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Cruise Report
Cornish Crabber Club - Solent Rally 2015
Thursday 25th June - Saturday 27th June - Dartmouth (Cont.)
Knowing little of the waters outside Dartmouth in Start Bay, we made an early foray on the Saturday morning and “walked the course”, just to get some idea as to where we had to go. Eighteen gaffers entered the race of all shapes and sizes and ages, including Ray Canaven on Kallisto. All were rated under the OGA Handicap system. Jayne Rawlins had entered her Crabber 26 Vagrant Gypsy. A good wind blew from the SW, and the tide was broadly coming from the same place. The first leg of the course was a long beat, before a reach followed by a gybe and run, before another beat - and twice round the course. To cut a long story short I am pleased and proud to tell you that Summer Breeze did well. She came first in Class 2, and she was the overall winner of the event! No-one was more surprised than me but there you are - strange things happen at sea!
Knowing little of the waters outside Dartmouth in Start Bay, we made an early foray on the Saturday morning and “walked the course”, just to get some idea as to where we had to go. Eighteen gaffers entered the race of all shapes and sizes and ages, including Ray Canaven on Kallisto. All were rated under the OGA Handicap system. Jayne Rawlins had entered her Crabber 26 Vagrant Gypsy. A good wind blew from the SW, and the tide was broadly coming from the same place. The first leg of the course was a long beat, before a reach followed by a gybe and run, before another beat - and twice round the course. To cut a long story short I am pleased and proud to tell you that Summer Breeze did well. She came first in Class 2, and she was the overall winner of the event! No-one was more surprised than me but there you are - strange things happen at sea!
Sunday 28th -Monday 29th June - Dartmouth - Yarmouth - Bosham
All good things come to an end. Terry and I left Dartmouth at about 0500hrs on Sunday 28th, and made passage to Yarmouth. For the first time in 11 days we had the winds behind us, and we set off on a broad reach for home. What a change in comfort, Summer Breeze loved different wind direction. There was no fog. It was a lovely day. Off we went with about three hours or so of favourable tide. After that the tide changed and we had more of a slog, before the tide again changed in our favour to take us up the Needles Channel and into the Solent. We made Yarmouth in the early evening, again with a bit of motor sailing, and of course passing well South of Portland Bill this time.
After a short night in Yarmouth, we made another early start on Monday for Bosham. On this occasion there was not a breath of wind and we motored the whole way back to Bosham arriving at about 0830hrs.
All good things come to an end. Terry and I left Dartmouth at about 0500hrs on Sunday 28th, and made passage to Yarmouth. For the first time in 11 days we had the winds behind us, and we set off on a broad reach for home. What a change in comfort, Summer Breeze loved different wind direction. There was no fog. It was a lovely day. Off we went with about three hours or so of favourable tide. After that the tide changed and we had more of a slog, before the tide again changed in our favour to take us up the Needles Channel and into the Solent. We made Yarmouth in the early evening, again with a bit of motor sailing, and of course passing well South of Portland Bill this time.
After a short night in Yarmouth, we made another early start on Monday for Bosham. On this occasion there was not a breath of wind and we motored the whole way back to Bosham arriving at about 0830hrs.
At the prize-giving supper I was presented with two trophies and the SW OGA Commodore’s burgee which I am entitled to fly until next year’s event. Apparently I am now Hon Commodore for a year! Clearly I will have to return next year to defend my position!
For us this was a great way to end our brief West Country visit. And many thanks go to all the organisers at the Dartmouth Yacht Club and the Royal Dart Yacht Club.
For us this was a great way to end our brief West Country visit. And many thanks go to all the organisers at the Dartmouth Yacht Club and the Royal Dart Yacht Club.
Finale
Thank you all so much for coming and making the event what it was. Without you all it wouldn’t happen. Thank you too for your very generous and thoughtful gifts to Mary and me. They are much appreciated.
I will see if you are up for a fourth event next year by sending out some prospective dates for 2016 toward the end of this season. But please pencil in mid June - it seems to be about the right time for such an event.
Enjoy the rest of this season’s sailing.
Julian
Julian Biggs
Thank you all so much for coming and making the event what it was. Without you all it wouldn’t happen. Thank you too for your very generous and thoughtful gifts to Mary and me. They are much appreciated.
I will see if you are up for a fourth event next year by sending out some prospective dates for 2016 toward the end of this season. But please pencil in mid June - it seems to be about the right time for such an event.
Enjoy the rest of this season’s sailing.
Julian
Julian Biggs
