We had superb weather on the Saturday, with just enough NW breeze to take those of us launching from Warsash over the incoming spring flood and into the Solent. I sailed over early to have a look at King’s Quay Creek before entering Wootton, and it turned out that others had the same idea. Mark Tingley in his Roamer, then David and Jenny Jones in their 17 foot Beaufort, and finally Joe Scott in his PBK 14 footer all came and anchored off King’s Quay Creek waiting their tide. Entering Wootton with the new flood, at the head of the creek we found Phil Nash in his West Wight Potter, Peter Glover in his Mirror-rigged Mayfly, Geoff Wright and Julian in the Cornish Coble, David Weinstock in his cruising catamaran and a very welcome sight, new member Chris Jenkins and his young daughter Ellie, who had sailed over from Lee on Solent in their GP14. At dusk another boat was seen sailing up the creek. It was John Perry and Josephine in his gunter rigged Perry Fifteen.

In all there was a wide range of boats to show our new members. We had a very good evening, and I am glad to report that little Ellie seemed to thoroughly enjoy it all.

Note — King’s Quay Creek is a SSI nature reserve and landing is not permitted. One can sail or row in at high tide however.

Newtown River 17th - 18th July

The Saturday 0555 shipping forecast gave westerly force 3/4, with heavier weather and rain expected for the Sunday. In the event the wind was up to at least the top of force 4, and I reefed my Leader’s mainsail to 50% for the Solent crossing. Mark Tingley who followed in his Roamer had reduced sail too. Most of the yachts in the Solent were also well reefed.

In the ‘River’ we found John Perry and Josephine, who had sailed over the previous night in his Perry Fifteen, moored at the quay, but surprisingly no one else. We were expecting Liz Baker to arrive late after her long journey from Cobnor, but were concerned when she had not arrived by morning. It later transpired that she had set off on the Friday with John Quantrell crewing, and had been persuaded to sail through the night. On Saturday however they had been dismasted in the Solent. Fearful of being swept by the tide out beyond Bembridge, they headed back under oars into Langstone Harbour. Here they repaired the fixings for the deck-stepped mast and considered carrying on, but as the bow fitting had been weakened decided not to risk it, and remained within the Langstone/Chichester Harbours system.

The Sunday started with a calm and the lightest of airs as the tide reached our anchorage. I therefore felt a bit of a pansy sailing out with the mainsail still double reefed. By the time I had reached the entrance the wind had freshened and I somehow passed a Tasar which was under full sail! It was a fairly windy run back planing at times but the conditions were nevertheless quite manageable in a well-reefed boat. Stopping for lunch at Ashlett Creek, I saw an Enterprise with dad, mum and young daughter go out under full sail and capsize. The mast was stuck in the mud and they broke their centreboard trying to right the boat. I tried to raise their mast by hauling their main halyard tight on my bows and them moving aft to provide leverage, but the mast remained stuck. Fortunately a powerful motor launch happened to come by and took over. Without a rescue boat chancing to come by there could have been tragedy.

Don’t be put off by a less than perfect forecast. Lovely Newtown River was at the top of its form with great drifts of sea lavender, and the weather was almost perfect until mid-afternoon on the Sunday.

Hurst Castle 31st July - 1st August by Len Wingfield

The forecast was force 5 westerly, which promised hard beating with wind over tide for those sailing from Southampton Water. At first conditions were moderate with Peter Baxter and crew in his pretty wooden Drascombe Lugger under full sail, and myself singlehanded and therefore reefed in my Leader. By midday however the wind was up to forecast making it a cold hard wet sail. The Drascombe was under motor now, but the two boats remained in sight of one another, dodging the worst of the chop by sailing inshore. At Hurst Point we found our Hurst rally regulars: Ray and Anne Thornton and family in their cruising yacht, Richard Hignett who had sailed from Keyhaven in a borrowed West Wight Scow, Mark Tingley who was most unfortunately boatless due to his car having been vandalised when left at Warsash last time and last but not least, John Quantrell who had driven round to see us. We found a little injured dog wandering around on the point so Richard very kindly sailed back to Keyhaven with it to trace its owner. Meanwhile Ray and Anne managed to get the traditional Hurst barbecue going, and despite the wind a good time was had by all. Peter and his crew decided to run back to Wootton Creek as Hurst is rather exposed. Fortunately the wind dropped later and I had a comfortable night moored under the lee of the castle. In the morning there was time to give boatless Mark a sail round Keyhaven’s high-tide creeks before returning up the Solent under jib only with helm lashed enjoying the scenery ashore. As I have observed before never be put off a rally by an unpromising forecast. The weather is often better than might be expected.

Medina — Folly Inn 14th - 15th August

Perhaps bad weather the previous week had put people off, but attendance at this normally popular venue was unusually low. Members who ventured out were rewarded by splendid weather, especially those of us sailing from Chichester who had a fair wind both ways.

