In deference to old age, Len Wingfield has now stood down as South Coast Rallies Organiser, although he still intends to attend rallies and host some. For all his years, he continues to sail in conditions I would never dare to attempt! Thank you Len for your enthusiasm over so many years, and I’m sure we’ll have the pleasure of meeting you afloat for many years yet.

Having shared this task with Len for a number of years, I have now taken over full responsibility as South Coast Rallies Co-ordinator and will organise one rally per month during summer season. Unfortunately due to full-time work and other commitments I can’t emulate Len’s record of almost fortnightly rallies, but I am hoping other South Coast members will step into the breach and organise rallies in their own favourite venues. Please contact me in good time for next year if you have an idea for a rally, so it can be slotted into the programme. If writing-up the report worries you, a verbal account by phone will do.

Sinah Hard, The Kench, Langston Harbour, 24th to 25th April

I don’t think anyone who attended this rally expected the dry and, at times, even sunny weather to last, so wet had been the preceding weeks. In fact it was very pleasant, if a little chilly, with light to moderate winds. Clumps of bluebells and tiny forget-me-nots were scattered across the Kench, a golden sunset shone on the water, and later a bright moon lit our return from the pub.

Len Wingfield and I were pleased to welcome three new members, Matt Andrews and daughter Laura in their home-built lugsail dinghy, and Tom Hart in a Wayfarer; new to the DCA, but experienced sailors all three.

I had told both Tom and Matt that a Leader dinghy sailed by a single, yellow-oily clad figure would almost certainly be Len. Len, however, arrived wearing smart green oilies with his Skipper 12! A good start to the season. Liz Baker

Hurst Spit, 26th to 27th June

I reached Hurst around mid-day, hoping to be in good time to hunt for driftwood for the fire before any others arrived; however Tom Hart and crew Richard in Wayfarer Hecate were already there, having sailed all the way from Langstone in 3 hours! I’d had a good sail from Chichester on the Friday, covering most of the distance in six hours.

Len Wingfield was not far behind, then Chris Jenkins in WW Potter Gispy, and John and Josephine in Perry Special with a large box of very solid chunks of wood for the fire. How on earth did they sail with THAT on board all the way from Warsash? Finally Richard Moffatt and Vensa arrived in another Wayfarer, immediately starting to create cordon bleu kebabs.

Unfortunately the glorious sunshine of the morning rapidly deteriorated, and by the time the fire was lit a chilly westerly and salt laden mist were driving across the venue, but with the warm fire and good company, I scarcely noticed until returning to Tessa for the night.

Returning to check the bonfire site in the morning, I found a canoeist had spread his camping gear all over it, having arrived very late after canoeing round the Isle of Wight. He must have had a nice warm sleeping bag if he’d put it over the hot stones! The early birds had sensibly left at 5am, some to catch the early east-going tide and to beat the deteriorating weather. Perry Special and Len set off mid-morning. “See you in Newtown for lunch Liz?” “No — I’m not coming to Newtown,” I replied. I was worried about the weather and didn’t want to get stuck on the wrong side of the Solent. I’m not as intrepid as those three. I later learned they made it back to Warsash under jib and/or bare poles!

I sailed to Keyhaven to get a weather forecast, which was bad, and worse for Monday, which I’d taken as leave for such contingencies. Sailed to Pitts Deep to wait for the afternoon tide, when I hoped to make the Hamble, but by then the huge white horses galloping up the Solent scared me from setting off at all. Monday was no better, and I returned by train to Chichester Harbour for the car. Liz Baker

Shipstall Point, Pool Harbour, 10th to 11th July

Our host for the weekend, Alan Glanville, after driving from Oxford, had a serious breakdown within sight of the water and had to be towed home without launching!

I sailed from Keyhaven in my 14’ Leader the night before, but had to row for two hours in the dark. The others all launched in Pool Harbour and enjoyed excellent conditions.

At Shipstall Pt I met Peter Glover in his own design American type dory, Keith Holdsworth in a GP14 based gaff yawl with a crab-claw rigged tender!, and Chris Jenkins in a Potter AX.

As the normally sheltered venue was exposed to the east wind, we moved over to Long Island across the creek where the 12’ Tideways had gathered. Our members here were Roger Barnes, Aidan de Ia Mare, Richard Crockat and Martin Vincent, and John and Jenny Donelly who came just for the day. There was also one non-DCA Tideway, and a friend with a Drascombe, camping with children. Long Island seems to be the perfect camping venue, and we are indebted to Aidan for finding out that it was available for public use.

