Cruising Fleet

When Rear Commodore Nigel Wrigley introduced me to the Club eight years ago the last thing I expected was to be standing in his shoes as Captain of the Cruising Section. Sandra and I moved to Dorset after retirement - to be closer to our sons and to base Enfys closer to France. We had been very involved with yacht clubs in North Wales for many years and I took an active part in their management, including serving as Commodore and Treasurer. When I joined Parkstone I volunteered to help where needed and I continue to drive Pearl, organise Rallies and work as an ARO on the platform. I have served on the Cruising Section committee for three years and was delighted and flattered to become its Captain at our AGM in November last year. The cruiser fleet, which makes up more than a third of the Club’s boats, is exceptionally active but has very different dynamics to other classes. The accompanying reports in this issue of the Golden Dolphin show the wide range of rallies which we organise every year. Each summer also sees individual boats flying the Club ensign in many West Country harbours and further afield in the Isles of Scilly, the Channel Islands, North Brittany, along the South West coast of France and down to South Biscay. Several of us have sailed the Baltic, cruised Ireland and Scotland, circumnavigated the UK and some have not only crossed the Atlantic but have circumnavigated the world. Whatever you sail and wherever you go, the company of like-minded sailors is a real joy. Relaxing over a glass of wine in the cockpit with friends old and new in lovely surroundings is only surpassed when you have all covered many sea miles to get there, particularly when the passage has been a bit of a challenge. The discomfort is soon forgotten and before too long the conversation turns to the next port of call and inevitably somebody will say, “What lucky people we are to be able to do what we do.” How right they are. When this is published, thoughts will be turning to 2020 and where to sail to during the year. We plan to take Enfys south again and I am sure that once again our wake will cross with those from other Parkstone yachts. Should one of these be yours don’t hesitate to call us on VHF or knock on the cabin side.

MALCOLM PARKER RALLY REPORTS The Rally is one of the enduring features of the Cruising Section’s year and by no means confined to what is traditionally seen as the sailing season. The programme of rallies is pulled together by the Cruising Section committee and then organised and led by volunteers. Sometimes a rally is a meeting of old friends who have often cruised together in company but so often it also creates friendships between members who may have never met before.

Frostbite For the Parkstone Cruising Section the year begins early. For years now it has become a tradition that virtually immediately after the New Year break there is a cruise in company to the Solent. For obvious reasons it is known as The Frostbite. The 2019 Frostbite went very well with no hitches. Three boats - Calero, Aquila and Royal Sapphire - made the trip with a total of eight crew. Weather was good with fresh winds, no rain and good visibility. It was predictably cold, but not freezing. The flotilla of hardy souls left the Parkstone around 08:00 on the Friday. N/NE F4 winds meant a close-hauled sail all the way to Hamble arriving at 15:00. On Saturday as planned, the three boats had another windward beat - this time into NW - and rafted up together in the Beaulieu River for lunch, from where they made their way to Lymington. As the sun began to set they all arrived at Lymington Town Sailing Club and berthed as agreed. The Club had kindly reserved a table for the Parkstone contingent who, after supper, made up a team for the Quiz Night, coming a healthy fourth, which was probably diplomatic given the number of LTSC members in contention. Sunday morning saw the flotilla leaving before the sun came up. The forecast for the day was for NE F4 gusting 7 which indicated a lively trip home. Motoring past Hurst Point, all three sailed from North Head buoy back to Poole. Keyhaven Walk Not strictly a rally but after intrepid winter activity on the water our cruising members took to dry land in February when Graham Reed organised a Winter Walk at Keyhaven. Despite some early morning rain twenty four members turned up for the walk. As forecast the weather improved and by the time the group set off it was grey, but dry. Graham had kept the walk short - about three miles - to encourage participation. The walk included part of the sea wall towards Lymington. Most had seen it from the Solent but few had walked it before. Most of the route was firm but wet with a short stretch of softer going, just to make it interesting! The circular walk brought everyone back to Keyhaven YC, where they were welcomed by the Club’s Commodore, then sat down to a much appreciated lunch looking over the Solent towards Yarmouth. Early Channel Dash For the intrepid members of our Cruising Section the Early Channel Dash to Cherbourg in early April is an energising start to the season. Although nine boats had indicated their intention to participate only three eventually made it. The forecast for the planned day of departure was grim - 25 to 30 knots of SE wind. Pelican decided to make the crossing a day earlier but Aquila braved the elements. Thaïs opted to wait for a forecast drop in the wind speed and ended up motoring most of the way. All of the crews enjoyed a relaxing day in Cherbourg and a fine dinner - as our cruising members always seem to organise - at the La Marina restaurant. All three boats enjoyed an uneventful return to Poole.

