Maxi Rally to Poole – 14^th-15^th June 2014

When Neil Niven on Rubymax offered to help organise a rally in Poole, we jumped at the opportunity as Maxi Owners have not had a rally in Poole for some years.  Neil secured berths at the Parkstone Yacht Haven and booked South Deep for the evening meal while I co-ordinated with members and Carolyn prepared the pontoon refreshments – an excellent division of labour which made organising the rally simple.

Saturday saw light winds, first from the South East and later from the southwest.  While some got enough wind for a sail, Lookin Foor Kloos  motorsailed  from Lymington to Poole so that we would be in time to get organised to host the pontoon party.  We had 4 visiting boats in the marina with Lookin Foor Kloos, Suive, Blue Rider and Leda of Hamble – the last 2 having only just got back from the D-day celebrations in France.  The afternoon was spent with the usual boat hopping and catching up followed by the pontoon party at 6pm when we were joined by Neil and Debbie Niven (Rubymax), Rob and Trisha Ware (Maxi Magic) both from Poole and Andy and Sara Horwood (Asante) who had driven down.  While showers threatened (indeed we had Rob Ware standing over the food with his umbrella just after we got it out), just after 6pm the skies cleared and we had a lovely evening.  The South Deep proved an excellent choice with good food and excellent company.

Back on the pontoon after the meal, we said our goodbyes with Suive, Blue Rider and Leda of Hamble all having 6am starts to make the most of the tide with further to go.

The following morning after what would have been a very restful night except for a noisy, territorial oyster catcher, we had a more leisurely start on Lookin Foor Kloos.  When we eventually stuck our heads out, we were surprised to see Suive and Leda of Hamble still on the pontoon.  With the spring tides, we were all aground in the mud!  Blue Rider had been on the other side of G pontoon and was able to slip out.  In the Maxi, stress-free way, we waited for the tide to fill and one by one departed to travel back to the Solent.   The weather on Sunday was fair with a north-easterly force 4 to take us back in 3 tacks to Lymington.

With a successful and enjoyable Poole rally accomplished, let’s hope we can include a Poole rally in the programme for 2015.

Julian Trimming – Lookin Foor Kloos.

Participants

Asante                         Andy and Sara Horwood

Blue Rider                   Peter and Sue Stonestreet

Leda of Hamble          David Brown

Lookin Foor Kloos      Carolyn and Julian Trimming

Maxi Magic                 Trisha and Rob Ware

Ruby Max                   Neil and Debbie Niven

Suive                          Richard and Lorraine Sams, Rowena

27/28^th April 2013 Rally – Island Harbour Medina, Cowes

Those booked in for the Rally were rewarded with a splendid outing following the months of rain and chill winds. Till the last moment it seemed threatening, but the sun had been shining amid April showers, which were kept at bay for the important pontoon party. 25 crew and 10 boats berthed at the midday tide through the lock. As well as regular ralliers we welcomed new members and occasional attendees. The Island Harbour staff made us all very welcome berthing all together on one pontoon and checking we were satisfied. This was the Spring Rally testing all skippers to complete the winter refit. This location is a change from the usual spring rally at Bembridge and the response was favourable.

Island Harbour is now a lovely setting, well managed with the feel of berthing onto a village green in the quiet countryside. Members took the opportunity to visit Newport, some by a 1½ mile walk, others by ferry. Did they find the tea & cake shop waiting for them? In the other direction was a round the lanes walk to Whippingham and its interesting church looking like the Tardis with 4 rocket boosters on the corners of the tower.

Sue and Peter Stonestreet from Blue Rider prepared a super pontoon party, where tradition was maintained. There were great refreshments and nibbles, which everyone enjoyed as they chatted on the pontoon and an enthusiastic Maxi crowd was rewarded with some lovely Spring sunshine.

The restaurant at Island Harbour has now been taken under the site management, which is a good plan. The chef and staff set out to effectively please all. We selected from the menu early in the afternoon and they produced excellent service to each of the tables without delay.

Peter prepared a challenge to all as a study on an MAIB yacht collision report in order to study the lessons and enigmas that face sailors on dark foggy nights at sea. The synopsis can be seen elsewhere on the website. 

Boats present were:  Blue Rider,  Maxi Magic , Juliette , Lookin for Kloos, Moonshine Blues, Asante, Sea Wolf,  Resolute, Maxima and  Suive.

