by Liz Baker

The forecast was not good, with gales predicted for Sunday; however, the forecast for Saturday was F3-4, increasing 5-6 later. With a 5am start, a fair tide and following wind I calculated I could reach Newtown before the wind became too strong. If necessary I could leave Tessa in Newtown and return by ferry on the Sunday.

I had a splendid down-wind sail and had arrived by 10.30am. I dried-out in Clamerkin Lake for a second breakfast, some more sleep and a spot of bird watching before the others arrived. With the returning tide came Don Alexander in his Mirror 16, crewed by Mark Tingley, followed later by Len Wingfield (Leader), Alan Glanville (Ness Yawl) and John Perry and Josephine. We rendezvoused by the bank about 100 yards above Shalfleet Quay. Boat tents were quickly raised and meals cooked prior to adjourning to the pub. Jo Scott (Tarpon) and Stuart Jones (Silhouette) anchored across the creek and rowed across by tender.

The DCA has held rallies here most summers since its inauguration in the 1950’s and never before have objections been raised, so I was totally unprepared for what followed. We were accosted by the National Trust employed harbourmaster, informed that we were on a nature reserve, and had no business to be camping there, and “don’t let me find you camping here tomorrow night.” I couldn’t take this lightly, or DCA members would never again be able to hold rallies or even spend a night in what is one of the most beautiful and popular sites in the Solent. I emphasised that we were camping in our boats, not on the shore, but as far as he was concerned, we had tents, therefore we were camping.

I was worried that some of us might need to stay another night if the weather worsened, but his attitude was that we had no business to sail to the Isle of Wight with gales forecast. I maintained that we sailed knowing we had a safe refuge in Newtown harbour should we need it; we had been in no danger on the outward sail and Mr Arbuthnott, the harbourmaster’s attitude was totally unacceptable.

The boatyard owner at Shalfleet Quay was perfectly willing to accommodate all our boats on his site if necessary, but three decided to sail back on the Sunday. Two made it safely, but Don capsized and sadly lost his boat, although he and Mark were thankfully picked up by Solent Rescue. Three of us went back by ferry, and Len sailed back on the Monday.

Roger Barnes has since negotiated with the NT on our behalf and established that we may continue to hold rallies at Newtown provided we contact the NT first.

Medina Rally — Folly Inn 16th - 17th August

Hot sunny weather and light winds brought a mixture of past, present, new and potential members to the Folly on the Saturday night. Boats present included a fibreglass Tideway from Nottingham, an immaculately converted GP14 with yawl rig, John Perry’s own designed 15 footer, my Cormorant, a Ness Yawl and several West Wight Potters. It was good to meet Jim Smith, previously the DCA secretary and south coast rallies organiser, who had come over from his home in Shalfleet to meet us. At the pub we met others, potential members with boats and new members without boats. Ideas were swapped, advice given, experiences related and a good social evening was had by all.

Chichester Harbour Family & Camping Weekend — Cobnor 27th - 28th August by Len Wingfield

The forecasts threatened showers on Saturday with heavy rain and strong winds for the Sunday, so we were not expecting a big attendance. However George Saffrey brought his newly acquired Cruz ketch (see Bulletin 147) and took Lesley Bywater from the Leader Association and her friend Tessa as crew. John Taylor sailed with his wife and three kids in a 12 foot clinker lugsail dinghy, Peter Francis sailed in an outrigger based on a Canadian canoe and I was in my 14 foot Leader. Also three members came along just to see us off. The Saturday daysail was up to the lovely village of Bosham then back and down to East Head for lunch.

There was just one light shower which was so local that it missed the Taylors, although they got rather cold and wet from the spray. At East Head the kids warmed up playing in the shelter of the dunes. Alan Glanville turned up in his Ness Yawl. The Cruz party went on up to Oar Rythe after lunch to see the seals and the rest or us returned with the flood. At Cobnor we found Liz Baker who was flying the big DCA flag on a cane flagpole outside her tent. Mine was on my car drawing latecomers’ attention to the programme and site rules. John Perry and Josephine Street turned up with a surfboard. Unfortunately these are not allowed at Cobnor so they took it to Dell Quay. Mark Tingley turned up to crew and John Taylor’s friend and family also joined us and we had a good evening at the Chidham pub, with the kids playing happily outside.

