Anonymous wrote:
Hi Everyone,
The five junks that attended the recent Brixham Heritage Regatta had so much fun that the returning Solent-based boats decided that we should try and meet up again this summer. So, I have reserved a space on the pontoons alongside Lymington YC for four to six boats (three confirmed to date) and arranged for us to have a table for supper on 21st at the YC. If you would like to join us, please do get in touch - you would be welcome with or without a boat. There are various options for sailing on the 22nd which would be negotiable with the skippers and may drop you off on the Isle of Wight or the mainland. One boat is coming from the River Medina on the Island and two from Ashlett Creek near Southampton. Any cruising is weather-dependant but the tides allow for trips in all directions! Any questions - please ask!
Just to let you all know, four boats attended the rally at Lymington, three JR and a member from Ashlett Creek whose boat is currently a pointy top but has had a JR boat in the past. It was a very slow drift from the Medina and Ashlett to Lymington with hardly any wind but a helpful tide but we all arrived to a helpful berthing master who rafted us up two by two on an accessible pontoon. Edward Hooper (unable to bring Amiina due to a busy diary) was eager to sail so Minnow cast off with myself, Edward and Chris Edwards of Ivory Gull aboard. We diced with ferries and hoards of motor boats, yachts and dinghies in the narrow constraints of Lymington River whilst Edward and Chris threw Minnow around with anticipated expertise (we only touched the soft mud once!). Minnow's new JR rig (the product of combined JRA wisdom and David Tyler's generously donated sailplan plus Sebastian Hentschel of tuchwerkstatt.de beautifully made sails with rigging by Steve Peake and special fittings engineered by our son were much admired. It is good to have resurrected an abandoned boat (Freedom 21) and returned her to active service; she is a worthy successor to Alanouwoly. We returned to the pontoon under sail and I am sure our progress will have turned a few heads! The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting on each other's boats and then we were joined by Richard Brooksby and Chris' wife Jo for a lovely meal at Lymington YC; sadly my Steve and Andy's wife were unable to join us as there is a strict no dog policy - Andy's wife stayed at home with their new puppy whilst my Steve drew the short straw and took Meg for a long walk. The forecast for the next day gave more hot sunshine and a light easterly breeze. Sadly Steve and I needed to be home that evening so endured a rather tedious motorsail against wind and tide till late afternoon when better conditions prevailed. But the Solent views can be admired at leisure when one is not making much progress!! However the rest of the fleet opted for a sail with wind and ebb tide to Totland Bay with a plan to return to Newtown Harbour on the late afternoon flood tide. I am sure that plan will have worked wonderfully and that lazing and possibly swimming will have been enjoyed - please let us know Mr Fox, Ivory Gull and Kamino.