Articles

SOLENT CRUISE REPORT - 2nd to 4th May 1998

Saturday dawned grey and windy. Depending on your choice of forecast it might get stronger then ease off, or ease off then freshen. There was general agreement that it would probably rain. Shall we go or not? In the end Hippo, Bel Canto and Little Dipper set off from Calshot an hour or so later than intended. Siobhan was still high and dry having arrived the night before from Poole and parked too far up the beach.

A good reaching breeze took us quickly to St Helens, the intended lunch stop, but the north east breeze made Priory Bay unattractive and due to the late start we had eaten lunch on the way. We decided to keep going. Soon three tiny dots appeared on the horizon. Instinct identified them as Drascombes but it was 20 minutes before we could be sure and 20 more before we met up with Ibis, Nereis and an as yet un-named coaster standing in for Maya. Returning together to Bembridge we found Siesta saving us a space on the Fisherman's Pontoon and Pelican on the beach by the café.

Jim had omitted to confirm our booking at the Brading Haven Yacht Club but sweet talking from Barry and Chris ensured we were made welcome anyway. The only hardship was being forced to drink several additional pints while waiting for the food. Several of the party had acquired "new" Drascombes during the winter and the conversation flowed on into the night. Eventually we retired to our chosen resting places, Chris and Barry to luxury B&B, Tom to his lugger floor, John and Margaret to a tent in the sand-dunes and the rest of us to the pontoon, now enveloped in a strong smell of rotting fish.

Following the obligatory full English breakfast Siobhan left early to return to Poole and work but as this involved wading through the shallows the rest of us waited till mid afternoon for the tide. This gave plenty of time to admire a bank holiday rally of old Triumph motor cars and the excellent Bembridge museum with its studies of ancient wrecks and feats of bravery by the local lifeboat recorded on video (not for the faint hearted!) Others read the Sunday papers in the café, explored the coastal path or walked into Brading - well it was too cold for sitting still outside!

Motoring out of Bembridge against the flood tide and wind was quite lively so we were pleased to hoist sail and turn onto a beam reach past No Mans Land Fort and Ryde pier.

It was a glorious sail with simple navigation - follow the car ferry and remember to turn to starboard before running up the slip. Sailing gently on up Wooton Creek we were pleased to find Piglet already there after a lively sail from Calshot. Emma arrived soon after to complete the party. As ever there was a degree of trial and quite a bit of error involved in finding a suitable spot to anchor which would be clear of the channel and moorings but still accessible when the pub closed. Eventually we all settled and adjourned to the Sloop Inn to warm up. On our return, Hippo and Bel Canto were aground with their counters just reaching the water - perfect planning!

On Monday, the Calshot party left early to catch the last of the westerly going tide but the wind died away and we motored through Cowes and up the Medina for a barbecue lunch rafted up on a spare buoy and, after some sun bathing, motored back to Calshot. The Chichester party enjoyed a beam wind across to Spit Sand Fort, through the submarine barrier and into Chichester Harbour. For them this was the sail of the weekend.

Chris-Mead Briggs and Jim Hopwood.