November Rally 2010 - Reach for the Sky

Fifteen years after HOEOCA’s last raid on the RAF Yacht Club in Hamble, they let us back! Presumably the memories of rape and pillage had faded. With 40 people sailing on 8 boats – 5 chartered from Portsmouth and 3 owned by members this was a slightly smaller rally than of recent years. However, we welcomed an unprecedented number of guests (10) for the rally dinner on Friday night including some of the original raiding party from the Wendy Boo.

Starting from a different base than of recent years made a nice change and we managed to keep the fleet together fairly well. We chartered 4 boats from Solent Yacht Charter out of Haslar Marina and were able to pick them up and check them out on Wednesday afternoon. This included a late inclusion for our Commodore and his crew who, wisely, decided that it was not a good week to sail from Plymouth to the Hamble (and back).

Thursday dawned windy and grey and the Inner Swashway was not a pleasant place to be. The original destination of Lymington was soon abandoned but 6 of 8 boats enjoyed a pleasant sail in Southampton Water and we all moored safely at Ocean Village from whence some shopped whilst others slept. Dinner was taken either in the genteel surroundings of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club or at the Chinese where you could eat as much as you could. Meanwhile Mandarin and Moody Blue partook of tea together!

Friday was again somewhat grey but less windy and we all enjoyed some good sailing – whether a thrash over to Cowes or a genteel drift to the top of the Hamble and a pint in the Jolly Sailor. Port Hamble Marina had been warned that we were coming and managed to split most of us up – however they did give us a discount!

Reach for the Sky, the rally theme, had been liberally and imaginatively interpreted as ever. The crew of Nordic Mist Airlines were on hand to welcome us, there was a squadron of Spitfires and various RAF ground crew to service them plus miscellaneous representatives of other armed forces. On an even more creative level we had space cowboys and star troopers. The winner will be announced at the laying up supper. We enjoyed a pleasant dinner and the Commodore’s speech. The highlight was when he invited the rally back to his boat for a party – however, despite the smaller numbers, for some there was no room at the inn! Thanks to Richard, Paul and crew for their hospitality.

Saturday dawned calmer i.e. no wind and many made their way slowly to the Fountain Hotel in Cowes to watch England V the All Blacks (we won the 2nd half). Others took advantage of the more settled weather and sailed for a while before coming in to either East or West Cowes for the evening. 4 crews dined in the Duke of York and enjoyed an excellent meal, with Keith Harding persuading the landlord to give a donation of £30 to the club charity, Toe in the Water! As ever, a bit of live music in the Anchor completed a very good day.

And then what happened overnight? The wind swung round to the North and it was COLD, COLD, COLD – so most did not delay in setting sail for their home berths. However, despite the temperature, and once the sun came out, conditions were pleasant and an excellent last sail of 2010 was enjoyed – rumour even has it that a cruising chute was unfurled!

The Spring Rally for 2011 is planned for 11-15 May; destination St Vaast la Hougue.