John Quantrell and I launched and spent Friday night off Pilsey Island in Chichester harbour before setting out early on Saturday. Unknown to us, Len Wingfield with Mark Tingley as crew were launching at Emsworth, but they went under Langstone Bridge. We made good progress having time for a lunch stop off King’s Quay Creek then taking the flood up the Medina.

At the ‘Folly’ we found Len and Mark with the Leader. We were soon joined by Phil Nash in his West Wight Potter and Richard Hignett. Then Slade Penoyre and crew appeared, having wheeled their catamaran ashore on its trolley and pitched their tent on its trampoline. Total: 5 boats — 8 people. We all gathered at the pub for an enjoyable evening.

Christchurch 4th - 5th September

I had some leave and hoped to sail from Chichester but forecasts of W 6-8 dictated otherwise. The only promise of light winds was for Saturday. I couldn’t sail the distance in a day, so I trailed, spending much of Saturday in a traffic jam.

At Mudeford the sun was hot and the sea calm, but the forecast for Sunday was awful… would anyone else come? I was about to launch when I met Ray Thornton who kindly showed me a free parking place — parking fees in Mudeford are prohibitive.

Afloat at last I sailed to the Hengistbury shore. Squinting into the evening sun I approached a gaggle of boats and people, but had to sail past and look back before I could be sure that they were DCA. Len and Mark had sailed from Keyhaven in Mark’s Roamer on the Friday, having a long slow beat and arriving long after dark. Another Roamer with junk rig à la John Quantrell and a cuddy, belonged to Peter and Anne Ingram attending their first rally, but they couldn’t stay the night. Ray had also sailed over with his children and arrived before me.

Len and Mark went for a walk; the Thorntons and Ingrams returned to base; suddenly I was alone, but not for long — a shout from the shore revealed Richard and Clare coming down the hill.

“Good job you’re here Liz, or we wouldn’t have found anyone!”

Later, alone in my tent consuming a welcome hot drink and contemplating supper… a hail from the Roamer — “Liz have you eaten?” — “No, not yet.” — “We’ve got enough food for you as well if you’d like to join us.”

Slackening my warps I manoeuvred Black Swan alongside and scrambled aboard the Roamer. Mark and Len dished up a delicious hot stew. Later, back aboard Black Swan, I was lulled to sleep by grasshoppers chirruping from the bank, foxes barking and the occasional snort from a passing swan.

Len and Mark had planned an early start, hoping for a fair wind to Keyhaven before the weather broke, but in the morning it was SE — they’d have to beat. All was calm as I watched them sail into a lurid dawn. Then I heard the shipping forecast — ‘SE 6-8, perhaps 9 later’. The general forecast spoke of ‘prolonged heavy rain and strong winds reaching all areas by midday’.

I considered tucking Black Swan into the marshes till the wind moderated, but the thought of ‘continuous heavy rain’ was depressing. The only sensible solution was to go home. I wanted to explore Hengistbury Head, but by 9 am the wind was increasing fast and I decided I’d better return to Mudeford while I still dared. Even as I raised the sail the wind strengthened… I rolled in a small reef… the sail flogged hard and the anchor dragged… I rolled in a larger reef. We made Mudeford easily enough, but I was a bit worried about Mark and Len. I learned later that they arrived safely, but not before noon. And then the rain came down in earnest…

Bursledon 25th - 26th September by Liz Baker

My crew greeted me at Cobnor with the news that the start of the Round-the-World race would be straddling our route. This presented an interesting problem.

We launched in rain at 8 am, with a forecast of NW 3-4. The rain soon stopped, but visibility was poor so we used the compass. To avoid the congestion around the race we headed over to the Isle of Wight. Near No Mans Land Fort the mist cleared and we met DCA members Colin and Diana Newnes in their beautiful Maurice Griffiths yacht, hoping for a glimpse of the race. We continued along the Wight shore almost to Wootton before a strengthening wind forced us to reef. Decided to shelter in Wootton Creek for lunch, but first watched the start of the race. We heard the gun, up went the spinnakers and they were off.

We stormed into the creek to abruptly lose the wind altogether. Emerging 45 minutes later we continued towards Cowes before heading across to Calshot, lee bowing the tide. By now the wind was dropping and progress slowed drastically. Off Calshot we met Len. At Hamble Spit the crew of a huge yacht, dispersed along her length packing sails, was silhouetted against a brilliant red sky like a troupe of shadow puppets.

We had to row up the Hamble and it was dark before we reached Lands End Hard; too late to continue to our favourite venue beyond the bridges. We recognised John Perry’s boat, and were joined by Len’s Leader and later another Mayfly, Peter Glover’s — 4 boats. In the Jolly Sailor we also met Peter and Anne Ingram, John’s crew Josephine, and Mark Tingley. The Jolly Sailor was living up to its name, being full of very jolly sailors. I’ve never seen such a sozzled lot — not DCA I hasten to add!

I later learned that Phil Nash was anchored under the bridges, and Peter Baxter was somewhere in the vicinity with his Drascombe. Sorry we missed you this time Phil and Peter.

See you next year!