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by Louise George
For my first Easter cruise with Ashdown I sailed with Mark Hitchin, my 'partner in crime' and Alan Waller, skipper and owner of Lucrece - a 1963 Nicholson 32 - the perfect crew for a relaxed bank holiday break. This was only my second sail with the club and a chance to meet new and old faces alike.
You can tell Lucrece is a classic as soon as you see her. She is built to sail and oozes class as Claire Francis who was the first woman to sail the Atlantic single handed in one, will tell you! After a brief welcome on Thursday evening by Alan, Mark and I were given the guided tour of our new home for the next four days and then headed with the crew of Lady J to a local pub to build up strength for the coming days!
Friday morning was a safety briefing and an early start heading to Lymington. It was a hard slog motor sailing but as Lymington veered into view the wind picked up and we were able to do what Lucrece does best - sail! We were able to enjoy an hours sailing in the strong tide before the engine went back on for our motor into Lymington.
We rafted up smoothly alongside Lady J, to be joined by Fizzgig, Pastorale, Blue Scherzo, Eliona and guests Safia. The usual après-sail ensued with the usual boat hopping, beer and jovial banter about the day's events. Discussions then arose as to what the weather was going to do over the next few days. With the winds set to be weak and from the East for the whole weekend any distance made West, would very likely have to be made up with the motor (some felt this would be into a nasty sea) - was it to be Poole, Weymouth or the Solent? So, Cruise leader, Graham had the hard task of trying to please everyone but the happy medium was agreed amongst the skippers and Poole was to be our destination. The prep for the next day was completed and the evening in Lymington was ours.
A hearty meal on shore for the crew of Lucrece in The Ship and a stroll back meant that the battery levels were full again to take on board a few essential pints with fellow sailors, not to mention, good conversation in The Mayflower.
A civilised 0930 start on Saturday and Blue Scherzo departed first……. we followed 30 minutes later. Gerry and Blue Scherzo had their spinnaker up in all its red and black glory and disappeared into the distance up the Needles Channel with our attempts to give chase thwarted. This was what sailing was about - engine off, sails up, sunshine, water gently rippling under the hull as we cut through the water, wonderful scenery, water breaking over the shingle bank, Hurst castle and looking back at the famous Needles. With the wind dead behind us we had been able to goose wing from Lymington through the Needles Channel and then had a cracking sail to Poole. As we neared the entrance to Poole Harbour a Mayday came over the radio - a boat in distress, having lost engine power was drifting towards the rocks of 'Old Harry', overfalls and almost non-existent wind conspired to prevent him sailing out of trouble. At this point we had taken the sails down and had the engine on so Alan took an about turn and we headed out towards the yacht in distress, towrope in hand. By the time we were close several motorboats had come to his rescue and before long he was being towed to Shell Bay to carry out repairs. The motoring into Poole was hard, punching against the tide. Plans changed last minute from mooring at Town Quay to anchoring at Pottery Pier! A beautiful spot through the Wych Channel, north of Brownsea Island - with an excellent holding mud bottom. With careful pilotage from us through the channel at low water we then joined everyone with laying our anchors, putting the kettle on and relaxing to enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Brownsea Island.
An invitation was extended from the crew on board Eliona and a taxi service provided by Kerry of Eliona and Sean, Gerry's son, of Blue Scherzo ensured that we all arrived safely on board Eliona for a club drink in the setting sun.
Back on board Lucrece and the chef for the night, me, set about the culinary delights on board to cook up a curry. A few more glasses of red wine, a check of the anchor and bed early for the 0630 start (GMT) on Sunday.
The destination for Sunday was Southampton Waters - Ocean Village Marina - another day with little wind but we put the sails up and sailed on a bearing towards the Needles Channel with the tide with us we fetched into the rising sun at a steady 5 knots. After a beautifully executed mooring in Ocean Marina by Alan into a very tight berth we all sat down to enjoy a cup of tea after making Lucrece 'ship shape and Bristol fashion' up top and down below. A short nap and shower and the evening had begun. We went for dinner with the crew of Blue Scherzo and enjoyed analysing the days sail, the Maydays we had heard and discussing sailing in general. A nightcap on board Lucrece for everyone ensured that both crews went to bed satisfied with food and drink following a great day out on the water.
0730 hours rise and shine to depart for Chichester. We had to motor out of Southampton Water but once in the Solent we were able to tack east with the tide. Tacking across the Solent was most enjoyable in the glorious weather, making the most of the last day of sailing. As the wind dropped and the time crept on we reverted to using the engine for the last leg of the journey back to Chichester.
Within minutes of reaching the West Pole for Chichester the fog closed in and we could only see 2 boat lengths in front of us. I went up to the foredeck as look out, Alan steered and Mark guided us on the GPS and charts. Feeling our way into Chichester was hair raising but with the three of us working as a team and Alan's invaluable local knowledge we appeared the other side of the fog. The fog was concentrated between the Bar Beacon and the second half of the transit into Chichester. All very tense.
Reaching Chichester perfectly timed for free flow meant that we had plenty of time to wash down Lucrece, have lunch and join the other people on the road to set for home with that tired but satisfied feeling and that rosy glow that all sailors have!