Submitted by Jill Moffatt on Sun, 24/06/2012 - 21:34
Pontoon party and prize-giving, Lymington

Lively passage to Lymington!

5 intrepid Little Ship Club boats braved the elements on Saturday 23 June to test out the new handicap system in the Timed Passage to Lymington. 

The forecast on Friday night was not inspiring, with winds of F5-7 predicted, with gusts of F8 predicted. In the event the wind was a stiff 20-25kn South Westerly, only gusting 30kn on occasions – and there were quite a few of those!

An exciting sail was had by all (reefs in all round) from No Man’s Land Fort to Lymington, via Calshot, Gurnard and Hampstead Ledge resulting in a keenly contested passage. 

Unfortunately the unsuitable weather conditions meant that a couple of boats had to stand down, but 17 keen sailors rendez-voused in Berthon marina and enjoyed a pontoon party (on the pontoon for once!) and prize-giving hosted by Shearwater and organiser Michael Forbes Smith before heading off to dinner in the Mayflower pub.

The rain held off until we got to the pub and then it rained with a vengeance. Those of us who lingered a little longer over dinner even found ourselves obliged to stay for a final drink to avoid the torrential downpour.

The return trip back to home ports was much more sedate with a following W/SW wind of only 10-20kn and sunshine just in time for lunch in the cockpit when we got back in to Royal Clarence Marina.

Participants: Amberone, Oxygen, Shearwater, Solid Air, Sour Kraut

Many thanks to the organiser and Shearwater, to the Handicap Committee for their hard work in the run up to the rally,to Berthon and the Mayflower for looking after us all so well, and finally to all of those who took part in challenging conditions to make the event a great success!  Roll on the next one!