Hugh’s Round the Island Rally
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 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.
A memorable rally - for the wrong reasons, but one where we’ll all retell the salty (misty) tale many times I’m sure. Until the next time……
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