The weather was sunny but rough, SW6-7. I decided not to launch. New member, Derek Russell was intrepidly sailing his Mirror in the sheltered waters off Itchenor and I made contact when he came ashore for lunch. I then drove on to West Wittering and walked out to East Head, where David Jones in his Beaufort, Speedy, easily recognisable by his hang glider sail tent, was bouncing around in the chop on the far side of the creek. Keith Holdsworth joined me on the beach, having also walked out, and together we hollered until David went aground and looked out. “You’re the wrong side of the creek!” I yelled. “I got blown here!” he replied. We then held a silly conversation where neither party could hear the other’s reply. Keith kindly drove me back to my car, and I returned home. There was plenty of gardening to be done.

Wootton Creek May 12-13

I could echo Roger Barnes here — beautiful weather — where were you all? After beating from Chichester against a light headwind I reached Wootton Bridge at 6pm to find David Jones anchored just off-shore. Soon an elegant, ketch rigged double-ender appeared round the bend. “That must be Tom Hart with his new boat,” I said. But they sailed past without even a glance in our direction. Ten minutes later they came back — it was Tom, crewed by his friend Bruce. They’d been so intent on finding an anchorage they’d failed to see us. Tom wanted to stay afloat and offered to ferry us ashore in his dinghy. Too late we realised that if we accepted we’d be marooned from our boats by the mud, so the pub was given a miss. As we dried out I watched, fascinated, as Speedy slowly but steadily, about one inch a minute, slithered past me down the muddy slope and back into the water. Next morning Tom and Bruce were away at crack of dawn. David and I set off at a more respectable hour and sailed in company all the way back to Chichester.

Ashlett Creek July 14-15

This was a substitute for Pitts Deep, because I hadn’t known whether the foot & mouth restrictions would have been lifted by July. Apologies to anyone who hadn’t spotted this. Unfortunately it was not until later that I discovered the original, unchanged programme on the Internet on my office computer.

A variable headwind and a nasty chop off Chichester slowed progress, but I just made it into Ashlett Creek at 7pm before the water went. Squinting into the sun I could see two figures waving to me — Keith and Len. I moored up quickly alongside Keith on a patch of mud, without thinking till too late that it was not the best place to be. As Tessa grounded I noticed a lot of rubble strewn about. Further up the creek were Chris Jenkins (Potter AX Gispy) and ‘J’ Milbourne (Dodnor Star Trekka Ka Lae) and John and Josephine who’d come by road. The pub was noisy and crowded, but the DCA found relative peace in a marquee outside, which we had all to ourselves. Next morning dawned sunny, with a lovely fair wind for my return to Chichester. Unfortunately the neap tide failed to float Tessa, and sadly I had to watch the others sail away without me. Unfortunately a commitment at home prevented me waiting for the evening tide, so John and Jo kindly ferried me back to my car.

Here I would like to record a vote of thanks to members of Ashlett Creek Sailing Club, who kindly took care of my boat and equipment until I was able to return two weeks later. DCA members always receive a very warm welcome from this sailing club, who unlock their toilet facilities for us and encourage us to use their club room.

Shipstall Point August 11-12

Surprisingly in view of the unpleasant weather, we had an almost record turn-out of twelve people and nine boats for this rally, including several new faces. Participants were as follows: Bill Serjeant from East Coast with elegant double-ender — Storm Petrel John Perry & Josephine Street came by road Chris Heakey & crew Doug — Wanderer — Herbie Chris Jenkins — Potter AX — Gispy Dave Sumner — Mirror — Curlew ‘J’ Milbourne — Dodnor Star Trekka — Ka Lae Len Wingfield — Leader — Rebel Keith Holdsworth — home designed double-ender — Flying Pig Graham Thompson — Shipmate Senior Liz Baker — Cormorant — Tessa

Chris Heakey & Doug, myself, and Bill met up and launched at Red Cliff Farm and had a very fast, surfing run down the Wareham Channel. Len sailed from Christchurch on the Friday, and the rest launched at Rockley Sands.

The short beat from the Wareham channel into the bay provided extremely wet sailing and we all arrived shaking the water out of our ears like spaniels. Although this is a good venue for a family rally, it wasn’t family weather and no children were present.

Bill Serjeant entertained us royally when transferring himself from Ka Lae back into his own boat, by jumping in one side and out the other! He’d just changed from wet clothes into dry ones — and still managed to laugh! His personal view of the rally is all written up on his own website, with a link through from the DCA site.