Sunday I left early for the long haul to Keyhaven. The other members cruised in company. Len Wingfield

Newtown Harbour, 22nd to 23rd May

Present were: Richard Baker-Jones and Andrew Drascombe Lugger launched at Buckler’s Hard Chris Jenkins Potter AX Gispy launched at Buckler’s Hard Len Wingfield Leader launched at Warsash

Newtown is a large inlet on the Isle of Wight owned by the National Trust who guard it against over development. This makes it a very popular venue for yacht rallies and that includes the DCA. The harbourmaster likes to know who is coming well ahead of time as on busy weekends it has been known for the ‘full sign to appear. Luckily dinghies can moor in the sort of places that other boats cannot reach and having contacted the harbourmaster he was happy for us to meet in the creek just above Shalfleet Quay. I had optimistically suggested that up to half a dozen dinghies might appear but in the event only three came. This was probably a combination of poor weather and the clash of dates with ‘Boats 99’.

Newtown, despite its attractions, always conspires to be an eventful rally. Thus in five attempts to get there, this year was only my second successful visit; wind, tide and timing often conspiring to thwart me. This year was almost the same. The wind was forecast a W‑W 5-6 occ. 7 on the Saturday going W-NW 4-5 and then dropping to a SW3 on the Sunday.

I launched at Buckler’s Hard just before lunch time at around low water and motored down to Need’s Ore to wait for Richard and Andrew to join me. We then had lunch and waited for the worst of the east going tide to go. The wind was a SW6 and when we sailed off at about 1400 it was distinctly breezy. We cut across the shallows at the entrance to the Beaulieu River so as not to lose too much distance down tide and wind and then started tacking. The idea was to make slow progress against the tide until it turned. Unfortunately, after two tacks we were going the wrong way. Richard got into the lee of the island and motored along the shore. I watched him for a while, tried another tack and sailed backwards passed Gurnard Ledge buoy. I motored for an hour and then when the tide slackened, sailed the last mile or so into Newtown and up to Shalfleet Quay.

We were just beginning to wonder if anybody else would appear when Len arrived having launched at Warsash and sensibly waited for the tide to turn.

In the evening we had a gentle stroll to the pub and back. The morning dawned glorious and degenerated rapidly with big, ominous black clouds appearing. Richard and Andrew decided to have breakfast later and set off early. Len and I opted for breakfast first and then a short sail down to the entrance to inspect the weather from there. The wind was distinctly more than a 3 and was more than enough to sail against the tide. It was a brisk run back to the Beaulieu River with the unusual experience of surfing in a Potter. Chris Jenkins

Cowes, Medina River, The Folly Inn, 12th to 13th June

Peter Glover Dory Mag-ic-can Rowed from Hill Head Tom Hart and Simon Hapur Wayfarer Hecate Langstone Harbour Keith Holdsworth GP14 Erik the Red Buckler’s Hard Chris Jenkins Potter AX Gispy Portsmouth John & Linden Kuyser Sea Wych Red Wych Hythe Bruce Longstaff Potter AX Ursa Minor Lymington John Perry & Josephine Street Perry Special Warsash

The weather had been good and looked fair for the weekend. I had launched the Potter in Portsmouth Harbour with the intention of sailing up to Eling for Friday night but the sea breeze ran out half way up Southampton Water so I spent the night in Calshot instead. This turned out to be an advantage as it made the crossing to Cowes that much easier in a rather fitful breeze on the Saturday. I met John and Josephine tacking upriver in the Perry Special and then a bit further on were Tom and Simon in their Wayfarer.

Just beyond The Folly, sitting on the mud having arrived earlier, were Red Wych and Erik the Red. We arrived at about low water passing a number of yachts well aground on the way. Whilst having something to eat and waiting for the tide, Peter arrived having rowed from Hill Head, closely followed by Bruce in another Potter.

With high water around closing time it was then a matter of laying very long ropes ashore before going down to the pub for some well earned refreshment.

The next day was fine and clear with a brisk NW blowing straight up the river. Some left early to get the tide and some waited till HW to get off the mud. The wind looked strong enough to fight the tide back to Portsmouth so after motoring downriver it was a reach back. Well it would have been, if the wind had stayed but it faded and I spent a lot of time stationary over the Bramble Bank before giving in and motoring home. Chris Jenkins

Retracing the Guildford to Woolwich Gunpowder Run

The plan was to retrace the sailing barge route from the gunpowder wharf above Guildford to Woolwich Arsenal, towing, rowing and sailing. Given a westerly breeze I estimated the outward voyage could have been done in three days. Alan Glanville provided his 19 foot Ness Yawl for the exercise, much smaller than a Wey gunpowder barge of course, but with about the same speed and windward ability. The planned three-day exercise had to be shortened as the Wey Navigation was closed because of floods, but the tidal Thames section was sailed (and rowed at times) on the equivalent of one ebb tide, lowering the mast for most bridges. It was a fascinating sail, but definitely not for the inexperienced. I have produced a little illustrated booklet on the subject of the Wey gunpowder sailing barges, other Thames barges, life on board etc, and have sent a copy to the DCA library for loan to members. Len Wingfield