The destination for the Solent Area rally over the Easter weekend 24^th / 25^th April, was the Royal Clarence Marina, Portsmouth Harbor.

The trip to Portsmouth on the Sunday was in hot sunshine, more characteristic of a Mediterranean summer’s day than spring in the Solent.  Winds were light and so made for a relaxed trip.

A rendezvous between two of the boats gave an opportunity for a parcel of Easter eggs to be passed across just off Gilkicker.  I’m not sure whether it was the pitching or the catching but it was the fish that enjoyed the chocolate feast!!!

We were joined by new members Robert and Sally who became the proud owners of Moonshine Blues just three weeks ago.

Drinks on the pontoon gave us the opportunity to discuss completed winter refit projects and plans for the summer.  We then moved on to Mr G’s for dinner, more drinks and more conversation.

Mondays sail home was “Champagne Sailing” warm sunshine, smooth seas and 18 knots of wind; the conditions Maxis were created for.

Roll on the Summer.

Boats Represented
Asante, Blue Rider, Blue Lightning, Good Time Girl, Suive and Moonshine Blues

Maxi Rally 18^th/19^th September 2010

After a washout of a rally in October 2009 with only Blue Lightening on the quay but 4 others coming by car, the rally was moved back to September to hope for better weather – and what a result!

We were greeted with an almost cloudless sky.  Reports of the wind for the day were mixed from boats arriving with some needing to motor part of the time to reports of a brisk westerly 4 to 5 off Cowes, OK for the Solent boats to get to Lymington but good for Chris and Helen on Vouvray out of Poole.  By the time that Lookin Foor Kloos completed her trip to the rally (all the way from Lymington Yacht Haven!), Leda of Hamble, Maxima and Good Time Girl were already moored along the Dan Bran pontoon.  Maxis then started arriving thick and fast and then Blue Lightening and Asante arriving just before the pontoon party; Asante having been competing in a race out by the Nab before coming to Lymington.

With 9 Maxis on the pontoon soaking up the evening sun, the pontoon party was boosted by the Lymington based boats with Ken and Jackie (Morvan), Jim and Eileen (Second Rebellion) and Simon and Catherine (Juliette) joining and Rod and Carole (Neroli) from the East coast down for the boat show and to meet friends making a total of 26.  Carolyn managed the catering in her usual style, you can tell she enjoys it.

Supper was at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, a mere stagger from the end of the Dan Bran pontoon.  They did us proud with a private dining room to avoid us disrupting the youth regatta they were hosting at the same time.  Nigel and Christian on Misty sailed back after dinner but the rest of us settled in to a calm evening.

Sunday brought more good sunshine but a fresh westerly wind.  Vouvray was one of the first to leave to take advantage of the tide with the rest of the fleet leaving around lunchtime to catch the tide eastwards.

With Lymington continuing to be a popular destination not only for Maxis but also other clubs, booking early is key.  A date for your 2011 diary is September 17^th for next year’s Maxi rally, see you there.

Boats Represented:

Maxi Owners Association Rally – Chichester 2010

The weather forecast over the weekend of the 7^th / 8^th of August for the rally to Chichester was fair winds, sunshine and the odd shower, which proved to be right.  Not to be put off by the showers we had 8 boats with 17 crew gather in Northney Marina

Access to the Marina is restricted around low water which was at 15.00 so the fleet was split.  Some opting for an early start to arrive before LW and some having a more leisurely start arriving soon after LW, with one boat arriving a little too soon after, but with soft mud and a rising tide all was well (apart from being spotted by another maxi owner).

The customary “pontoon party” was a splendid affair arranged by David and Sandy Hodges who had also had the foresight to book the marquee at the marina for the event, a necessary luxury in light of the showers.

Gathering at 18.00, we were treated to a fine selection of wine and nibbles of gastronomic splendour.

The wine and conversation flowed throughout the evening, only interrupted during the short walk across the causeway in glorious sunshine to the Ship Inn where we were treated to good food and even more wine.

Sunday dawned with very light winds and sunshine.  We all met up in the marina café for coffee before departing as tide and time allowed.

Boats Attending

Maxima

Asante

Blue Rider

Leda of Hamble

Sea Wolf

Omega

Blue Lightning

Haskins Marine