Easter Bembridge Rally Next up was the Easter Rally to Bembridge organised by Maggie and Kevin Cullimore which attracted eighteen Parkstone yachts, many of which made the most of the good weather for this first Solent foray of the season. Dinner - always a highlight of Cruising Section rallies - at the Brading Haven YC attracted thirty eight skippers and crew. Christchurch Cruise The Christchurch Cruise in May, organised by Malcolm Bell, was lucky with the weather having a favourable wind there and back. A total of seven boats made the cruise. However, whilst the tide allowed passage up the run and along the river without a problem, the return on Sunday was a different matter. Most boats waited until 14:30, which was mid tide, before leaving and even then one could feel the mud. PARKSTONE RALLIES AND PRIVATE ADVENTURES A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF OUR CLUB’S CRUISING COMMUNITY Bembridge Rally Sailing Home from Weymouth Malcolm Parker

Christchurch Sailing Club was its sociable norm and an excellent meal was enjoyed by twenty seven skippers and crew.

Rally to Weymouth The May Bank Holiday rally to Weymouth, organised by Phil Simmonds, also attracted a sizeable fleet of Parkstone boats with sixteen rafting up on the quay. There was one uncomfortable night when the wind freshened from the NE sending short seas into the harbour. During the few days the fleet spent at Weymouth the lifeboat was called out twice - once to tow in a dismasted yacht and then to bring in a fishing boat in trouble! Keyhaven Rally Following a successful walk in the area during the winter the weather had settled down to a warm sunny July for the annual rally to Keyhaven organised by Graham Reed. Friday July 26th was near perfect with a SW breeze and sunshine for the seven boats attending. After successfully finding moorings in the river thirteen members enjoyed the use of the Keyhaven YC barbecue and bar during the warm evening sunset. Three additional boats joined the fleet on the Saturday and a total of twenty three Parkstone members sat down to a very enjoyable and sociable evening. Said Graham: “The sail home was a bit more lively, beating into winds between 6 and 26 knots, so challenging at times but still a great sail.” The Portland Rally that never was! The rally was arranged by Alan Butcher for early August and twenty four boats and forty four people booked to attend. The weather, however, turned nasty - winds gusting F9-10 were eventually recorded - and unfortunately the event had to be cancelled as had happened the previous year! Attempting to salvage something for the Saturday evening meal, twenty three members drove to Portland and saved some embarrassment by not cancelling their group restaurant booking for the second time. Yarmouth Barbecue August Bank Holiday Peter Taylor is the guiding hand behind this traditional Parkstone cruising event but was unable to make it to Yarmouth in 2019 so asked former Cruising Section Captain John Pettit to act as the man on the spot, who arrived a day early in Bugs Bunny. Next day the fleet began to assemble as, in no particular order, Riamara, Kaniklani, Zingaro, Solent Kestrel, Equinox, Pure Promise, Sulito, High Spirits, Ronja, Elixir, Bonus, Calero, Appreciation, Narnia, Dawn Flyer and Space8 arrived in quick succession, joined the next day by Palomino and Tom Boy. Reception drinks were held on the pontoon before the majority of crews adjourned to the Royal Solent Yacht Club for an excellent meal. On Saturday the time for the barbecue was 16:00 and everyone chose to walk to the usual spot rather than inflate their tenders. In total there were forty two skippers and crew cooking and eating merrily, which may be close to a record. A good number of boats decided to head back to Poole on the Sunday leaving fairly early to catch the ebb through the Hurst Narrows. The winds were light and there was very little actual sailing on the way back.

