SOCA held a Cruising in Company event based from Hythe Marina the home of Ariel Spirit traveling to Shepards Marina in Cowes. Martyn, Ariel Spirit’s skipper organised this event remotely from his new home in Hythe. Five craft from the SOCA fleet took part in this event all traveling from different locations to converge at Hythe. This was  the largest attendance for an event like this for a while, boats and members.
Below is the story of this event as seen from each of the attending vessels starting however with a summary from Peter our guest from BOSG who gives his views on the sailing event.

Report on South Coast sailing 10–12 September 2022 from Peter (BOSG Commodore). 

I had the pleasure of being offered a berth on the Stevenage Offshore Sailing Club sailing event on the Solent.  I picked up Alex, SOCA Commodore, and we arrived at Hythe Marina Village on Friday afternoon.  One of the SOCA Members lives on the Marina, we had a pleasant time there with drinks and a BBQ before ‘our’ boat, a Moody 33 complete with resident dog, arrived having sailed single handed plus dog from Chatham, (see log below). We retired for a comfortable night in the Marina.  The Marina has lock gates and the simplest exit is around high water, we departed 11:00 ish.  An easy motorsail / sail took us to anchor in Osborne Bay, IOW.  Another SOCA boat passed over provisions for a late lunch.  This is only the second time I have anchored here: like the first earlier this summer, again I found it a fairly uncomfortable anchorage.  We motored into Cowes and by the evening 5 ( yes, 5) SOCA boats were in the Shepards Wharf Marina. 
Our, by now large, party had reservations for eats at a pub in Cowes.  This all went well.  The following morning we set off to sail back to Marina Village. Other SOCA boats dispersed to various locations, ‘our’ Moody was spending a few days at the Marina.  Later that evening I took Alex back to Welwyn and returned home.
Good fun in good company.  SOCA Members offered a particularly warm welcome to me and they expressed the wish to work with BOSG wherever appropriate.  One suggestion was that we ask RYA for a special deal for small 20-30 Member clubs like BOSG & SOCA that find the RYA subscription a financial burden that could perhaps be covered by a joint deal.  Hope we can have a BOSG boat or 2 next year in the Rally.               

Ariel Spirit

Ariel Spirit is now berthed in Hythe Marina. The journey south to her new home in the Solent is covered in the post ” Ariel Spirit Sails South to new Home May 2022“

Martyn, Sian and family hosted a very enjoyable, and filling, barbecue for the arrival of the SOCA fleet at their home berth in  Hythe Marina on the Saturday evening.

The next morning they departed with the rest of the fleet from Hythe to Cowes having tide with them but without a favourable wind. For this trip she was crewed by Martyn, Sian, Phillip, Brioney & John.
Ariel Spirit stopped off at Osborne Bay for lunch with other SOCA fleet vessels, before proceeding to Cowes.


After some onboard drinks in Shepards Marina Cowes the crew joined the rest of the SOCA attendees at the Anchor Inn for dinner.
Ariel Spirit returned to Hythe Marina on Monday.

Jetstream

Tanya, Terry & Stew aboard Jetstream

Jetstream is berthed at Port Solent on the South Coast. Skipper Terry,  and crew Tanya and Stewart travelled to Port Solent on Saturday morning.
Once Jetstream was prepared she set off just missing the 11:30 free flow period through the lock to join the rest of the fleet at Hythe.
Hythe marina was a new destination for all of the crew, Primarily a residential marina, it is quite pricey for visitors but a lovely place to overnight.
Martyn & Sian welcomed the crews to their new home and provided a splendid BBQ dinner for all  the SOCA crews. Breakfast was enjoyed in the Be-Be cafe in the town, and is highly recommended.


The boats in the fleet set sail on the Sunday and anchored in Osborne Bay where they were joined by John, single handed on Saluki.

Jetstream then joined the four other  SOCA boats berthed in Cowes Shephards Marina and dined at the Anchor Inn for a jolly evening.

SOCA Crews at Anchor Inn

On Monday Jetstream headed for home port at Port Solent. As usual there was plenty of activity on the Solent. We watched the activities of Lamar unloading stone, dodging hovercrafts and ferries, abseiling on Spinnaker Tower, Warrior and HMS Prince of Wales with ensigns at half mast.
Jetstream’s crew’s thanks go to the organisers and all our SOCA friends for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend’s sailing.

