0900 hrs. SW 4-5. Bright but with promise of rain later.

Four dinghies gathered at the slip alongside the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. They were Mr. G.T. Howard sailing a Tutor Ten, Mr. M.J. Newton, wife and two friends in a fourteen foot dinghy, similar to a G.P.14 and very nicely fitted out for cruising, and two 14 ft clinker dinghies of great character, one Jady Lane sailed by You-know-who, and the other sailed by Ernest Bailey and crewed by Ron Dean. Peter Glover also came along to say hallo and have a word with the boys. He should have been at home working on his new ten foot Mirror dinghy. We look forward to meeting Peter on future rallies with his new dinghy.

Mr. Howard and Mr. Newton, because of other commitments, could not sail to Beaulieu, but spent the day sailing in the vicinity of Lymington River after escorting John Deacon, Ernie Bailey and Ron Dean out of Lymington.

After beating out of Lymington and rounding the Jack in the Basket, it was a run to Beaulieu, wind force 4-5 and both dinghies lowered their mainsail and ran under jib only. On the beat out of Lymington, Ernie’s dinghy, having the extra weight of a crew, was faster than Jady Lane, but on the run the Jady began to gallop away and was soon out of sight.

The trip to Beaulieu was very easy sailing, a contrast to the previous day when it took Ernie and Ron seven hours to beat over wind and tide to Lymington. Arriving in a cloudburst at eleven o’clock at night, tired and hungry, Ernie discovered his sleeping bag full of water. Happiness is a wet sleeping bag!!!

Roger Davies was also sailing his twelve foot Walker Our 01 at Beaulieu on Saturday, and sailed in company with Ernie and Ron to Beaulieu Spit, before returning to Bucklers Hard. Meanwhile, John Deacon was sailing from Christchurch to Lymington in Jady Lane, arriving at Lymington early Saturday afternoon, returning to Christchurch by public transport to pick up his car and trailer and then driving back to Lymington (the things some dinghy sailors get up to).

On arrival at Bucklers Hard, approximate time 1500, John, Ernie and Ron then met up with another D.C.A. member, Malcolm Stewart. Malcolm, with his crew Leo, had spent the day sailing his Walker twelve on Beaulieu River, but unfortunately they had to make tracks for home early on in the afternoon.

After a cup of tea, Ernie Bailey drove John Deacon back to Lymington to pick up John’s car, returning back to Beaulieu about 1700. As John was giving a demonstration on the art of getting a heavy dinghy on to a trailer single handed, the party was joined by two more members, Mr. & Mrs. Ivor Perren, who had driven down from Marlborough. Together we all stood around and grunted as John completed his demonstration. After all this exercise we had to retire to the Master Builder for a quick pint. Later the party, five in all, went into Southampton for a meal and a drink. A very successful way to conclude a D.C.A. rally.

River Blackwater, Essex 20-21st May

Although several members trailed their boats long distances, the wind on Saturday was too strong for sailing. On Sunday conditions improved, and there was a pleasant sail to Maldon followed by a visit to The Jolly Sailor at Heybridge.

Wootton Creek — Cowes 3rd June

0830 hrs Wind force zero. Visibility 150 yards.

With the plaintive cry of the Calshot Spit Light Vessel just audible in the distance, and the fog sirens of other unseen vessels plying their way up and down Southampton Water, two D.C.A. dinghies drop down the Hamble from Warsash to join in the game of blind man’s buff. Malcolm Evans with his wife as crew, head cook and bottle washer were sailing their 17ft Rambler and Roger Davis was sailing his 12ft Walker Our 01, crewed by head cook and bottle washer Ron Dean. In the poor visibility the Rambler was soon lost from view and not seen till later on in the day at Wootton Creek. Our 01 sailed round to Hill Head hugging the shore all the way with the intention of crossing via East Bramble — Peel Bank to Wootton Creek but the parting of the port shroud soon changed plans. Using the jib halyard as a jury shroud, and with a reduced mainsail, a course was set to Cowes for repairs. In retrospect, we were very lucky not to have lost the mast over the side. If the wind had been a little stronger, and if the shroud had not jammed at the mast head, giving time to go about and lower the mainsail, the next couple of hours could have been very inconvenient to say the least. At Cowes a closer inspection of the shroud showed that the Talurit splice had pulled out. The plastic covering on the shroud had not been stripped back when the splice had been made, and subsequent wear of the plastic covering had led to the inevitable. (There must be a moral there somewhere!)

In the meantime, a wind force 2-3 had sprung up — very pleasant sailing weather. After a meal and a look around Cowes, the newly spliced shroud was quickly fitted, and at 1700 a course set for Wootton Creek. Sailing up the creek two deserted D.C.A. dinghies, the Rambler and Ken Peters’ 16ft cruising dinghy out of Portchester. We decided to push on to the head of the creek on the rising tide and have a drink at The Sloop. On returning, refreshed, back down the creek, the two D.C.A. dinghies — now occupied — had been joined by Jack Whitly in his Gull from Botley. While the three boats prepared for the night, Our 01 went in search of a suitable camping site, eventually deciding on a small creek just inside the entrance of Wootton Creek, on the Fishbourne side near the car ferry.

