we went to Cowes. The day didn’t start too well with the stern line coming adrift and us touching the brand new boat, and it was one of those days, but - hey-ho!
It was very lumpy and gusty going over, and then Cowes was heaving. Anyway, as ever, Shepards rafted us on the outside and helped us in. We were being blown off by the stiff westerly, and the harbour master awarded me a certificate of competence for the way I moored in difficult circumstances.
We spent the afternoon in Cowes with a mix of beer and retail therapy - Julia & I went mad! We drank in the Duke of York, and Pier View - and came back laden with shopping. The weather held off, but it wasn’t brilliant.
It was still a bit breezy and changing direction on the way back, but the sea settled after the tide turned. I lost the whisker pole overboard as it was that kind of day, and eventually, we put the motor on and motor sailed to make sure we had time for a meal in Emsworth.
Couldn’t get over the Sill, so we tied on Jim’s mooring - A27, and went into town for a meal at the Lord Raglan - excellent. Couple of Butsers, and then the girls went home, and Graham and I brought Selene into EYH in the dark at 2200. - Great weekend all round.
ECA Rally to Littehampton with Malcolm & Mavis
On Friday 25th August, I met Malcolm & Mavis at EYH, and we motored out to A27 (kindly loaned to us by Jim from the chandlery) ahead of low water, and I picked Julia up from Emsworth (old fishermans’ Oyster landing stage) at 1930. Mave cooked for us on board, and we set off at 0830 next morning on a rising tide.
Selene then turned left at West Pole for the first time and ran downwind in a 4-5 all the way to Littlehampton. The water was quite low as can be seen from the man fishing IN the water just off Eaststoke.
After losing a winch handle overboard - which narrowly missed Mave’s head, we rigged a gybe preventer as the wind was very shifty. We already had the jib poled out. Pleasant trip and we got into Littlehampton safely and went alongside on the town quay. Vic & Rose rafted outside us in Sundash, and Tony Browne outside them. Dick & Alice were already there as were Kotka and Shamrock. Later Kontent arrived and Jay Bee Too.
Malcolm & Mave had another function to go to, so set off by train, and Julia & I did the tour of Littlehampton, and we went across to the Arun YC for drinks ashore (rather than on Vulpes, since (a) there were a lot of people and (b) the pontoons in the mud stank badly. Then dinner at the YC instead of the BBQ as promised (?? turned out the BBQ was on Sunday)
Sunday’s weather forecast spelt loads of wind for Monday, so everyone except us, Kotka & Kontent stayed and stuck to plan A. Which was of course, the alternative ECA rally to Arundel by rub-a-dub. Julia & I sneaked a round on the adventure golf course, which Julila won, then off up the Arun River. The weather was good and it was a great trip only marred by Richard spearing his dinghy at Arundel, and us towing the deflating thing back with Richard & Helen shared between the two other craft!
We had dinner with Malcolm & Mave at a little Italian which was very Littlehampton (enough said?) and a few brandies before retiring.
Monday morning was miserable - wet and windy, but the front passed before our window to leave and although very breezy and on the nose, the sun shone all day. We managed a sail to the Mixen, and then motor sailed home - seeing gusts as high as 31 knots. (confirmed by chimet)