Saluki

Saluki Skippered by John is a Hunter Pilot normally berthed at Southsea  he sailed her solo from Southsea Marina to Cowes on the Sunday afternoon stopping for lunch at Osborne bay along with the majority of the fleet.  She returned home from Cowes on Monday setting off at about 08:20  and motored for the first 5 miles, then sailed (light winds) until just after passing the gap in submarine fence off Portsmouth. The tide was about to turn at that point and Saluki entered Langstone Harbour just before noon.

“Morning Linda”

John listened to Southampton VTS in the Solent and several times heard the operator say “Morning Linda” which seemed unusual. He later slowed to stay out of the way of a car carrier and discovered she was named just that (see photo).

HMS Kent, note White Ensign at half mast

Just before crossing the main channel into Portsmouth, Saluki had to halt to let a Frigate pass ahead.
The accompanying SBS rib came in her direction to make sure it got no closer (see photo).  John couldn’t attend all of the event but sends his thanks to Martyn for organising an enjoyable get together.

Hypertonic

Sailing Vessel Hypertonic, a Moody 336, had been in the Solent for a while before the date of the South Coast Cruising in company event. She was relaunched at the end of June after receiving some copper coat remedial works at Suffolk Yacht Harbour Levington.
As a MDL Freedom Berthing member, and so not to incur any mooring fees, the boat was quickly moved across the River Orwell to Woolverstone to finish fitting out and a shakedown cruise up the River Stour and back was conducted.

Home Berth Chatham

Hypertonic was then sailed back back to MDL Chatham Maritime Marina.
Due to having no time constraints and as this was a single handed sailing trip Wolfie decided he would do this over 3 days stopping at anchorage’s on the River Colne and Stangate Creek on the Medway and taking full advantage of the springs flood tides to carry Wolfie and Bramble to  Chatham.

Hypertonic’s Trip to the Solent

First Mate Bramble

Day 1 Chatham to Ramsgate The journey was via the Medway,  and the Copperas & Gore channels. Skipper Wolfie was accompanied by crew member Bramble (first mate). The wind was a South Westerly F4 allowing broad reach sailing.

Day2 Ramsgate to Dover This leg was via the Ramsgate channel. The wind was a southerly F6 requiring motoring to achieve the destination.

Eastbourne Bound

Day 3 Dover to Eastbourne 
Day three of this trip meant passing Dungeness whilst en route for Eastbourne Harbour. The wind for this day was a Force 5 Southerly veering Southwesterly which required close hauled sailing.

Day 4 Eastbourne to Northney
This part of the journey was via the Looe channel, passing the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head before entering Chichester Harbour to overnight at Northney Harbour at the north of the harbour just south of the A27 where Skylark had started its Solent cruise the day before..
Wind was a Force 2 in a Southerly direction.
Motor sailing was the order of the day due to fog.

Day 5 Northney to Hythe
This was Saturday the 10th of September and this leg allowed Hypertonic to join the rest of the SOCA fleet at Hythe. The wind was a South Easterly Force 5 allowing broad reach sailing

Day 6 Hythe to Cowes via Osborne Bay
Wolfie was joined by SOCA crew members Alex & Andrew plus BOSCA crew member Peter.  The wind was a F3 Southerly veering South Westerly. Sailing was close hauled with a combination of sailing and motor sailing

Day 7 Cowes to Hythe was the end of this voyage. The wind for this leg was F2/3 North Easterly allowing  close reach sailing occasionally  motor sailing

Skylark

Skylark a Shrimper 19 Mk1 is normally berthed at North Fambridge Marina on the River Crouch and was crewed by John & Geff. Following is John’s log of the trip.

This year for a change, SOCA organized a sailing event in the Solent as well as the East Coast. attended by 5 boats including Skylark. Because of Geff’s family commitments, we could not get Skylark launched before the planned start date, so we decided to take her down on the preceding weekend so that she could be launched for the following Friday. We drove down to Northney Marina. Leaving Hemel Hempstead about 8am on a clear sunny day. Rigged Skylark and left her to be launched sometime during the week. Returned to Hemel later in the day, Geff then set off home to W G City.
The following Friday Geff and I set off for Northney Marina arriving at lunchtime. We headed off at 12:45 and as usual had a headwind!! Motoring down the Emsworth Channel to Hayling Island Sailing Club, some 3 Nautical Miles, the headwind strengthening as we went. On reaching the West Pole 1Nm beyond the Heads we turned towards the gap in the submerged Horse Sand barrier. The Head wind had significantly increased and, because we had a strong tide in our favour. Wind against tide caused the seas to increase in size hitting us just off the port bow spray continually came over the side of the boat soaking me thoroughly and Geff did not enjoy making lunch below in the cabin in those conditions!
After 5Nm we came to the gap in the barrier and decided that it would be too far to go on to Hythe Marina and so we turned into Portsmouth Harbour and settled on berthing in Haslar Marina. After a few minutes wait we were sent into an empty berth surrounded by 30ft + boats. Having covered 14Nm a hard 3 and a hours later at 16:10. We did not get rained on during the day but my Lifejacket was well soaked. On putting it in the cabin I noticed it was showing a flashing light and on investigation I found that the safety light was flashing so I opened the zip and dried the light and turned it off. I was glad it didn’t decide to inflate!!

