Langstone Sailing Club , which is at the head of Langstone Harbour, is our venue for Saturday. Hopefully their walk-ashore pontoons will be installed by then and we can raft up. Martin Watson is the link man and will keep us informed if installation is delayed. Toilet and shower facilities are available using a code. Access is HW ±2 hours (HW Portsmouth 1125, 4.3m) depending on draft. The club bar is open at lunchtime, but not in the evening. There are some convenient pubs nearby for the evening. Northney Marina , in Chichester Harbour, is an alternative for mooring but a 20 minute walk from the sailing club.

On Sunday it is proposed to sail to Bembridge beach (enter Bembridge Harbour and turn immediately left) arriving a little after high water (HW Portsmouth 1204, 4.4m). As the tide ebbs a ‘tea party’ will be hosted at 16.00 (LW Portsmouth 1715, 1.0m) by Macoma to celebrate the ruby wedding of our Commodore and his wife. Tea, sandwiches and scones will be the order of the day with cake and bubbly for the toasts. Dress code will be hats for ladies and bow ties for gentlemen.

Attendees are to make their own arrangements for evening sustenance. A BBQ might be in order if the weather is good but it is early season. There are several pubs and eating places in the Bembridge area.

High tide on Monday is lunchtime (HW Portsmouth 1239, 4.5m) so there may be time for a ‘birthday breakfast for Macoma and its skipper’ before we all leave.

A prior knowledge of possible numbers attending would be useful but if you have to make a late decision, just arrive!

Contacts:

Langstone: Martin Watson, Tel: 01403 752907 Mob: 07711 185124, Email: martinkwatson AT yahoo.co.uk

Bembridge: Carol & Phil Walden, Tel: 01329 234222, Mob: 07787 575369, Email: phillip.walden AT live.co.uk

I dropped into the Langstone SC on the way down to my boat at Gosport on the 16th and happened upon the committee member tasked with the pontoon project. He thinks it will all be in place by the 2nd May and in addition because they have a Cowes rally that weekend, there will be swinging moorings available if necessary. I said I thought there might be about a dozen boats around 27 ft and he said that shouldn't be a problem. and regarding the Moody 31 that draws 1.2M he said that should be fine as well.

I have taken some pictures and am attaching them here, as you can see, there are three pontoons in place already, each 8M long and the other two to the left will be placed on the shoreside end, over the rocky mud area on the foreshore and then the walk ashore part seen sitting on the two pontoons to the left, will be placed at the shoreside end. For lift keelers the outer three pontoons are really the only practical ones due to the rocky nature of the foreshore, in addition you can probably see that the righthand side is a bit shallower (westward side) and there is a hook of land beyond it, submerged at high water, therefore boats should enter through the gap in the old railway supports on the right, proceed straight on till past the end of the pontoon but before the slipway which is visible before the road bridge, then turn to port and come alongside and if wanting to use the west ward side come in close to the end of the pontoons before diverting to that side. You can see an old pile there at the moment but that will be removed by then.

The committee member said that although he would not be there that weekend, there will be a committee member on hand to sort out electronic fobs for access to the club. Be also aware that the work boat just visible on the end of the pontoons, will be moored on the western side at the far end when it is all in place.

The pontoon and walk ashore are now in place and the only thing they haven't done yet is install a safety ladder at the end in case anyone falls in.

I will be going down this Saturday evening to meet up with David Cox the Commodore, have a drink and he will show me the finished article and also give me some fobs for access to the Club.

I don't know how many boats will attend the rally yet but will see how may fobs I can get. He has advised that the bar is open for drinks on Saturday and Sunday lunchtime but no food. Of the two pubs, the Royal Oak  though small and limited in size is far superior food wise to the Ship Inn so a knowledge of numbers attending would be a help as I can try to book us in their early on as it's the May bank holiday, may get booked up quite quickly.

Langstone on the Saturday is all as before.

The berths are not at the Fareham SMBC clubhouse but are at the holding pontoon at Salterns. The pontoon is the first place on port side immediately after going under the pylons, where Macoma is berthed. Do not go further upstream and try to moor at the club as Lugger racing will be in full swing. If you arrive around lunchtime, moor at Salterns and then walk up to the club for a drink. We have checked out with Commodore Dee and the mooring master to see if this is OK. Hopefully Dee will join us for breakfast on the Monday.

We can then have our tea party on the pontoon at 4.00 pm on the Sunday. Don't forget your posh hats and bow ties! If it is too rough to get out of Chichester or Langstone then people can come by car. Fareham town is a short walk away for evening eats and drinks. The club will be shut in the evening.

Hope to see you at Langstone.

Phil Walden (Macoma) Tel Nos. 01329 234222 Mob. 07787 575369