Winter Weekend November 2002

We have attended the monthly meetings since July and found a warm friendly mix, we were finally cornered by Trevor and joined looking forward to the November sail.

This would be Lady J's first official outing with the fleet and understanding Doh kindly volunteered the Commodore as crew. We'd sailed with John on Fizzgig in March. Keith one of the party that day had earlier asked to sail with us, all three of us are at present on a Yachtmaster course, a great bonding agent. Our fifth member was Daphne whom I arranged to meet for the first time on the jetty the morning of the sail.

Preparation was my first task and the weather in particular was at the foremost of my mind as Brian and I had been thwarted weeks earlier due to the ever-changing weather. I began to pull forecasts off the internet far too early and in a matter of days 'Mark Twains Generic Forecast' came to mind 'Probable Nor easter to Sou'west winds varying to the southward and westward and eastward and points between; high and low barometer sweeping round from place to place, probable areas of rain, hail and drought succeeded or preceded by earthquakes and lighting'. Earthquakes in Manchester surely not.

Saturday was a near perfect day, with a little more wind we would have arrived earlier? ' a very queer thing the wind I don't know how it beginned and nobody knows where it goes. It is the wind it beginned and it blows'. Poet Laureate John Masefield.

Motoring from the marina Keith had an enjoyable dice with a number of fishermen who were bottom scraping, this made a change from avoiding dinghies. Having endeavoured to sail from the end of the Roman transit 'more wind needed' is an understatement. Near the end of the transit Daphne, hands on the wheel, we're ready to raise the sails, we discuss our method and then try an alternative, with the boom eased going into the wind we heave the halyard. Thanks John. Daffers joyfully sailed Lady J from can to cone expertly. We are passed by 2 large German boats on our portside at the Winner buoy; there's a buzz between John & Daffers, Daphne takes up a horizontal pose and in their wake gained speed to sail past them to our port side. Daffers did well.

Approaching the West pole, a speed boat, Sea 'Hooligan' (later established as Sea Holly) hemmed Daffers in, we are both on starboard tack she yelled, then followed softly 'can we turn inside the pole?' Order given and we were safely away Westward Ho.

From the outset of the sail all were encouraged voice input, our deliberations regarding the headsail, should we change the Genoa for our Blade, with the predicted low winds we left the Genoa up. Brian had waxed lyrical to me all morning in the car about man over board and again whilst onboard. My previous attempts to save the 'Towel' had always ended 'Nil Point'. Keith at the wheel tacking to avoid the cross channel ferry out of Portsmouth. Green Cone off Horse Sand fort and heading for Cowes, when the call MOB, this is our Commodore at play. Two fenders are in the water, they are tied together, we were not very good - this shows what skippering is all about. D was appointed lookout, K at wheel, Brian had elected to hit the button and make the SOS call, Robby had the hook after switching on the engine, we were on the fenders in a flash ……… it . Yes 'she,' drowned, lifted out on the second attempt. We discussed the various merits of the best side, location and methods for getting persons back onboard. Is Keith a 'Jonah'? Low and behold another 'man over board', John at the wheel and rest assured the party was saved. We arrive at the Medina.

We next had a lesson on how to allow the elements to moor the boat, using the wind and tide, John set her against the jetty with a gentle kiss, bows lying upstream ready for tomorrows departure, you can't better that? Us boys would try later.

After a number of bottles of vin rouge were consumed entertaining several members, we adjourned to the Lifeboat. An enjoyable repast with a special celebration by all for Doh's birthday.

Happy Birthday Doh, a special thanks for your efforts in organising the weekend.

We all were awoken in the small hours by the rain and our plan to leave at 0841 was put on the back burner. Brian & Robby have yet to get wet sailing! Not bad for over 600hrs this year.

What joy when we emerged from the heads at 0945, its dry and boats were leaving in numbers. As soon as Layla had turned through 180 degrees, away we quickly followed. We were on a run and it looked as though the promised blow was building up, 18kn recorded, Eliona came up to us and after a brief dice passed on route to the Dolphin.

During this time John was at the wheel and was subjected to a battery of pertinent /hypothetical questions by the three budding yachtmasters. The sine rule for tidal vectors for CTS etc etc, John elected to run and snuggled down f'ward on deck away from this 'inquisition'.

As ' bees go to honey' risk of collision rides with Keith within minutes of taking the wheel an enormous cargo ship rounded the Horse Sand Fort. Eliona was ½ mile ahead on the same heading she would certainly make across the buoyed approach, in typical form a 'yes we will no we wont' debate arose.

I called out to John our warning, we eased to starboard running parallel to the mammoth, as close as I would wish, expecting a heavy wash and going to port to meet the waves I called again loudly. Lady J's bows lifted and crashed down several times, John did not move or utter a word; we'll get him next time.

Deja vu, Daffers at the wheel passed West Pole into the harbour with Sea Holly close on our tail, still with only our headsail, we raced up to the lock, beaten at the post by Sea Holly, both crews now bosom friends. Moor up 14.00 just as the rains starts, nice way to end a super weekend. Thank you to my crew, Ashdown girls and boys, and our Commodore for a memorable weekend, when's the next trip?

All as 'recalled' by Brian & Robby Juchau