Archived Cruising Reports 2014

January has started off as December finished, wet and windy, but did not deter the first meet of the year, to Newtown and then by Club ribs (thanks to Perrin, Derrick ,Bob and Roger) to the New Inn at Shalfleet, where we had an excellent lunch. 12 boats with 47 people attended and we were rewarded with a break in the weather, so managed to sail there and back, after the fog and frost cleared.

Following the skipper’s briefing at the Clubhouse, the light shower at the start of the day soon gave way to clear bright weather enabling five motor boats and four sailing boats to set off in a S/SW force 4/5 breeze and on a comfortable incoming tide. Club Members, including some who arrived by car, met at the Master Builder’s in Bucklers Hard for lunch. In all 45 sat in the reserved restaurant to eat from a varied menu and to share details about their trip over. Many expressed their pleasure at being able to continue the programme of day sails throughout the winter and are grateful to the Cruising Sub-committee for organising them.

For the return trip there were even brighter skies plus stronger winds to provide a great sail back to Lymington for the yachts.

Bob Woolley, Cruising Sub-Committee

The strong wind forecast for the afternoon caused everyone to think about an alternative to a trip to Cowes as there was little enthusiasm for returning back home into SW winds gusting 40 knots. A lunch at the Royal Solent in Yarmouth was hastily arranged and 4 boats, Prime Time, Sandpiper, Unity and Trilogy with their 13 crew attended.  A lively but quick return to Lymington followed.

Tony Hughes

The exceptional sunny weather encouraged a late rush of Members and boats to join the trip to Warsash SC for lunch. A gusty E wind of 10-16 knots gave the sailors speed and a chill on the way up, but it died on the way back, which allowed us all to soak up the sun. A total of 72 persons and 20 boats attended, food was quick, tasty and plentiful as usual at Warsash and all in all, everyone had a very enjoyable time.

For second year running, cancelled due to weather.

            Fine weather and fair winds marked a very successful club cruise to Gins Club, Beaulieu River. Although it had been agreed for 12 RLYMYC boats to use the Gins pontoon on arrival, it was found to be full. The manager gave permission for twelve boats to raft on the outside of the resident boats. However, two motor boats had to use the river pontoon where the rib from Forge Ahead saved the day ferrying people to and fro for lunch.
 Fourteen boats with 50 crew arrived in good time for lunch at 12.45. with a few members joining by car.
An excellent lunch was enjoyed before a good sail back to Lymington, all home before 16.00.
Bob Woolley, CsC

Some 25 skippers and their crews participated in this year’s summer cruise. As last year there were no fixed destinations or events. The majority of participants chose to cruise the West Country but a sizeable contingent headed for North and South Brittany.
Everyone kept up to date with 'fleet' movements through a regular text update of ports of call and some satisfying passage making and a number of enjoyable social gatherings took place from late May to early July.
The cruise last summer was by its nature something of an experiment but with positive feedback the 'experiment' was repeated this year. Individual feedback will be sought from participants and the format will be on the agenda for discussion at the cruising forum in the autumn but early indications are positive.
Ken Claydon, Cruising Sub Committee
 

The fine summer weather persuaded 16 boats to venture along the Solent to Bembridge where we were all efficiently accommodated in Duver Marina. The BBQ on the Tuesday night was attended by 35 people. The Marina had put at our disposal their 2 Gas BBQs and some tables and chairs together with a pavilion which provided a great setting for our social get together. Daytime activity was generally centred on the many walks around the area and for some included a venture into crazy golf!  On the Wednesday night we made our way by water taxi to the Bembridge Sailing Club for dinner where we were very well received and enjoyed the magnificent views over the harbour before being served an excellent 3 course meal.  Several boats enjoyed Bembridge so much that they either arrived earlier or left later than the Rally dates. With the record of such an enjoyable social gathering and the excellent weather on this and the previous year, Bembridge remains a top destination for future rallies.

George Johnson

The August day sail during Cowes week was a gentle trip all the way to
Yarmouth.  10 yachts and motorboats  set off on a grey morning ( after all
the beautiful blue skies) to berth in Yarmouth and then walk the 2 miles to
the Red Lion Pub in Freshwater, 49 people arrived for lunch but the pub
managed to serve all of us with not too long a wait.
Afterwards we all headed back across the fields to our boats, and the sun
came out for a while on the trip back to Lymington.
You don't have to travel far to have a good day out with other members.

