South Coast Meet at Hamble Point

For our second meet of the season we were generously hosted by Mark Chapman of Global Yachts. Again we were blighted by last seasons stop start programme due to weather. The forecast on Saturday of strong winds and rough seas in all South Coast areas on Sunday probably put off some of the smaller boats. On the way to the Hamble we had some great sailing. For once a forecast of south west 3-4 occasional 5 was right, producing a cracking sail.

One of the highlights of the weekend was a maiden single handed voyage from Chichester Harbour by Graham Smith (Irish Eyes - Etap 32i), having left wife Nikki at home revising for her degree course. Graham chose to accept an offer of crew on the return with winds averaging F7 and gusting F8.

David and Carol (Zig Zag Etap 24s) were on there final leg of their holidays and sailed back to the Beaulieu River with three reefs and a handkerchief! Also with us was John and Ruth aboard Ceejay for their second event.

Finally we were joined by old friends Steven and Ann Price in the biggest of the fleet, their Etap 35i Galadriel. They diverted from the start of their holidays to join us.

We were well received by Mark of Global Yachts who had secured a pontoon end with maximum publicity once our full set of battle flags were up.

Pre-dinner drinks took place on ‘Solent Wind’ following which we all mixed up and adjourned to the Rising Sun in Warsash on the other side of the river utilizing Mark’s harbour boat for the ferry. We were joined by Mark and two of his friends interested in an Etap. As always there was the usual excellent dinner and exchange of nautical stories interspersed by the scores from the World Cup.

Overnight the wind rose significantly and Sunday broke with very low cloud and rain. The Navtex gave a forecast strong wind warning throughout the south coast area.

As the tide did not turn east until after two o’clock, most of us took the opportunity to meet Global Yachts for a coffee and to discuss the new Etap 28s due in early August.

We flew back to Chichester Harbour with only half the Genoa out and arrived at the bar with only a metre to spare and an hour’s wait for the tide to rise.

Many thanks to all who came and particularly to Mark for generously footing the mooring bill! Hope you all had a great weekend.