The sun shone and a total of ten boats gathered for the Maxi Owners Association rally to Bembridge on the weekend of 30/31st May. With high water around midday, boats started to arrive mid to late morning, apart from James and Anthea on Freya who’d made the most of the fine weather and arrived on the day before. With very light winds, most boats had motored for the great part of the journey, but it was nice to be out on the water. All our boats had arrived by early afternoon and crews enjoyed the sunshine, venturing for walks and ice creams – and some even braved a swim!
It was the Bembridge Rowing Gig Festival weekend so the marina was busy with competing crews from across the area, adding to the atmosphere.
Unfortunately our berths were spread across the marina where curiously, they had allocated the shallowest berths to the boats with the deepest drafts which made for some interesting adjustments of lines at low water when Asante and Blue Lightning took to the ground.
It was good to catch-up with old friends and also meet some new members on their first MOA rally, namely James and Anthea on Freya, Keith and crew on Seawolf and Dominic and Verity on Sgian Dubh. We all gathered for the traditional pontoon party, adjacent to Asante and Blue Lightning. Food, drinks and conversation flowed until it was time to head up to The Duver Café at the marina for pizzas which had been pre-ordered. The area was busy with a band playing, but we managed to get enough tables so we could all eat together, even if we couldn’t hear too much over the band! Nevertheless the evening went well and it made a change from eating at the local yacht club or restaurant.
Sunday dawned bright with a bit more breeze and after a leisurely morning, boats began to depart for home ports as the tide rose. We had a great sail back on Asante, in company with Blue Lightning and Moondust.
Boats attending:-
AmyLou
Asante
Blue Lightning
Freya
Leda of Hamble
Lookin foor Kloos
Moon Dust
Seawolf
Sgian Dubh
Windhover
Please see below our rally calendar for 2026 to be discussed at the AGM to be held at Marchwood Yacht Club on 28th March.
Saturday’s wind was a light easterly and many of the eight boats visiting reached the Dan Bran ponton under power, particularly those coming from the east as they had a strong flood tide against them. Some passed the sad sight of a recently sunk 57 ft. Oyster off Sowley guarded by wreck buoys. Most were moored by 15.30.
The pontoon party, originally intended for the R Lym club pontoon had to be moved at short notice to the Dan Bran where the sailing visitors were joined by crews of a further four Lymington-based boats. The evening was warm for October and the party broke up about 19.15 for the short walk back to the club where dinner was provided.
The weather on Sunday was livelier. Wind still in the east but those returning that way had a good tide under them. Those returning to Poole had plenty of wind to sail.
Boats attending: Wild Blue, Valantic, Wenimbi, Blue Lightning, Windhover, Out of the Blue, Eye of Horus, Cava. Lymington crews from Baloo, Mistral, Taiga and Aloni.
Thanks to Julian for putting the rally together, and to Sue and Steve who were host boat while Julian was away cheering his grandson on in a cart race in Switzerland.
After an unseasonably foggy dawn, a total of nine Maxis made the trip down to Yarmouth in a lively westerly breeze. Given that all the boats were coming from the Solent area, this meant an interesting beat down the western Solent in a wind against tide situation.
The traditional MOA pontoon party started at 6:30 where we were joined by Peter and Joan Lloyd (Walk of Life) who live on the Island and Bob and Nicky from Zuma Blue who were due to sail down but had propellor problems so valiantly made it be car and ferry! We were also joined by Jeff and Lynn from Belgium who just happened to be in Yarmouth on their 1050 Umi.
Dinner was at the Royal Solent Yacht Club where we were looked after extremely well by the very friendly team there. This is always a favourite destination, and a delicious meal was enjoyed by all.
Sunday morning continued to be sunny and breezy and boats set of back to various home ports, this time with the benefit of a more relaxed downwind sail. We saw gusts in the high twenties off Calshot on Asante so were pleased we taken the lazy option of a ‘jib only’ sail home.
Boats attending:-
Asante, Aloni, Blue Lightning, Lapis Lady, Leda of Hamble, Moon Dust, Out of the Blue, Walk of Life (by car), Wild Blue, Windhover and Zuma Blue (by car).
Please see below links to the AGM documents for the meeting 29th March 2025:
Notice of AGM and agenda: https://maxiowners.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/M-O-A-AGM-2025.doc
AGM/Rally invite: https://maxiowners.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MOA-AGM-RALLY-INVITE-29.03.25.docx
AGM menu: https://maxiowners.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MYC-Visiting-Club-Menu-2025.pdf