Nick Olney
Captain of Cruising

Berths had been reserved at Poole Quay Boat Haven for Friday 29^th and Saturday 30^th August and a club dinner organised at the Thistle Poole Hotel for the Saturday. However the weather intervened! With F5/6 and an occasional 7 in the forecast for the Friday some skippers not unreasonably decided to cancel or change their plans. With continuing uncertainty on the weather and final numbers the dinner at the Thistle had to be canceled. In the event one hardy skipper and crew braved the elements and got to Poole on the Friday with four other boats arriving on Saturday and all enjoyed  dinner together at Corkers restaurant on Poole Quay.

Ken Claydon
Cruising Sub Committee

Competition from the Norfolk Broads charter meant that the turnout for this year’s BBQ Rally was a little down on last year with 7 boats and 30 members on the Saturday night.
Fine and settled weather saw 11 members gather on Lutetia’s deck for drinks on Friday evening.
Many of us took advantage of the warm day to walk or cycle to Beaulieu village during Saturday. The start of the BBQ proceedings in the evening was signalled by a flypast of 2 Lancaster bombers at precisely 6.00pm! Another warm evening and the conviviality of BBQ cooking provided the background to an excellent evening.
Sunday lunchtime saw the departure back to Lymington with a strong ebb tide and a SE 3 / 4 breeze.
Tony Hughes

The Meet was well supported with 19 boats and some 55 crew, all no doubt encouraged by the sun and light winds in the morning.

Lunchtime was spent at the Lifeboat pub after which the wind, as predicted, had risen to 20-25 kn from the south west, which gave us an exhilarating return sail to Lymington.
 
Sue Sutherland, CsC

 
Friday’s forecast of heavy showers and 28 knot gusts persuaded all to travel instead on Saturday, which was supposed to be drier. The weather didn’t know this, so Friday was sunny and dry, Saturday morning very wet at times. All four power boat skippers opted to attend the meal only, travelling by car, whilst the two sailing boats motored up in flat calm for a very select pontoon party!
 
The evening meal at Merchants restaurant, in the marina, was much enjoyed by our 12 strong contingent, all of whom acquitted themselves well on the dance floor afterwards.
 
Sunday’s forecast of a NE 10k rising steadily to 20k was actually correct, so Medley and Swiftsure had an increasingly rapid sail back in the early afternoon, just beating the rain’s arrival in Lymington.   
 
Peter Lowe CsC

The Trafalgar meet to Warsash this year took place on Oct 28th.
We had 19 boats and 75 members turn up for a superb morning for late October and a SW 15/18knt wind.
This is always a popular meet and this year we must thank Peter Bruce for giving the Immortal Memory toast to The Lord Nelson.
After a good lunch of Lasagne, we all left for a good sail back with a 15/20knt wind against tide.
Thanks to David Houlton for organising this event who could not make it owing to illness.
Nick Olney
Captain of Cruising
 
 

A total of 39 members and guests attended this  year’s  Yarmouth firework rally. 7 boats were berthed in the harbour  and as usual  a number of people arrived via the ferry.
 A clear bright evening provided good weather for the torchlight procession and gave an excellent view of the firework display which followed.
After the usual supper at the Royal Solent some took a night passage to Lymington and others returned by ferry. Those who stayed overnight had a SSW breeze gusting up to 35 knots on the way back. The sailors had a quick ride home.
 
Tony Hughes CsC
 

Island Harbour Daysail 11 November cancelled due to weather

 
The weather was very kind this year, not too cold and just enough wind for those that raced.150 of us had lunch at the Royal Solent and the rest in the King’s Head or various other pubs.
The raffle for the trip on the lifeboat this year was won by Peter Halliwell, with John Evans second and Sandra Allpress third. £340 was raised by the raffle and the full amount raised on the day will be announced in the near future. All this goes directly to the two local lifeboats. Many thanks to all those who bought a ticket.
This was the last event David Houlton has organised, as he has now stood down from the Cruising committee after serving 8 years, two of these as Captain, and we all thank him and send him our best wishes.