Cruising Reports 2018

Reports will be added shortly after the event has taken place:


Day cruise to Newtown 19 January

New Year Mid Week Day Cruise - Newtown Harbour – January 2018
 
The event was originally scheduled for Thursday 18th but forecast gales led to an early decision to postpone the event. Although the offending weather system passed through earlier than forecast the weather on Friday was more certain and a crisp sunny morning beckoned. This reduced the numbers somewhat as many were unable to rearrange their diaries, but we were anxious not to cancel this first event of the year.
A party of 21 in six yachts, one motor boat and the Club rib Dragoon enjoyed an excellent lunch at the New Inn Shalfleet Isle of Wight on Friday 19th January 2018.
A frosty morning in early January sunshine allowed for a gentle reach across
to the island on the flood tide. We arrived in good time for coffee on board before being ferried ashore by rib for an excellent lunch of fish or steak pie in the welcoming and friendly New Inn.
All re-embarked safely in the afternoon sun, but a darkening squall line indicated that the return would bring a challenging if quick sail home. A jolly good soaking in a prolonged squall on the return passage to Lymington, with winds gusting over 32 knots in heavy rain, did not dampen spirits too much and provided a shakedown of seamanship skills. This popular event is something of a fixture in the early sailing calendar for the Cruising Section
and we much look forward to next year’s visit.
 
Perrin Towler
 

Day cruise to Gins Farm 21 February

Royal Lymington Day Cruise to Gins – Wednesday 23rd February 2018.

In bright, clear sunshine and on a rising tide 9 sail boats, 5 motor boats and 2 RIBs set off from Lymington for an excellent run to and along the Beaulieu River. A total of 66 members attended of which 6 arrived by car.
For keen birdwatchers there were good views of avocets, oyster catchers as well as large flocks of terns, geese and ducks.
It was a great pleasure to welcome Marilyn and Geoff Holmes on the maiden voyage or their new Dale 9m. motor boat ‘Mainframe 2’.
As always the staff at Gins gave a warm welcome to our members and served excellent fish and meat pie luncheons on time at 12.30. Some considered the price to be rather high; however, the venue was opened especially for this cruising section visit.
Although most boats managed to tie up alongside the Gins pontoon Sue Sutherland, Captain of cruising and Andrew Sutherland were thanked for their help in ferrying others safely from the central river pontoon.
 
Robert Woolley.
 

Day cruise East Cowes 20 March

Meet Report East Cowes 20.3.18
 
The “mini beast from the east” took its toll on those who had planned to attend this event. However, 3 motor boats and 2 sailing vessels with their crew of 28 braced the chilly conditions in the early morning. Bonni Lady was seen on the club pontoon with the skipper bravely brushing off a few inches of snow from the deck before departure!
A cool passage, with winds of F4/5 up to East Cowes was followed by the convivial and warm conditions of the Lifeboat Inn.
The return was more pleasant with a flatter sea, some bright blue sky and a lesser breeze.
Tony Hughes
 

Day cruise Town Quay 18 April

Day Cruise to Southampton Town Quay 18 April
 
The Cruising Division believed it was getting into its seasonal stride with a plan to visit Southampton Town Quay on Tuesday 17 April - a new venue to see what Southampton's most central marina offered to the modern cruiser.  18 boats signed up, short-term berths booked at the Quay, and 70-plus cruisers booked for lunch ashore.  The Tuesday forecast over the week end was for light winds from S or SE....
 
Monday morning the organiser's phone began to ring:  'the forecast has worsened mightily, we can't possibly go in 30 kts of wind, and gust of 40!'. It was true: on the chosen day the wind rarely dropped below 30 kts at the RLym platform - it would have been a horrible day's sailing, and difficult to moor up safely in a small marina.
 
So 18 skippers were consulted, plus the Harbour Master and the restaurant: we found we could reschedule for Wednesday 18  or Thursday 19:  but our numbers would drop sharply. We chose Wednesday 18 because the sailing breezes looked better, and so it proved. Five sailing cruisers made the passage in a sparkling SE breeze and a flooding tide (one single-handed in his 38-footer): a few tacks and we were in Southampton Water sailing goose-winged for the Quay.  Two burly chaps to take each boat's lines, and a comfy berth for all five behind the wave barrier. A splendid standard of service and a short walk to lunch for 20 sailors.
 
On the way home all chose to motor down Southampton water into a fresh southerly breeze, then set sail for a quick run home on the ebb with wind and tide collaborating; a great day out for the few! Commiserations to those who couldn't come.

 
Town Quay before the invasion


​

and during it!
 
George Trevelyan, vice Captain of Cruising  
 
 
 
 
 

Bembridge Meet 5-7 May

BEMBRIDGE MEET – SPRING BANK HOLIDAY 5 – 7 MAY 2018
Glorious early May Bank Holiday weather made for a superb weekend at Bembridge.  Light winds throughout precluded any serious sailing, while calm waters made for pleasant passage for the motor boats.  Sunrise off Portsmouth on the Monday morning was spectacular for those making an early departure.  Overall 47 people from 19 boats attended a BBQ at the Duver Marina and an excellent dinner at Bembridge Sailing Club.  Several members made special arrangements around other commitments to attend one or the other.  A warm welcome was extended to several newcomers to the Cruising Section, with even the less-seasoned crew enjoying this popular annual event in our calendar.  Gentle walks along golden sands to Seaview were contrast with marathon training for the fitter members!  The causeway being out of use for much of the summer made the use of dingies and the water taxi necessary for some, but this was little hardship and many were content to simply bask in the sunshine and relax after the seemingly interminable cold and damp of the later winter and early spring.  We much look forward to visiting again next year.

Alison Towler CsC
 

 
 Smiles at Bembridge Sailing Club