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Additional Event Archived Event Reports | Hugh’s Round the Island Rally - Astrid 31st May - 1st June
Oh the irony!! This rally was billed as an opportunity for a longer sail whilst staying in sight of land - if only we had had some wind to sail with, and good visibility to spot the land!! Our Friday voyage to Yarmouth was without hitch, although the wind was on the nose and we were wind over tide so it wasn’t the most comfortable trip, but all yachts and one power boat - Aeolus, Astrid, Hai Kuo, Jango, Mia Mara, Mouse Too, NickNack, PB North Landing, Pikorua and Ventus - duly arrived in Yarmouth in good time for evening drinks and nibbles, beside Astrid for the men while the ladies squeezed happily into the cockpit for a sit down in the evening sunshine. Nothing further was planned for the evening as we were all due a fairly early start on Saturday morning to continue our circumnavigation out of Hurst and down past the Needles before turning East around the South side of the Isle of Wight.
As Astrid sailed up from Bembridge ledge towards No Mans Land fort, we could not see the fort at all until it suddenly appeared out of the gloom, towering immediately in front of us. Sailing completely blind into busy Portsmouth Harbour was very disconcerting surrounded by so many ferries and shipping and fog horns which we could hear but could not see! Extreme vigilance had been required by all, Astrid had one crew on bows lookout with walkie talkie, one on the radar and one on the helm, and I am happy to report that all yachts made it safely into Gosport Marina without mishap (with Emma and Ian on Ventus sadly by-passing us to return directly to Port Solent due to work commitments the following day).
The Lightship was something of a disappointment and did not really live up to its’ good reputation, suffice to say, for several reasons, I wouldn’t recommend it for a rally meal. That said, I think everyone did enjoy the evening and the atmosphere was convivial so hopefully a good time was had by all.
From berth back to berth Astrid recorded 56.36 nautical miles on her circumnavigation (Assisted overall with around 16 knots of fair tide) First Mate Julie Lymington Dan Bran Rally - Spree Spree took a mooring on Dan Bran pontoon on Thursday 22 May, as part of the preparations. It was clear that the weather was deteriorating after the wonderful weather in early May, but fortunately the worst held off until Monday.
Rafting on Dan Bran was only two abreast, and shorelines were rigged due to increasing wind. Most of the crews attended the welcome drinks and nibbles on the Green, including Warren and Judy who were leaving Pleasure in the Marina whilst they flew back to the States for a few days. On Saturday eight people enjoyed a guided walk around Lymington, and one (moi) enjoyed the organ recital. We had lunch in the Mayflower pub, where Jenefer and Charles Bugge came in for a drink having curtailed their beat to windward on the way to the Scillies. Quiz sheets were handed out.
On Sunday morning eight of us, and Marian, walked across the bridge over the river and along to the golf club where we had coffee. This was followed by a game of Crazy Golf which caused much hilarity, with Nikki, Sue and Dave actually scoring a hole in one! We then crossed over the road to McDonald Elmers Spa Hotel for a pleasant lunch. During lunch we compared scores for the golf and Sue Leaman won the prize, another bottle of Prosecco which had become rather warm and too shaken up to think about opening! Would probably have been OK after a couple of hours in a bucket of seawater. Sadly Monday morning brought a significantly worsening weather forecast and it was decided that sailing home would be a good move, which proved to be correct. In the event Bramblemet showed 45 knots. By Monday evening all boats were safely on their moorings, escaping Tuesday’s truly foul weather. Yarmouth Bank Holiday Weekend - Jango Yarmouth is a charming venue at any time of year and this time was no exception but to borrow from the football vernacular it was a Rally of 2 Halves.
Saturday saw more arrive to join the fleet and the day was spent in various activities from walking, cycling, sunbathing and generally doing our own thing.
The RSYC is an outstanding venue on the waterfront where we were treated to an excellent meal, including a surprise birthday cake, all faultlessly produced by the brilliant RSYC staff and served in their main dining room reserved exclusively for us. The second half of the Rally kicked off on Sunday when the bank-holiday weather god took over and the wind rose like a rocket and the temperature dropped like a stone.
Some of us slipped away on Sunday back to PS and elsewhere, the remainder of the fleet doing so on Monday in similar conditions. Happily, all 22 boats reached home safely after distinctly chilly voyages but a thoroughly enjoyable Rally. David & Karen Jump - Jango |
This rally was named in honour of Hugh Nightingale, a long time PSYC member who had done a lot of work for the club over the years, had many club friends, and who had wanted this rally re-introduced into our programme after a number of years of omission. We were happy that his wife Marian and son Andrew were able to join us on Astrid for the weekend for the occasion.
We awoke on Saturday morning to mist and fog - but happily no-one was deterred and everyone (except PB North Landing who was able to set off later) had set off in the gloom on the west going tide by 7.00 a.m. expecting the fog to lift as the morning progressed. Sadly the fog didn’t lift and the wind didn’t pick up until well into the afternoon and, after leaving Yarmouth the majority of us never did see the Isle of Wight. Pikorua had left Yarmouth at 2.00 am to continue on her journey south to France and experienced fog all the way but happily arrived safely.
We were joined in Gosport by Pompey Lass for evening drinks and Nibbles on Astrid once again. This time, Captain Derek declared that it was the men’s turn to sit in the cockpit. As it had turned chilly and windy the ladies were happy to demur so we squeezed into Astrid’s saloon for drinks before heading to the Lightship for dinner where we were joined by Thomas Hardy’s Richard and Carole, Cathy and Dave Riley and Carolyn and Peter Selley .
The majority of the 16 boats arrived on Friday, but Riptide was delayed until Saturday and No Faffing had to withdraw.
The
evening meal at the Lymington Town Sailing Club was a success despite a
completely revised menu at short notice. A whip-round was held for the
friendly and helpful staff. The quiz sheets were marked and the
resulting tie was resolved by a supplementary question. The prize of a
bottle of Prosecco went to Aeolus.
The
first half (2 days of windless warm sunshine and Mediterranean skies)
saw us all gathered for pontoon drinks & nibbles (with chocolate
bunnies) at JANGO after an amazing display of skills by the Berthing
Masters who got 18 of us all in together including the inevitable
berthing requests (They are an awesome team – and so young !). The
evening was then spent carousing in the flesh-pots of Yarmouth, quietly
on board or somewhere in between depending on personal taste and
aspirations.
The
Highlight of the Weekend was the Rally Dinner at the Royal Solent Yacht
Club preceded by Commodore Gail presenting RSYC Commodore John Poyner
with our Club Burgee which will now join the many other distinguished
Burgees adorning the RSYC Trophy Walls.
However,
for those not otherwise engaged on temporal or spiritual matters,
Sunday’s picnic lunch on the green overlooking the Yar proved to be a
most enjoyable diversion being something of a sun-trap and well
sheltered from the wind.