Category Archives: Sailing

Jetstream on Shakedown Trial.

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Rear Commodore’s SOCA Pennant flies on Jetstream for the first time in 2022.

Terry, with the help of Geff, completed the task of preparing Jetstream for the 2022 sailing season on Wednesday 14th April and then completed a shakedown trial in the Solent.
Arriving early Tuesday evening the opportunity was taken to install the Genoa as the conditions were perfect for that activity, no wind. Once completed it was time for a nice evening meal at the adjacent Tapas restaurant.


After a quick breakfast on Wednesday it was time to put up the mainsail, again it was possible to do this in the berth as there was little to no wind. Once all reefing lines were installed that just left the canopy to fit and Jetstream was ready to take to the waves.


Leaving at close to high tide through the Port Solent lock gates we entered the upper reaches of Portsmouth Harbour.

After motoring for a while, the time was right to test that the main sail had been rigged correctly, the only item needing attention was rerouting the reefing lines.
There was a bit of excitement before this could be completed provided by two Police Boats and the “SBS” in a rib as they continually practised the boarding of another ship on the move, all armed with machine guns, (assumed to be empty!).

Once the entertainment was finished and the reefing lines sorted, Jetstream left the harbour confines, and it was time to sail.

The wind was a pleasant Force 2/3 with light gusts and the sun shone brightly through a clear sky, sun lotion should have been used.

Jetstream sailed over to near Bembridge then returned to Port Solent, passing 2 unusual craft on the way back, HMS Severn P282, believed to have been recently assigned to Pritti Patel’s channel fleet along with a Whirlwind helicopter that flew low overhead.

Approaching the harbour entrance, the vessel Bravewind, an unloaded Heavy Load Carrier, that usually carries items such as Wind Turbine Blades. passed close by.
Jetstream returned to its berth after 10 hours away covering 25Nm in light winds having had a successful shakedown trial.

The next day, Thursday, Jetstream’s crew awoke to thick mist and zero winds amd called off their plans for a morning sail.

Terry and Geff then decided to have an early lunch and then return home to try to avoid the Bank Holiday traffic, something they both failed to do.

September Rally up the East coast

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Taken from Ariel Spirit with Honfleur to Port and Skylark to Starboard

Sailing trips appear even harder to organise but three boats made the four day rally a great success and all of those participating enjoyed the great weather with gentle breezes that assisted us by coming from the right direction.

Honfleur, Alex’s Nauticat 33, had slight technical issues with over zealous crew and chief winchman (Wolfie). Genoa winch now needs some TLC over the winter lay up.

John and crewmate Derek on the Shrimper Skylark sailed the farthest coming from North Fambridge on the Crouch to Bradwell and then Brightlingsea on Saturday and Harwich on Sunday. Strange how the elders of the fleet sail the longest route in the smallest boat, Well done John and Derek.

Ariel Spirit had former Soca member John Robertson taking time out from his narrowboating around the uk network to join in some offshore fun.

Highlights were dinner in Colne Yacht Club where we were met by Oonagh, club secretary and made very welcome and a very convivial dinner in the Alma at Harwich where John R enjoyed a very large Lobster.

Bringing Natsumi back from the Baltic – Sept 2019

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Bringing Natsumi a Sunbeam 37 back from the Baltic.

A phone call from my sailing friend David informing me that he had successfully purchased a replacement yacht after recently selling his Moody 336 leaving him without a boat for the summer.

After looking at a number of different yachts in various countries David had settled on an Austrian built Sunbeam.

Although nearer than the other Sunbeam 37 he had seen in Croatia, Natsumi was still some distance from its new home port of Tollesbury.

To hear about the trip from Laboe in Germany back to Amsterdam you will have to come to SOCA in the new year when I will talk about the first half of the trip home.

Martyn Reed

Flag Officers Afloat – July 2019

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This is the first time in our club’s history that there have been three female flag officers, a first for SOCA and probably unusual among sailing clubs.

Commodore Tanya Warren was joined by VC Debby Taylor and RC Dee Hilliard for a weekend sailing Sigma 33 Wabbit on the River Orwell. Along with fellow crew Stewart and Adam the SOCA flag officers headed down river with wind gusting 6, the number 2 jib and 1 reef in the main. Perfecting their tacking towards the Port of Felixstowe cranes the huge bank of dark cloud they were hoping to avoid seemed intent on getting closer. It was time to turn tail and find a buoy for lunch. Too late! Giant hailstones rained down, thunder boomed, visibility was limited, all they could do was wipe the rain out of their eyes and hold a safe position in the river. The downpour didn’t last for too long and was soon followed by bright skies. They hooked a buoy with ease and ate lunch while drying in the sunshine.

On the Sunday they had a delay in the lock when a yacht lost it’s dinghy and recovery was required “pass the dinghy to the right hand side”. There were lighter winds on this day and it was a slow tack and reach down the river. While running back the Wabbit visitors were entertained with the River Orwell Treasure Hunt. Taking bearings on latitudes along the river to spot various treasures, some of you may remember this from the 2017 SOCA Autumn Rally.

Holland Trip – Summer 2014

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Three boats went to Holland seperately in the summer of 2014. Martyn on Ariel Spirit (Moody 34), Richard on Baltic Cloud (Finmar 361) and Paul on Jenny B (Island Packet 380), all with their own crews. 

Holland Trip 2014
Ariel Spirit in Holland

Ariel Spirit  arrived via Vlissingen having motored most of the way due to a lack of wind. Then spent 10 very hot days in July traveling up through the canal system taking in  Veere ,Zeirekzee Oudha Tonge,Steenberge returning via Goes and Middleburgh.

Baltic Cloud went to Dunkirk then travelled to Vlissingen and was met by customs officials 2 miles off shore, interested in their red diesel. After some interrogation they left for the canal system finally mooring at Middleburgh. They spent the next day exploring the waterways around the town in their tender and were only thwarted on reaching a bridge with only 450mm headroom. Fortunately they were not arrested for using their outboard engine as these are prohibited on the waterways.

Three men in a boat
Richard Alex and Andrew messing around in Middleburgh

Jenny B crossed to Ostende staying at the North Sea Yacht Club then travelled to Vlissingen to enter the inland waterways. They followed the “Mast up” route to Amsterdam visiting Goes,Ghouda and Harlem carrying on up through the in shore route past the Friesland Islands into the Elbe. This was the start of their Baltic ARC cruise to St Petersburg taking in Germany, Sweden, Finland and Estonia a 5200mile trip