Cowes Yacht Haven Rally 2024

Tuesday 3rd - Wednesday 4th September

This weekday rally was originally planned to set off on Tuesday 20th August, but in the face of the advance Met. Office warning of strong gusty winds, it was prudently cancelled, thus avoiding a hard windward slog to Cowes, in the sort of sea conditions that could be predicted by a spring tide opposed by a strong westerly. Fortunately, it was possible to rebook the marina berths and the table reservation at the Island Sailing Club, so the rally was rescheduled for Tuesday 3rd September.

The weather proved to be much kinder on 3rd September and the five participating boats (Jacob Faithful, Fairwind, New Horizon, Hobo and Wind Song) set out for Cowes with a steadily rising barometer and 10 - 12 knots of a WNW breeze. Fairwind had arrived in the Solent the previous day from the west, having spent several days around Poole Harbour and Studland Bay, and arrived at Cowes Yacht Haven followed gradually throughout the afternoon by Jacob Faithful and New Horizon - Hobo and Wind Song arriving as the last of the west- going tidal flow petered out. All of the Dell Quay boats had been allocated an alongside berth, grouped together in their own enclave in the marina, conveniently situated next to the exit ramp from the pontoons.

Skippers and crews gathered for a drinks party, hosted by rally leader Esmond, on Jacob Faithful before strolling into Cowes and onwards to The Island Sailing Club for a further round of drinks, in the fading evening sunshine, on the terrace overlooking Cowes Roads where there was a race finish to watch.

Conversations were punctuated by intermittent loud blasts from the Club's airhorn overhead, resulting in some spilled drinks, signalling the finishers in the last club race of the evening series, known as the "Bang and Go Back Race". Apparently, the sailing instructions to all classes were to start together, sail the course until the leading boat rounded the most distant mark, at which point the signal was sounded and all boats then did an about turn and sailed back around the course to the finish - in theory all finishing together. Oh, and all crews were encouraged to sail attired in fancy dress!

Dell Quay members had a table reserved by Esmond, for dinner in a conservatory area adjacent to the main dining area with a good range of menu choices to suit all tastes and at good value. The Island Sailing Club post- race dinner held in the main dining area was a fairly lively affair, with a prize giving and an enjoyably raucous end of term vibe.

On the Wednesday morning Hobo, Jacob Faithful and Fairwind made their departure soon after breakfast to make best use of the east going tide back to their respective moorings around Chichester Harbour. New Horizon and Wind Song departed later in the morning, staying on in the Western Solent. The forecast was for the weather to remain fair for the morning with cloud increasing by late afternoon. The wind had veered further into the northerly sector overnight, but becoming lighter and making the late morning return passage to Chichester predominantly a mainsail assisted motor-sail.

Ron Foden