Port Hamble Marina and RAF YC rally Saturday 26 Sunday 27 July 2025

Published 11:41 on 1 Aug 2025 by Sue PEARSON

After a week of wall-to-wall sunshine, seven boats set off in cloudy conditions with a gentle west wind bound for the Hamble River. It was a somewhat frustrating motor sail for those who left early and the last of the Rolex Fastnet race starters were on their way west by the time we were approaching Bramble Bank.

Jevon (Derek, Guy and Fabienne) arrived first at Port Hamble marina having spent the night in Haslar marina. Fairwind (Sue and Barrie) and Hobo (Ron and Pam) arrived on the top of the second high water, closely followed by Mandalay (Martin, Sarah and Toby the dog) and Firebird (Tim). Snoopy (John, Jack, Molly and Caleb) arrived a little later and reported having had a cracking sail in the freshening wind. Chiara (Tony) sailed all the way and arrived at low water and provided photographic updates of his progress.
Avril joined us at RAF YC where we enjoyed a chat over pre-dinner drinks and a convivial meal in their Clubhouse overlooking the marina. We were very well looked after by Sean and the team.

Sunday was brighter and the early birds Chiara, Snoopy and Jevon had left before the crews of Hobo, Mandalay, Fairwind and Firebird made their way to Jennies for breakfast with Toby hoping for some tasty morsels to come his way.

It was a broad reach all the way back with a F2-4 wind, enough to fill Mandalays chute so she came back in fine style. Fairwind diverted to the piles off Itchenor to check and clean the prop and hull. Thankfully the stars were out on the 2am passage back to her mooring and the outside light on Westlands boat house provided a good leading light until the kink in the channel.