Shepards Wharf Marina, West Cowes Saturday 11 May 2024
Published 12:12 on 15 May 2024
This early May weekend was more like mid-August, blue skies, hot and with fair winds. Thanks to the 7 crews for attending. Particular mention? Chris and Janet (Osprey) flew in from Porto to be there, Tony and Judi (Meraki) ferried in from Brittany with a potential emergency 'home recall' communication hanging over them and of course Dick (Moody Maid), coming from London having lost all his cards the previous weekend. Frantic calls to the bank no doubt stressing the importance of the upcoming week end promulgated the receipt of a replacement bank card in record time.
Boats:
- Fairwind (of Dell Quay) - Sue and Barrie ('leader')
- Osprey - Chris and Janet
- Meraki - Tony and Judi
- Firebird - Tim
- Moody Maid - Dick and Justin (RNLI volunteer)
- Snoopy - John and Avril
- Jacob Faithful - Esmond and Paul.
Thanks to the Cruiser Secretary (Sue) for booking the early season cruiser rally venues, not only was the Cowes Yacht Haven marina booked up very early but I discovered that the same was also true for the usual Island Sailing Club and Pier View restaurants. I booked Murrays Seafood Restaurant with 10 weeks to go which is much smaller, but they were fine at that stage with my comment that I did not know the numbers which could be zero if the weather was bad or maybe 18+ if a really good turn-out.
A gentle ENE wind pushed us quietly towards Cowes. There were several large racing fleets out enjoying the warm sunshine; conditions were hot and easy. At the forts, a WW2 torpedo boat blasted east over the submarine barrier to the north, did a circle around Fairwind and Horse Sands Fort and returned to Portsmouth crossing our bow. Later opposite Ryde we saw a speeding WW2 RAF pilot rescue boat heading west. Very nostalgic and wonderful sights. John and Avril (Snoopy) having berthed in a nearly empty Shepards Wharf the night before and testing their bus passes, waved from Osborne beach as we sailed past.
Shepards Wharf Marina was very busy in visitor terms and we were all sardined into the north visitor berthing area. One incoming 40ft+ boat played dodgems due to the tide running through the pontoons, but being well fendered was less alarming for us all to watch. What was ultimately concerning however was him trying to moor alongside Meraki (24ft). The marina staff quickly put him over on a 35ft+ boat using their RIB as a fender and this left space for Moody Maid to squeeze in.
The usual fun drinks and nibbles aboard Fairwind. I realised then that in nice weather, everybody wants to sit in the cockpit, so 11+2 it was then. I had visions of water coming up the drains following the 'Sentoray' experience in Dinan many years ago, but luckily feet were kept dry.
Murrays Seafood Restaurant proved to be a good choice, it was only a short walk up the High Street and we were all accommodated on a long table in a back room. The set 2 course meal was enjoyed by all.
John, Avril and I made our way to the little promenade on the West Cowes shore at 23:00hrs to await the Northern Lights, but to no avail. All we got was a funny look from a passing drunk. Well, I think he was looking at us? The only other people there were two young ladies on a bench seat with one of those large blow-up (beach) rings shaped like an iced doughnut. All a bit odd at 23:00hrs.
Sunday arrived all bright and warm but with more wind and still from an ESE direction. We first had to extract ourselves from the visitor berths with comedian John asking if I had organised said extraction. Very funny! Esmond on the outside of Firebird was first to reverse out with a masterly display.
Firebird was well tucked in behind two 40ft+ boats. At one point, I stood just inboard of the pulpit of the lovely old Nicholson with boat hook in hand ready to pull Firebird's transom out to get around said double rafted boat for him to reverse out. The film Titanic came to mind and I asked the DQ people if anyone had the Titanic music. Just a joke but the crew of the inside boat must have heard and rushed up into the cockpit to see what was happening. One way to get some action!
The fleet reversed out of their berths without any dramas and were soon on their way out through the small boat channel heading east.
The sail back was lovely with a light to moderate wind on the nose. The Sunsail fleets were out once more to 'race' against and this and the flat seas and warm conditions really added to the joy of it all.
Sue and I practised with our new (old hat for many boats of course) cockpit based slab reefing system which was a wonder. No more bouncing around at the mast for me (balance not what it used to be) but we do need to buy a halyard bag for all the extra lines spilling into the cockpit - the skipper likes it neat and tidy. This little improvement made what was a lovely and enjoyable weekend even more so for Fairwind and I think all crews enjoyed the trip. Thanks to everyone for making this a really fun rally and hope to see you all out there again soon.
Barrie Pearson
14 May 2024
