Maxi Rally to Poole – 14th-15th 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