Trafalgar Wharf Rally

Sat 11th September 2010

Report by Martin Hopton, photos by Geoff Turner

"Mud, mud, glorious mud, - nothing quite like it for cooling the blood", so the Seals found out when sitting comfortably in their newly-found venue for the early September rally at Trafalgar Wharf in Portsmouth Harbour. This used to be the Vosper Thorneycroft shipyard and has a small and very sheltered dock with pontoons, a newly-built shower block and other facilities. Being somewhere different from the usual rally spots, this turned out to be ideal for lift keel boats.

Nine boats arrived on the top of a high spring tide. The crews were joined by others who came by car. After informal drinks on the pontoon, the group enjoyed a short walk along the tow path into Porchester Village. Twenty-five members and guests sat down for a pleasant evening meal at The Cormorant before returning for a very peaceful night on board.

The following morning a small group relaxed in the sun over a fine breakfast at The Waterside Café which is on site, while waiting for the tide to lift the boats to enable them to depart.

It was generally agreed this is a good place for future Seal rallies. We were well looked after and made to feel very welcome at Trafalgar Wharf.

Boats in attendance

Dawn	Parker 21	Cleo	SuperSeal 26
Zephyr	Parker 235	Rascal	SuperSeal 26
Jans Express	Parker 27	Red Seal	SuperSeal 26
Blythe Spirit	Parker 285
Lucky Devil	Parker 325
Shemar	Parker 335