On Sunday the wind seemed even stronger, and any thoughts of cruising the harbour had to be abandoned. Those who had to return that day all got back safely. Len accepted a lift with David Sumner to his car at Christchurch, and Bill, who was worried about the difficult beat up the Wareham channel, accepted a lift with John and Josephine back to Red Cliff. Keith, ‘J’ and I stayed at Shipstall Point another night. ‘J’, who had sailed to Rockley Sands, returned with the news that Chris has recorded F7 on his wind speed indicator.

Bursledon September 22-23

Another well-attended rally and, mostly, fine weather. Some only came for Saturday, and others appeared on Sunday morning. Altogether twelve people and nine boats.

I sailed my Cormorant Tessa from Chichester and reached Lands End Hard at 5pm where I found Len Wingfield with a ‘new’ boat, an elderly fibreglass job of unknown vintage, David Jones with Speedy, and Martin Corrick, who has just bought an elderly Cormorant; so Martin and I were soon comparing our two boats. We were later joined by David Sumner, who had come by road having abandoned an attempt to sail from Chichester, and Keith Holdsworth, who was camping in his boat further up the river. I was told that Tom Hart and young son William had been there earlier, without boat. Six of us enjoyed at good meal in the Jolly Sailor.

On Sunday, David Jones and Len decided to cruise down the Hamble and up Southampton Water, where they found themselves mixed up with the start of a round-the-world yacht race. They went to Calshot for a closer look, and there met Alan Glanville, who was having trouble recovering his boat because of the wash from all the traffic. I sailed and rowed up-river, alone but not for long, and found Keith high and dry at the top of a creek. A passing canoeist transpired into John Kuyser, then Peter Glover rowed up in his refurbished dory, which he has shortened and inserted a glass panel in the floor for watching marine life. An elegant piece of ropework enhanced his oar leathers. Next boat to appear was a home built pram dinghy sailed by Roy Rolf. I was beginning to realise I was the odd person out in a home boatbuilder’s rally when up came new member Colin in another home built dory — but Colin doesn’t only build his own boats, he also teaches under-privileged children to build boats for themselves.

Time for lunch — I provided hot drinks and cake, and other food was shared around. Then the tide rose high enough for Keith to join us and we continued on our way up to Curbridge. A kingfisher flashed across my path as I entered the Curbridge arm. A quick drink at the pub, and it was time to return. I accompanied the others until the first bridge came in sight, then turned back for a tranquil night before sailing back to Chichester on the Monday.

Yarmouth Isle of Wight September 1-2

As organiser of this rally I rather cheated as Linden and I sailed from Hythe to Yarmouth in our Leisure 23SL Seajay rather than our dinghy Rachel. The rally was run in parallel with our Hythe Sailing Club annual Yarmouth meet.

Aidan de la Mare did it properly arriving from the East Solent sailing historic dinghy Jady Lane, as did Chris Jenkins accompanied by West Wight Potter Gispy. Dinghy Ka Lae, a Star Trekker mini cruiser, also squeezed into an overfull but still charming harbour. We enjoyed a guided tour of her very extensive refit and range of electronics and modifications, from her owner Jason Milbourne. Interestingly she sails under the USA flag and regulations.

Tom Hart also set out, but unfortunately due to the wind and tide, had to turn back. Due to tide times we did not dry out inside the harbour ‘lagoon’ behind the sand dunes, but conveniently moored to the pontoon beside the dunes.

On Saturday night Hythe SC entertained the DCA with the smell and noise of their large beach barbecue, as an alternative to the many packed pubs in the town.

Next morning was an early start to take the flood tide and a following wind — yes it can happen — back up the Solent. John Kuyser

Winter Rallies — Some south coast members are planning winter sailing and would like to meet up with others afloat or in a pub. Now we have e-mail addresses on the membership list, hardy brass monkeys with Internet access could notify like-minded souls at short notice.

At this stage it’s time to look, not only back, but forward to next summer. I try to alternate more ambitious venues with those which can be reached by sheltered waters, but often the tide times make this difficult, and some will inevitably be spoiled by bad weather. As before, in order to provide a more interesting programme, I’m hoping some of you will volunteer to host a rally. If you have a favourite venue, why not host a rally there? But please let me know before the end of January, so it can go in the Bulletin, and please don’t all volunteer for June!

Finally, but by no means least, I must thank Len Wingfield and John Kuyser for their help in hosting additional rallies this year. 01323 842 124 Liz Baker