Next morning, bright and early, the Rambler headed back to the Hamble; next, not so bright or early, Our 01 headed for Cowes, followed later by Jack Whitly. Ken Peters headed back to Portchester. At Cowes we caught sight of the red sails of Ernest Bailey’s dinghy, but were too far off to carry out a conversation. (Later, Ernie told us he had spent the night up the Medina at the Folly Inn, where he was later joined by John Clarke).

An uneventful trip back to the Hamble completed the rally — the weather gods had been easy on us this weekend.

Dee Estuary Rally June 24-25

This was a poorly attended rally, when the weather turned out to be kinder than we had expected. One boat at least had visited the area during the perfect weather of the previous weekend, and was not tempted by the wet and blustery conditions forecast for the 24th.

Firbob arrived at Heswall in good time to launch when the tide came in. She is an adaptation of a Senior dinghy (without cabin) which has been built this spring by Brian Horne. His crew consisted of his two eldest sons, Stephen and Chris, aged 8 and 7. Also present were Joan Abrams with her seven year old son Julian aboard Eolet moored at Heswall. It was possible to launch by 1030 hrs and was blowing force 4-5 from the south east. This down-river wind the been unusually frequent this year. It was Firbob’s first trial in estuary conditions. The two boats ran down to Thurstaston, and from there Firbob had to beat back to Heswall, as the Horne family had to return home next day and must be out on that same tide. Eolet anchored at Thurstaston, off the old coastguard cottage known as “Sally’s”, so that her crew could row ashore in her inflatable dinghy and walk back to Heswall for a talk with the Hornes. They were very pleased with Firbob’s performance in a fresh breeze with something of a sea. The rally did at least perform one useful purpose in introducing them to a launching place to which they intend to return when the boat is fitted out for sleeping aboard in a few weeks’ time.

They departed, and Eolet’s crew returned to her for the night. Next day they were joined by an extra crew member, Michael Saman, and enjoyed a good sail down the estuary and back to Heswall.

Lymington-Newtown 8/9 July

This rally was the most successful in the history of the D.C.A. A whole line of boats were beached or laying off the picturesque beach at Newtown on Wight in blazing sun while the crews picnic-lunched and talked sailing before an exciting sail back to the mainland in a fresh afternoon breeze.

Cowes Week Rally 29/30 July

1030 hrs Saturday John Deacon in Jady Lane, Roger Davis and Ron Dean in Our 01 and Ian McCreery and crew in Sulair (12ft Walker) leave the Hamble well reefed and ready for a soaking. They did not have long to wait. Off Calshot three big green ones came aboard Our 01, she hove-to to take in an extra couple of reefs, also to put the oggin back where it belongs. With the wind on the nose all the way to Cowes we knew this crossing was going to take a long time. Jady Lane and Our 01 decided on a westerly approach and Sulair on an easterly approach which proved the better choice, but at the time seemed doubtful.

The Solent was a mass of sail from east to west and the big boys made a grand sight roaring downwind with every sail set and pulling like pack of horses. Gurnard Bay, the home of the racing dinghies during Cowes week, was hidden behind a wall of dinghy sails too numerous to count. With all this going on all round it was a pity we could not sit back and enjoy it, but between wiping the stinging salt spray from one’s eyes and bailing every five minutes and trying to stay in the boat, I am afraid a lot of yachting scenery passed by unappreciated.

Just after 1400 hrs Our 01 landed at Cowes and Jady Lane pushed on to the Folly Inn where she met up with Sulair sharing a mooring just off the Folly.

1700 Our 01 lands at the Folly Inn and prepares to camp for the night. Heavy rain just started.

1730 Ron and Roger are joined on the campsite by Mr. and Mrs. Ivor Perren who had sailed from Lymington in their Albacore rigged with Firefly sails. Although a downhill run they still arrived soaking wet. Next to arrive was Ernest Bailey with his crewmate; they had sailed over from Beaulieu and like the rest of us were soaking wet. After drying off on the outside we all went into the Folly for a soaking on the inside, and were all very pleased to learn that the Folly had an extension till midnight. A lot of jolly sailors staggered back to their sleeping bags that night.

Next morning not very bright or early, plans were made for the return trip to the mainland. The weather was still very unkind, rain and winds force 4-5. Roger Davis, Ivor Perren and his wife decided stay on the island for another day — lucky them! But the rest of us had to head for home. Jady Lane and Sulair left the Medina under foresails only, at about 1400 hrs, heading for the Hamble. Ernest Bailey decided to wait until later as he needed the tide to help him up the Beaulieu River. Ron Dean thumbed a lift in Jady Lane and had a very comfortable ride back to the Hamble in spite of the strong winds. Sulair also found the downhill run fairly easy. As we entered the Hamble River we were met by two familiar Gull dinghies sailed by Richard Dines and Jack Whitly. They had attempted to cross to Cowes the previous afternoon but had turned back because of the weather and decided to run back up the Hamble, mooring about two miles above Bursledon Bridge for the night. A pity they did not make Cowes, but it is a good dinghy sailor who knows when to turn back and not to take unnecessary risks.

1800 hrs boats and gear loaded back on trailers and into cars and the Cowes Week rally is concluded with a meal at Southampton before making the final trip home. A weekend only made enjoyable by the company and not by the weather, showing just one more aspect of the D.C.A.