Half-term rally/cruise
Solent to Weymouth, 29 May-4 June
Report by Geoff Turner, photos by Ken and Sue Surplice and Geoff Turner
Of course, this rally didn't go as planned! On Saturday, a strong south-westerly made Christchurch entrance a bad idea,
but a few boats made it to Lymington. Perversely, Cleo went from Lymington back to the Hamble. On Sunday, although
Abacus and Macoma left Lymington, more boats arrived, and about 18 of us enjoyed a meal at Prezzo - joined belatedly by Vol au Vent, delayed because the keel wouldn't go down (the
start of a saga!).
On Monday, we all set off for Weymouth. However, there now wasn't enough wind! Cleo and Vol au Vent motored
the whole way, but the rest of us attempted to sail and therefore got no further than Poole. This is when the fleet split
up, and didn't get back together until Thursday.
After a wet Tuesday, when only Dawn went on to Weymouth, the sun came out and the rest of the week was lovely.
Most of us met up again on Thursday for a barbeque in Bramblebush Bay in Poole harbour; then on Friday we returned to Lymington
to be ready for Saturday's Round the Island (or not!) race.
Boats attending (at some stage or other!): Abacus, Blythe Spirit, Cleo, Dawn, Macoma, Miss Fidget, Niquaydi, Rascal, Vol
au Vent