BCYC Regatta 2008

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Fitting Out Lunch
April 2008

On 13th April, a total of 37 members, associates and guests, took a short ferry ride from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and disembarked on Spitbank Fort.

The Fort provided a splendid platform to view the Eastern Solent and several of our more competitive members, were seen making notes of the tidal currents and back eddies - which will no doubt be used in future racing tactics. Personally, I am happy to just avoid hitting the Forts !

As everyone relaxed in the sunshine, the early season optimism of planned sailing trips were discussed over a welcome drink, which was followed by a healthy spit roast chicken lunch and apple crumble dessert. The calories were then worked off during an informative guided tour of the Fort. We certainly saw the facility under very favourable condition, unlike the garrison that were once stationed on Spitbank.

Ray Plant thanked everyone for attending and then outlined the planned events for the coming year. David Orton provided an up-date on the Cowes Regatta in July, which is certainly taking shape.

A prize draw was held for all members completing last years Questionnaire by the stipulated date. The winner was Associate member David Gilbertson, who in true Hollywood fashion was unable to be present. This was fortunate as the prize being kindly donated by David Elliott (owner of Monsoon) has been beset with manufacturing delays but we hope will be available for presentation at the AGM.

It was good to see such a wide cross section of the membership attending this event, which also included one lady whose family once owned the fort. In fact one member was so anxious not to miss the outing that he arrived 24 hours ahead of schedule !

The weather gods were once again kind to us and only the stern troopers huddled on the back seat of the ferry, received a fine sprinkling of spray as we sped back to PHD, at the end of a very enjoyable event.

Alderney Weekend
24-27 August 2007

For the second year running, the much anticipated rally to Alderney did not go quite as expected! With three Solent based yachts and one Guernsey yacht confirmed as contenders, only one of the Solent yachts (Pazienza) made it across the Channel to join up with Rinamara in Alderney. Nevertheless, they made the usual BCYC impact – beautiful yachts and a good party in Braye Harbour!! Rumours quite quickly reached those that didn’t get there, that a rather good Rick Stein meal was being missed.

For a number of reasons, the two yachts that barely made it out of the starting blocks remained South Coast based but failed to link up over the four day break! A spectacular demonstration of “take it as it comes and only if it’s easy sailing!” John Dory headed West and made it to Weymouth for Friday evening – a night on the tiles was followed by a day recovering in a pub watching the cricket before heading East again on Sunday. Infanta, with engine problems, never made it out of Cowes, so Josephine stepped in as the back up and a fabulously lazy four days of drifting, sailing, mackerel catching and barbecueing, sleeping, drinking and eating ensued!! Josephine made it to Poole and a spectacular anchorage at Goathorn Creek on Friday evening – a bbq off the stantions creating a truly Caribbean cruising feeling. With the culinary theme in full swing, roast beef and potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding were cooked on the return across Christchurch Bay the following day. Throwing down the anchor in Totland Bay, the meal was the envy of all neighbouring yachts!

With fantastic sunshine, but not a huge amount of wind, everyone seemed to have had a fabulous break and at least some made it to Alderney! Better luck next year.

BCYC NEWS

Harwich-Lowestoft BCYC Rally June 2008

Five yachts gathered at Beacon Hill to cross the start line for the inaugural Harwich to Lowestoft Rally on Saturday 28th June.

Race Officer, Bob Browne, ever efficient and helpful, did a splendid job getting us away cleanly and on time. No mean feat considering Mystery of Meon had problems with her engine and rumours of a sixth yacht, Leonis of Chatham, hoping to join us but still a fair distance away.

Fair conditions and a south westerly F5/6 had us wondering if Mystery’s engine failure was a rumour as she pulled strongly away. Soon most spinnakers were up and we were hitting over 10 knots and tracking her down. The absence of a mainsail on Vashti, caused much speculation amongst the crew, the reason ascertained in the bar later was that she was missing her usual crew, but she managed to keep up well on headsail alone. The weather improved and the beautiful coastline could be enjoyed passing Orford, Aldeburgh, Southwold and Thorpeness, all bathed in glorious sunshine.

Mystery took line honours at Lowestoft achieving the 50 mile passage in an unadjusted time of 5 hours 50 minutes, fortunately for her the rest of the fleet were close behind as she then had to wait for a tow into port. All crews reported an exhilarating sail and thoroughly enjoyed the evening dinner and prize giving.

Many thanks go to the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club who did a marvellous job, organising the berthing and hosting the evening revelry.

1st - Mystery of Meon owned by Tim Wood

2nd - Leonie - Roger Dann

3rd - Amity - Tom Owles

4th - Shantih - Roger Harrison

5th - Vashti - Dr Paul Wright

6th - Leonis of Chatham - Rolfe Kentish

Race, Rally & Quiz
1-2 September 2007

It can only be described as an event that gathered momentum. On Friday evening John Dory slipped into Cowes Yacht Haven and moored alongside Infanta – after the obligatory post work wind down drink in the cockpit and newly joined by David Orton we all slipped off to Saffron for an Indian. Charles and Ingrid Burt arrived early and ready for a sail on Infanta on Saturday morning…. little realising that with continued engine problems, Infanta would need to be sailed out of Cowes Yacht Haven!!

Before long Infanta, St David’s Light and John Dory were sailing East down the Solent in light breezes before anchoring for lunch just short of Wooton Creek. As the tide turned and the wind picked up, anchors were weighed and a cracking sail was had to Beaulieu. Infanta ended up sailing up to Bucklers Hard – hard work, but extremely impressive!

We ended up all over the Beaulieu! Infanta was only able to tie up alongside Talisker Moor – many thanks to Stephen & Alexa Sands for their fabulous hospitality before dinner. Meanwhile Foglio, John Dory & St David’s Light found a place on the piles, whilst Tiger C picked up a mooring further up river and Thelma dropped her anchor near Gins.

Meanwhile with more engine problems, David and Rosemarie Eliot rang in from Bosham – plans re-arranged they drove round to Beaulieu… determined to join the party!

The Master Builders Pub hosted 16 of us in the lower area of the pub where a fabulous meal and lively chat was enjoyed. The quiz kicked off – many controversial and difficult questions.. with the three teams all finishing remarkably close!

Many thanks to Ray Plant for organising yet another well attended and greatly enjoyable event.

BCYC & Spirit Yachts 2007 Regatta, Cowes

For the latest news, information and downloads from last year's regatta please click here.

Due to the growing popularity of the BCYC annual regatta we have now created a mini web site providing easily accessible information as well as post regatta results and news.

End of Season Muster
29 September 2007

With half of the BCYC committee enjoying the thrills of classic yacht racing in St. Tropez, the other half deemed the annual end of season muster (this year held up the Medina on Thelma VI) to be an equally social affair – if not quite as glamorous!!

Several yachts made the trip – Tiger C, Suzalah, John Dory and Barry and Lorraine Bristow without Foglio! A number of associate members also came along making it a jolly party of around 20 or so.

Many thanks to Wendy and Gary for their usual hospitality – Wendy’s legendary goulash and a delicious strawberry and pomegranate pavlova. Remarkably for September we managed to sit out on deck all evening enjoying the very final throws of the season.