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Cruise Report
Cornish Crabber Club - Solent Rally 2015
June 17th - 24th
June 17th - 24th
Wednesday 17th June - Home ports to Bembridge
Boats set off from their home ports and eleven boats gathered at Bembridge our first port of call. Mary and I aboard our newly acquired C26 Summer Breeze left Bosham just after low tide to meet up with Nigel and Sue Anderson aboard Molly (C26). We had arranged to meet at the Fishery buoy at the top of Emsworth Channel. As we left the Bosham Channel, our exit coincided with Dave and Joanne Morley on YoYo (C24) who had left Chichester Marina earlier. The three of us then made the short passage to Bembridge. Once there we joined by Andrew Howard on Thalassa (C24), Peter Moore on Moores Claws (C24) also from Chichester. Andrew and Caroline Turner on the Mk1 Sea Wind, and John Gifford on Tegen (C22) both arrived from Poole. Mike and Ann Geoghegan on Lowenna (C26) arrived from Beaulieu, as Graham and Pat Woodward made the trip from the Hamble on Sally Lightfoot (C26). Lastly we had the two Emsworth boats Dave Percival with Alice Pellow (Pilot Cutter) and Andy and Tarnia Roan with Dave’s previous boat Le Moulin Vert .
Boats set off from their home ports and eleven boats gathered at Bembridge our first port of call. Mary and I aboard our newly acquired C26 Summer Breeze left Bosham just after low tide to meet up with Nigel and Sue Anderson aboard Molly (C26). We had arranged to meet at the Fishery buoy at the top of Emsworth Channel. As we left the Bosham Channel, our exit coincided with Dave and Joanne Morley on YoYo (C24) who had left Chichester Marina earlier. The three of us then made the short passage to Bembridge. Once there we joined by Andrew Howard on Thalassa (C24), Peter Moore on Moores Claws (C24) also from Chichester. Andrew and Caroline Turner on the Mk1 Sea Wind, and John Gifford on Tegen (C22) both arrived from Poole. Mike and Ann Geoghegan on Lowenna (C26) arrived from Beaulieu, as Graham and Pat Woodward made the trip from the Hamble on Sally Lightfoot (C26). Lastly we had the two Emsworth boats Dave Percival with Alice Pellow (Pilot Cutter) and Andy and Tarnia Roan with Dave’s previous boat Le Moulin Vert .
Eighteen boats in total had entered this year’s rally. However one boat had to withdraw due to crew illness, and two others for logistical reasons. So we were down to fifteen. Out of those fifteen boats we had two new entrants; Andrew Howard with his Bermudan rigged C24 Thalassa joined the rally for one night at Bembridge. The second entrant Andy Roan with his beautiful Mk1 Crabber Le Moulin Vert stayed with the rally until Yarmouth.
Thursday 18th June - Bembridge to Cowes
In planning this year’s event, I was conscious that starting in the Eastern Solent crews were likely to face SW winds and consequently have a bit more up wind sailing to do than in last year’s event which began in the West.
Thursday’s winds were SW F3/4 with occasional gusts of 20 knots or so. No-one encountered any issues with the short sail to Cowes. I think it was the first time for some to see the new Cowes breakwater, a formidable construction just off Cowes Roads. The beauty of this from my perspective is that the small boat channel approaching from the East is much more clearly defined than before.
In planning this year’s event, I was conscious that starting in the Eastern Solent crews were likely to face SW winds and consequently have a bit more up wind sailing to do than in last year’s event which began in the West.
Thursday’s winds were SW F3/4 with occasional gusts of 20 knots or so. No-one encountered any issues with the short sail to Cowes. I think it was the first time for some to see the new Cowes breakwater, a formidable construction just off Cowes Roads. The beauty of this from my perspective is that the small boat channel approaching from the East is much more clearly defined than before.
Weather conditions had been fine for everyone. The Harbour staff looked after us in their usual efficient way. Perhaps the only downside here was the fact that our arrival coincided with the dredger who was busy re-dredging the berthing areas around the main pontoon. The upside was that we got a very large discount on our berthing fees. Whilst in Bembridge, a rigger was required to sort out a problem at the top of Tegen’s mast. The fit and spritely Graham Woodward stepped up to the plate and was winched up the mast to sort out said problem, which he did.
Our first supper was held at the Bembridge Sailing Club. The food was excellent and we were well looked after by the staff. Late harbour ferries returned us to our pontoon berths as we prepared for the first proper day of sailing in company.
Our first supper was held at the Bembridge Sailing Club. The food was excellent and we were well looked after by the staff. Late harbour ferries returned us to our pontoon berths as we prepared for the first proper day of sailing in company.
