Cowes Yacht Haven Rally 29th/30th April

Cowes Yacht Haven Rally 29th/30th April

The second cruise of the season saw 6 boats (Mandalay, Snoopy, Jacob Faithful, Meraki, Osprey and Firebird) with crew converge at Cowes Yacht Haven for an overnight stay on Tuesday 29th April.

Most boats set off from Chichester on a warmish day and encountered wind from the south east blowing at F2 or less apart from an early but brief spell of slightly more in the morning. So engines were in demand for much of the voyage.

A fair amount of floating weed was evident throughout the voyage but it was only the cruise leader's boat that managed to partly disable its prop. Finally safely berthed in CYH, Martin G very kindly persevered at full length uncomfortably lying on the pontoon with a boathook and attached knife before the offending weed was disconnected. The skipper was extremely grateful that his current back problems were not exacerbated!

Dinner for eleven was enjoyed at the Island Sailing Club, sat in the conservatory overlooking the entrance to Cowes. A view perhaps that rivals (some might say exceeds!) the one that we enjoy at Dell Quay. The food was good and reasonably priced.

The ISC Commodore visited our tables and welcomed us and in the course of the conversation we advised him that we thought that the DQSC burgee might be amongst the hundreds hanging from the ceiling, many from the most illustrious clubs in the world. He immediately went on a search and in 5 minutes returned to tell us where ours was. We wondered when and by whom this was given to their club. Anybody know?

An earlyish start on Wednesday morning was required to make the most of the east going tide back to Chichester. Once again our sailing yachts required engines all the way. This combined speed of strong spring tide and engine raced us back home, concluding a short but enjoyable cruise.