After shutting up Skylark we caught a ferry over to Portsmouth and following a long walk arrived at a pub “The Spice Island” and had a good meal.


Whilst waiting for the ferry at Gosport we caught a sight of the PS Waverley as she left Portsmouth Harbour. We wondered if she was following us from out trip going to the ISW in Scotland.

We both slept like logs! After a tiring day. The next morning after Breakfast we left Haslar Marina and set off for Hythe Marina at 11:00. Wind NW F3 Still on the nose. ‘Motoring yet again’. 1 hour later we had reached Stokes Bay on a calm sea. 13:06 saw us off Fawley Terminal and heading into Southampton Water.

Having covered another 5Nm in Cloudy sun but still a headwind, 13:38 found us beside Netley Great Dome and 14:30 saw us safely moored up in Hythe Marina berth 26C courtesy of a berth owner who lent us his as he wasn’t using it. We had traveled 14Nm

After a breakfast had by all at a local café in Hythe Village. Martyn informed us that the Marina lock gates were open and on free flow, so we quickly got ready and left our mooring at 11:20.

At last, a helpful breeze F3 ESE and 12:40 found us at the entrance to the Hamble river dodging all the weekend sailors returning home. Up until then we had been sailing jib only. When we tried to raise the mainsail, we found that the peak halyard had jammed around a shackle pin at the top of the mast so were unable to raise the main. After undoing the halyard, we were able to free it and at last get the mainsail up. By this time the tide was at full speed taking us towards the Needles.

Unbeknown to us our leader had sent a WhatsApp message that they were going to Osborne Bay, but not having any Wi-Fi we didn’t get this message and pressed on to Cowes, and Sheppard’s Marina.  14:15 found us in a berth awaiting the rest of the fleet. Come 17:00 they turned up having had a hard sail against the tide getting to Osborne Bay before anchoring for an afternoon tea stop.


Evening drinks on “Ariel Spirit” followed by a walk into Cowes for a group evening meal in a local pub.

07:30 the next morning saw us taking an early start. Only Stewart was about and helped us off on our voyage back to Northney Marina with a good wind and following tide. 08:00 found us beside Peel Buoy off Osborne Bay.

A cracking sail got us passing Horse Sand Fort at 0900 reaching West Pole outside Chichester Harbour and 11:00 found us moored up in Northney Marina having covered 14Nm in three and a half hours, waiting to be lifted out and onto our trailer.12:00 saw Skylark mast lowered and packed ready for the tow home. A quick lunch in the Marina café and we were on our way.
A really good time was had despite the adverse winds on the first 2 days. Thanks to Geff for his company on Skylark and the company of the other SOCA boats. Everyone said that they had had a really good time.

Thank also go to Martyn for his excellent organisation and hospitality.

Honfleur  East coast Sailng Weekend to Foxes Ipswich 28/5/2022

The crew of four Alex, Andrew, Richard and John all turned up at about 18.30 Friday at Walton Yacht Basin at about 18.30 Friday 27/5. We treated ourselves to fish and chips that night before departing the following morning at about 10..00 at high tide when the gate opens. Before leaving we erected the club flag, commodores and vice commodores flag in a hopeful attempt to promote the club. We had a very pleasant trip up Foundry Reach and the Walton Channel in the sunshine  with little wind.

These conditions continued all day although we did try to sail a bit up the Orwell but had to give this up as a bad job. We eventually docked at Foxes at about 16.00, had a beer before going over to the new bar restaurant where we met up with Stewart,Tanya,Paul and Denise, who had arrived by car. We all had a thoroughly enjoyable evening their and Stewart and Tanya came back to Honflleur for a Gin and Tonic with ice and lemon and finally 1 litre of Gin later we all retired.
“Post from Commodore”

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