Attendance has been poor so far this year but we have nevertheless found our rallies very enjoyable. The heavy weather which no doubt put some members off certainly provided plenty of action-packed drama!

Sinah Lake — Langstone Harbour 9th - 10th May

The weather was fine and very warm for early May, 25°C on the Sunday. Peter Bick motored his 14’ OB dinghy from Chichester Yacht Basin, spending the morning with Maureen Coleman bird watching. Then he carried on round Hayling Island, having a wet and boisterous exit over the bar when leaving Chichester Harbour. Chris Jenkins sailed from Portsmouth in his Potter AX via Bembridge, John Kuyser in his Westray 16 from Southsea, Alan Glanville (Ness Yawl) from Northney via the Chichester Bar. Liz Baker (Cormorant) from Cobnor and Len Wingfield (Leader) from Emsworth both negotiated the low Hayling Bridge to enter Langstone Harbour by the inland channel. Congregating off our rendezvous point at mid flood, we found that another foot of water was needed to get up to the shore, but as there seemed to be a mid-tide stand there, rather than wait we all moved up to the hard on the landward end of the Sinah reef. John Sumner, who had launched his little Mirror from Northney, but had been unable to get under Hayling Bridge against wind and tide, drove down to meet us but unfortunately did not find us due to our changed position. Maureen Coleman gave us a call from the shore in the morning.

Wootton Bridge — Isle of Wight 23rd - 24th May

Despite good weather only three members turned up; Chris Jenkins — Potter AX, Liz Baker — Cormorant and Len Wingfield — Leader. Nevertheless this venue lived up to its reputation for friendly locals. A lad came over to see Liz, ‘the Black Swan Lady’ he had met several years ago. Terry, another ‘boatie’, helped Len lift his boat off a rock which had punched the self-bailer blank out of his boat, and move it to where a ‘get you home’ repair could be made. A local boatbuilder donated some ply, and another chap most kindly provided clearance and tapping drills, stainless screws of the right size and mastic!

Christchurch Harbour 6th - 7th June

Thick sea-fog gradually cleared during the Saturday morning and a moderate southerly breeze made easy sailing for those coming from both Poole and the Solent. By the afternoon the weather was perfect but only three boats turned up. John Taylor and Arthur Burton, who had driven down all the way from St Albans, sailed from Poole in their Skipper 17, Alan Glanville who had trailed his Viking style Ness Yawl from Oxford and also sailed from Poole, and I in my 14 ft Leader sailed from Keyhaven.

We rose early for our various return journeys. The early forecast was ‘SW 3-4 gusting 5’, so I left at 0730 to catch the last of the flood through Hurst Narrows as wind against tide there would have been nasty! Fortunately I had taken the precaution of double reefing since the wind soon increased to ‘F6 gusting 34 knots’ and built up nasty breaking seas. Before long I had to drop the main and sail under working jib only, still moving fast. Working up to windward to round Hurst Point I received a torrent of abuse from bank fishermen, but managed to tack inshore to raise my mainsail in smooth water to get up Keyhaven Creek. Even in this sheltered water and reefed down to about 35% of racing area, the boat was almost out of control in the more severe gusts. Beaching outside Keyhaven Yacht Club, I was invited in for coffee to recount my experiences. John and Arthur sailed their Skipper 17 out, but not surprisingly could not make windward progress in those steep breaking seas. Somehow they made Poole under outboard motor. Meanwhile Alan had fought his way out in his entirely open Ness Yawl, shipping a great deal of water and losing hard-earned ground when bailing. Eventually he found himself unable to make further progress and after being swamped by a huge wave, turned and ran back to Christchurch.

It was a great relief when eventually we each found that the others were safe. LW

Oxey Lake — near Lymington 20th - 21st June

Having launched and sailed to Fishery Creek near Chichester entrance on Friday night, I was ready for a 6am start next day. With no wind I motored over the flood to catch the west-going tide outside; then it was row a bit, sail a bit until, gradually, the south-east wind increased to F4 giving a good downwind sail. By 2pm I had arrived, soon to be joined by Keith Holdsworth in his yawl-rigged GP14, looking pretty as a picture as she sailed in against the light. Then Chris Jenkins — WWP, with his son Edward arrived, closely followed by Alan Glanville — Ness Yawl.

No Len — I later learned he’d had car trouble, but had met Keith, Edward and Chris in Beaulieu River next day. The warm sunny evening tempted me to a walk over the marshes before going to the pub. There we were joined by Bruce Longstaff and his wife who were house hunting in the area. The following morning a hail from the shore revealed John Kuyser who, unable to come yesterday, had motorcycled over to join us for breakfast. My return trip was interesting — downwind again, but off Lepe the wind became too strong to continue — F6 or more, so went into Calshot for shelter. I had Monday off work for contingencies such as this, so up at dawn to catch the last of the east-going current, and in a SW4 and slightly calmer seas I was, by 9am enjoying a peaceful second breakfast in Snowhill Creek, Chichester Harbour, with larks singing overhead. Liz Baker

Newtown Harbour 4th - 5th July

Ideal conditions were forecast but again only three people turned up; Peter Bick in his Coastliner dinghy, myself in the Leader and Jonathan Sykes in his Cruz. It was Jonathan’s first DCA rally, since he is usually flying at weekends. The new harbourmaster did not bother us, and so we did not bother him; simply mooring in the usual place, no fees, no bother! Sailing off in the morning, the Cruz’s stability was demonstrated by sailing off under full sail when the (single-handed) Leader was reefed to less than 60% of racing sail area. The Cruz’s windward ability also seemed good.

A really weird craft was seen sailing into the harbour crewed by an elderly couple. It was an enormous open cathedral-hulled ketch, about sixteen feet long by eight feet in the beam, almost square in plan view and high in the water. It had twin rudders and some form of staying for its main mast which carried a pocketed-luff sail. It was no doubt a recycled powerboat wreck! LW