The Folly with the Legend Owners 6/7 October
Originally, the rally was booked for Bembridge, but on the Thursday the organiser cancelled as there were dire forecasts, and they had to pay for special catering at the Sailng Club. Julia & I resolved to go anyway if the weather was OK, and as it was only F6, we prepared. Then the phone went, and it’s Paul Howard who says that about six boats have decided to go to Cowes and then to the Folly for the Saturday night. Despite this being on the nose for us, instead of the usual NW blast to Bembridge, we went.
A few had called in at Shepards, but we followed Mornin Gorgeous up to the Folly pontoon and rafted alongside Simon & Emma and their son Oliver.
It was a massive spring tide and at low water, we enjoyed watching the boat above ground just feet from the pontoon!
We did the usual table dancing, and Andy rembered us and got us a table for dinner, as a lot of the Legends had eaten aboard.
Sunday’s trip back was a southerly - anything from 13 - 21 knots, so it was a lively sail with all up. A bit too much sail for the run into Chi, so we dropped at West Pole. The weather was sunny both days, but it was a windy weekend.
Haslar with the Royal Southampton YC Cruising section, 13/14 October
On Friday 13th, Julia & I motored in glorious sunshine to Haslar. Having waited patiently for the sill, we still bumped over with it showing 4’6”, and of course, as the wind was light, and we had dinner to prepare, we had to motor. In any event, it was a lovely trip. We went on the Friday to avoid a very early start Saturday, and so that we could spend time with the Haslar gang ahead of our rally.
We then eventually found ourselves on pontoon D03, and prepared dinner for Keith, Lorna, Chris & Chris. A great evening was had by all.
On the Saturday, we went and enjoyed Gosport market and then joined the drinks party with the Royal Southampton crowd. We then showered and changed and we all went up the Tower. Sadly, our second trip was again in poor vbisibility, as the fog wouldn’t lift all day. We then had a drink in the Dolphin with Peter and Sheila, also new members, and then arrived for a splendid dinner at the Royal Naval & Royal Albert Yacht Club.
A great evening. Julia & I had a swift one at the Dolphin on the way home. Sunday saw the sun come out, so we spent a lazy morning aboard, before returning by car, as Selene is staying in Haslar until next weekend. The reason was that we were neaped out, and probably would struggle even on Monday morning. After that I have meetings most days, so we decided to leave her at Haslar until the following weekend, when I’ll bring her home with Richard Stoneman - for a mini boys trip.
In many ways this was a dry run, as we have decided that we have had enough of the sill at Emsworth, and after shopping around, have decided to go to Haslar. Originally we had planned Port Solent in the winter and then Haslar, but they bettered the winter rate at Port Solent, and it meant we could just make one move. We look forward to the lack of time & tide restrictions from 19th November onwards.
Back from Haslar with Richard Stoneman, 21 October 2006
On Friday 20th, Richard & I met in Haslar, and then had several pints of HSB in Portsmouth and a meal & some red wine at Strada. Richard is now in charge of Vice in the ECA, and so I had to salute him all evening. We retired about 0230, and someone stole all the brandy while we were asleep. Well the bottle was empty in the morning anyway.
Although it poured down overnight, as we left with very sore heads at 1000 hours, the sun came out and the wind blew a steady SSW F6. We were in T-Shirts the whole way, and had a cracking sail home. The sea built up as usual past Langstone, and Richard got a cold shower just before West Pole, with the waves getting up to about 1.5 metres, and a double-whammy broadsiding us!
Beer-o’clock was a bit late at 1100 hours, on account of the sore heads, but normal service resumed, and we had a full de-brief after berthing in EYH, in the Coal Exchange along with Tony Browne & Herr Oberfurer Commodore APB himself.
To Cowes & Back with Phil Ridgeway, 27/28 October 2006
Originally planned as a “boys” trip with Andy & Jim, plans were changed when the day before, Jim and Andy both backed out at short notice, leaving me with a headache. Phil had never sailed before, and had booked time off work, so I didn’t want to let him down, as I am not in the habit of letting people down. However, whilst the Friday looked fine, the forecast for Saturday worried me, especially with a novice on board, and knowing that we would obviously sink a few in Cowes Friday night, with possible predictable consequences.
Anyway, Friday was a lovely day, with early sunshine and little wind giving way to a pleasant breeze to beat all the way up the Eastern Solent in. I got Phil to do some mooring practice on an empty visitors pontoon at Emsworth, so that on arrival in Shepards, with loads of boats and people, he would at least have some experience.
Phil passed the mooring practice with flying colours, and also took to the helm very well, sailing to windward like a natural. Wind W F4-5.
We got to Shepards just as it was getting dark, and moored successfully in the south basin.
Sank a few beers at Peir View, and hooked up with Richard & Henry (Helen was promoted to an honorary boy) in the Duke of York. We ate there and moved on to the ISC and later the Anchor.
Phil & I were obviously jaded the next day and after a coffee with APB in town we set off sooner rather than later, as the wind was already building.
All went well as we cracked off downwind dodging container ships and ferries, that all seemed to have it in for us. The wind kept increasing and was well aft, so I elected to stay out to sea to avoid the worst of the seas across Hayling bay. Howewer, as sure as ever, the seas built across the bay, and whilst Phil kept himself together, he wasn’t much use as a crew, and neither could I give him the wheel due to a combination of the way he was feeling, and the difficulty helming - not really for a novice.
Wind was SW F6, but with some hairy old veering gusts. I was double reefed in the main but with full jib out. Got some great surfing until of course we got beyond Langstone, and had to come inshore towards the harbour entrance, and although I would have liked to have shortened entering Chi, it was easier to rodeo-ride in rather than risk anything else. The gybe off West Pole was fun (!?) and it was seriously hairy going into Chichester Harbour.
Once inside the harbour, Phil could rest, and the wind was so strong, we were doing 8 knots up the harbour under jib alone, with very little tide under us, as I was aiming for and achieved EYH at HW.