Bembridge 2017

 

STARTER FOR TEN – Bembridge Rally Tuesday 11 – Wednesday 12 April 2017

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What a splendid start to the 2017 season! Ten boats and twenty two crew enjoyed perfect sailing conditions across to Bembridge on Tuesday 11 April making good speed on a reach in a westerly F3 to 4 and glorious sunshine.  A deviation to the east from the straight-line route was required to avoid the 350 competitors taking part in the RYA Youth Championship in Hayling Bay.

Gordon Wight (Berthing Master) had set aside an area of the alongside pontoon at The Duver for us all and we were welcomed by Sarah Simmonds and all comfortably accommodated with step ashore berths either side of the pontoon.

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Fairwind of Dell Quay, Mandalay, Frith, Harami, Cantata, Niobe, Opus IV, Snoopy, Keldy and White Magic alongside The Duver pontoon.

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After an afternoon spent catching up with friends, making a few essential purchases, repairs or simply relaxing in the sunshine, sixteen crew boarded Fairwind of Dell Quay for drinks and nibbles and the crew of Cantata enjoyed hospitality aboard Harami.  We welcomed first time ralliers and new members Derek Margison and Richard Hancock who had made the trip aboard Derek’s Sadler 26 Kendy.

Nineteen crew walked up to The Vine in St Helens for a pub meal and a very convivial evening. All safely returned by the light of the silvery moon (or torchlight), some via the Mill Wall, others downhill on the footpath through the woods.

Wednesday morning was rather more bracing with a stronger wind and cloudier conditions. Boats departed once there was sufficient depth over the bar as indicated by the analogue display on the post on the pontoon or the electronic digital display up by the office.  Frith (Martin Watson) and Niobe (Bill Greening) left a little later once the Solent tide had turned to head west, Frith back to her mooring at Gosport, Niobe to Cowes for an extra night out. The rest had a brisk broad reach back into the harbour, some under genoa only, others trying out their mainsail reefing gear. Good speeds were recorded in F5 gusting 6 with flattish seas and freshly antifouled bottoms.


The next rally is to Yarmouth on Tuesday 9 May with Tim Applewhite as rally leader closely followed by a rally to Cowes on Saturday 13 May, led by Dick Cole.

Register in the usual way from the link on the club website.


Sue Pearson