On the Sunday we woke to hear the news of Princess Diana’s death, so Liz brought the DCA flag to half mast. A small gesture but it seemed right.

Alan Glanville and I left early taking the flood tide up to our Dell Quay rendezvous, where we met up with J & J who were windsurfing. The forecast rain held off and there were sunny periods but the wind was increasing. Returning with a sluicing ebb to Cobnor I found that Liz had capsized her Cormorant. Lowering sail to row in and give assistance I was swept away by the combination of strong wind and strong tide. Seeing that a motorboat had come to Liz’s assistance I carried on under bare mast to Cobnor, picking up one of Liz’s fenders en route. It turned out that the mainsheet had caught on the outboard motor and jammed, and she was thrown into the water with the mainsheet caught round her neck! All this underlines my opinion that not only reckless tearaways in fast dinghies capsize. It can happen to the most prudent and experienced people in dedicated cruising dinghies. The good news was that not much beyond a waterproof bag of clothes was lost and the Cormorant’s stowage hatch was almost free of water despite its lengthy immersion.

Hickling Broad 6th -7th September

No DCA members got to this camping weekend event. No doubt Princess Diana’s funeral was a factor. Hopefully the Leader Class may offer a similar weekend in the future. It would be ideal for families seeking genteel sailing and civilised amenities such as loos!

Pitts Deep near Lymington 13th - 14th September

This lovely but isolated venue has been used by individual members in the past but as far as is known has not featured in DCA rallies before.

The forecast mentioned Force 7 gusts for the Saturday which well may have put some members off. Liz Baker sailed from Chichester in her Cormorant on the Friday and arrived first and anchored in a side creek. Len sailed from Warsash well reefed against the north’westerly Force 5, but was knocked down when hove to for a pee. Fortunately the sheet slipped from the cleat, the boat righted and was bailed. The Deep appeared deserted until the large DCA flag, kindly made up by the Ken Browns, was spotted above the saltings flying from Liz’s masthead. Chris Jenkins who had sailed from Beaulieu in his Potter AX was also working his way up the same creek. Later arrivals were John Kuyser in his 16 foot Westray and Peter Bick in his 14 foot Orkney Coastliner specially modified for comfortable sleeping on board, with not just one outboard motor on the transom, but two! Why not?

All warmly approved of the venue, the lovely weather helped, and before we left on the Sunday two elderly ladies in their Mirror dinghies sailed in and enquired about DCA membership.

Bursledon Rally 27th - 28th September by Liz Baker

Light to non-existent headwinds gave the three boats who sailed from Chichester a difficult sail. Dave Sumner, Mirror 10 and myself, Cormorant, set off around 6am from East Head to catch the full west-going tide, but sailing was so slow it had turned against us before we reached Hillhead. I had recently acquired an outboard, so when David started disappearing in the direction from whence he had come, I decided it was time to use it, took him in tow, and together we motored the last few miles up to Bursledon. At Swanwick we met Peter Glover in yet another new dory. and Les Rogers and friend down for the day with a fibreglass Tideway. At the Jolly Sailor we met Len and Val Wingfield, and John and Josephine, minus their boats, and several of us had a trial row in Peter’s new dory. Alan Glanville finally reached Warsash at 10pm, continuing to Bursledon on Sunday morning.

Apologies to anyone who hoped to meet us at Curbridge, but when I found my mast would not clear Bursledon bridge, I decided not to continue. David, worried about getting back, recovered his boat at Bursledon. As I headed downriver I met Alan sailing up, and we returned to Chichester in company, spending a night in Langstone Harbour en route.