Rally reports 2024
The weather in October can be very changeable, so it is always of some concern what we would be faced with on the day of the Hamble Rally. As it was, Saturday saw fair winds with some threatening clouds, but the rain stayed away, allowing all the boats to arrive at Universal Marina dry, although it was a little chilly.
We had 9 boats attend the rally, Lookin Foor Kloos and Aloni from Lymington, Jurate, Vertigo and Wenimbi from Portsmouth, Asante, Amazing Grace and the Samms arrived by car and Blue Lighting made the epic journey of about 200 meters from their home berth.
As is tradition with Maxi Rallies, we had pre dinner drinks and nibbles. Before heading to Banana Wharf Restaurant for dinner. On arrival at the restaurant, we received a warm greeting and were directed to the upper deck dining area where we were served more wine and great food, enjoyed by all.
This was the final rally of the 2024 sailing season and we will look forward to meeting up again next season.
The first Rally of the 2025 season will be to Marchwood Yacht Club on the weekend of 29th / 30th March, when we will also hold the Maxi Owners Association AGM.
The weather was very changeable in the run up to the Cowes Maxi rally with some forecasting strong winds to come in on the way back but it did not put any of the Maxis off and in the end, it was far more benign that expected.
The sail to Cowes was very pleasant with a 8-10kn westerly breeze and quite warm. 8 Maxis were alongside in Cowes Yacht Haven by the end of the afternoon, these were: Lookin Foor Kloos, Leda of Hamble, Aloni, Asante, Maxi Magic, Amazing Grace, Blue Lightning and Wenimbi.
We had the traditional pontoon party at 6pm where we were joined also by Bill and Sue McFarlane who arrived by ferry, leaving Out of the Blue on her Cowes mooring. We made a good impression on Carolyn’s nibbles and the drinks before heading off to the Island Sailing Club for dinner. They looked after us very well.
Wednesday greeted us with some very heavy showers meaning that some of the early departures to catch the west going tide got very wet! Frankie and Jamie Pride heading for Poole said they had all seasons in a day – no wind to 25kn, rain and sunshine.
The next rally is on the Hamble on 12 – 13th October where we look forward to meeting up again.
Boats attending:- Aloni, Asante, Blue Lightning, Cava, Lookin Foor Kloos, Wild Blue
The first rally of the season after the AGM was a mid week rally to Bembridge on the 16th and 17th April. Neap tides with low of 1.8m at 12:20 and a high of 3.8m at 18:40 were, in retrospect, not ideal but with a dry day with fresh westerly breeze meant a fairly easy passage for boats from the west and we all managed to get in without too many mishaps at around 1600.
Being early in the season we held the drinks party in Asante’s cockpit tent rather than on the pontoon and managed to squeeze 10 of us in. Rob and Julie on Moondust had to cancel unfortunately at the last minute having had their launch and re-rigging delayed, which meant a bit of re-jigging of the safari supper arrangements but everyone mucked in and a great evening was had by all.
Wednesday morning was still a little fresh but mainly dry and we split into two groups, one walking to the Mermaid Gin distillery near Seaview and the other across the harbour and around the coast to The Crab and Lobster for lunch. Those of us who walked to the distillery managed to resist to gin tasting session in order to stay alert for the walk back.
We were joined in the late afternoon by Chris and Margaret on Cava who managed to creep across the bar in time to join us for dinner at Brading Haven Yacht Club. The harbour taxi kindly stayed on a bit late to take us up there although again the low spring tides caused a few issues with some interesting manoeuvring in the water taxi. All was well and we had a delightful evening hosted by Brading Haven YC. The commodore was there to welcome us and we had an excellent meal served by very friendly and helpful staff.
We had arranged for a land taxi to transport us back after the meal but unfortunately we were let down. They didn’t turn up and we’re not answering the phone. Very annoying! Fortunately the bar manager at the yacht club was able to provide us with the number for Bembridge Taxis who kindly agreed to pick up 6 of us at the last minute. The walk back for the rest of the group was slightly complicated by the fact that the footpath along the harbour causeway was closed for repairs but we managed to negotiate our way over and around the barriers and all got back safely, just as the taxi arrived with the others.
Given the tidal restrictions, there was much discussion during the evening of when/if we would be able to get out. It was agreed that with HW at 08:20 a departure at around 07:30 would be feasible and give us a bit of rising tide should anything go wrong! Having organised the rally we felt obliged to head out first on Asante, followed by the remainder of the fleet at a respectable distance, all eagerly watching our depth gauges. In the end the passage out was uneventful and we all had a good sail back to our home ports.
Andy Horwood
Asante
This was the first Poole rally for some years. It was good to be back there.
Five boats attended:
Zuma Blue with Bob Miller and Nicky Hinde
Eye of Horus with Kevin Manville and Andrew
Leda of Hamble with David and David
Blue Lightning with Peter and Sarah Sands
Aloni with Sue and Steve Harridge
In addition, Rob, Frankie and Jamie who joined for the Saturday evening but, being local, their boat stayed on her mooring.
Various crews had lively passages to Poole, some with gusts up to Force 7, but all seemed to have enjoyed the trip even if was bordering on type 2 fun (the sort one enjoys after the event rather than during it).
Kevin and Andrew had arranged some excellent Asian nibbles for the pontoon party (on a newly purchased picnic table, subjected to some strong winds during the evening) after which we retired to Da Vinci’s Restaurant who looked after us all very well.
The wind was generally gentler for the trip home on Sunday, something of a relief.