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FOLKBOAT SPRING RALLY - The Folly, Cowes
Boats attending: Folkdance, Little Otter, Mistress, Smokey & Swift.
Jaramas was hoping to attend but was not in the water in time.
T
he email went out in February for a meet-up and cruise in company over the
first bank holiday weekend in May. The rendezvous was set for Saturday 5th at
The Folly on the Medina with supper in the restaurant at the nearby Island Harbour
Marina. The very loose plan was then to sail in company on the Sunday, taking the
flood tide into Bembridge before all heading home on Monday.
Nick had emailed to confirm that Swift would be ready for the cruising rally, "Just
home from a good clean and loaded all the cruising stuff, wine, beer, cheese, wine
etc". I was glad that someone was taking this seriously!
Saturday 5th May, Smokey locked out at Birdham Pool at 13:30 in pleasantly warm
sunshine and a gentle F3 from the SE. The main was quickly raised and by the
Birdham beacon we were sailing! The trip down Chichester Harbour against the
last of the flood was at times frustrating, as the breeze remained light, but we made
reasonable progress and crossed the bar just under two hours after leaving Birdham.
Out into Hayling Bay and onwards towards the Forts and the Solent beyond, the
breeze remained relatively light F3/4, but we had the tide under us and could relax.
After what seemed like an interminable winter in a damp barn near Dell Quay, it
was wonderful to be back out at sea again. Unlike her skipper, Smokey had lost
some weight during her winter ashore, and she felt light and responsive at the
helm. Astonishingly, she had barely taken up at all when put back in the water just
a fortnight before!
The sail up the Eastern Solent was relaxing if a little sedate. On arriving at Cowes,
Smokey sailed up the small boat channel and once in the Medina proper we lowered
sail and put the 3.3 Mariner to work. We arrived at The Folly at around 18:30 to
be greeted by Folkdance, Little Otter, Mistress & Swift, all of whom had been there
for some time. The boats all looked fantastic and Don (crewing with Susan on
Folkdance) took some lovely shots. We had reserved the walk ashore pontoon and
we were all rafted up together which is always such a sociable thing to do.
Arrival at Cowes