Late Cherbourg Dash The early response for the September Dash to Cherbourg this year was very thin but as the day of crossing approached more interest appeared and resulted in an enjoyable weekend. Equinox, which departed the harbour 07:00, saw a northerly wind build to 28 knots once clear of the land. Progress was quick but not comfortable. Bugs Bunny left a couple of hours later and had less of the strong northerly winds. Optimised and Cara both sailed quickly across on Friday with F6 westerlies giving a beam reach and lumpy seas. Both were happy to arrive and pleased with the experience for themselves and their crew. Drinks were held in the sunshine on Equinox on Saturday and the conversations soon started between people who had never met and continued around the dinner table of the Cherbourg Yacht Club well into the evening. Rallies like this often create bonds between members who arrive as strangers and leave as friends. The winds on Sunday were back in the north which meant more motor sailing until nearing the Dorset coast and a reach back into the harbour. Lymington Town Rally With plans awaiting final approval this was probably the last visit by the Cruising Section to Lymington before the planned revamp of the Town Quay and waterside area planned for 2020. Varied sailing conditions following Storm Lorenzo resulted in a strong breeze downwind on Friday, light air and sun on Saturday, a strong breeze upwind on Sunday and a fresh southerly breeze with a touch of rain on Monday. Sixteen yachts made the trip with other crews joining up to total forty for dinner at Lymington Town Sailing Club.

Solent Jumble The Club’s participation in the annual Solent Boat Jumble, organised as ever by Richard Drew, raised £528 for the Commodore’s Charity. Fireworks Cruise As November approached there was serious concern that there would not be suitable weather for the annual Fireworks Cruise to Weymouth - the final rally of the year. However, by the 31st October it seemed a weather window would materialise, and cruise organiser Nigel Wrigley put Weymouth Harbour Master and Weymouth Sailing Club on notice. This seemed a mistake when 95 knots were recorded at The Needles on November 2nd, but by the 4th the window had re-appeared and five boats prepared to sail. That afternoon Serenade sailed and met lumpy seas left over from the stormy weekend. The morning of 5th November dawned clear with a forecast F4-5 northerly, and around 08:00 Ruby Max, Thaïs, Equinox and Appreciation left for a glorious sail at hull speed under white sails. The seas were benign and even at St Alban’s Head the water was like a millpond. All boats were moored up under the Harbour Master’s office soon after 14:00 for some lunch and relaxation. Crews de-camped at 18:00 for Weymouth Sailing Club for an early supper and then walked to the beach to join the local crowds for a close view of the display. On the 6th the tide turned at St Albans about 12:00 so crews had leisurely breakfasts before casting off around 10:00 with forecast sunny periods and wind of F2-3, SE which veered to S. Showers did arrive later but did not affect an enjoyable mixture of sailing and motoring home after a very pleasant winter break.

COLLATED BY PETER BAILLIE Yarmouth BBQ

FRENCH CRUISE JUNE 2019

For almost fifteen years one man has been synonymous with the French Cruise. That man is Mike Parsons. Take a stroll into the Haven down the main walkway between the pontoons and the chances are you will meet Mike tending to his beloved Contessa 32 Pelican. When the Haven opened Pelican was the second boat to take up a berth. He has owned her for more than thirty years and together they have logged more than 50,000 sea miles. His love of sailing began when he was twelve years old and living with his parents in Cyprus where his father was stationed as an RAF Group Captain. Mike followed his father into the armed forces but chose the Army, rising from the ranks to become a Lieutenant Colonel. It was while he was stationed in Libya (there is hardly a country where Mike has not lived or worked) that he met and married Sheila and they recently celebrated fifty three years of married life. Mike’s progress through the ranks of the Army was accompanied by racing and offshore sailing. He was the RYA Examiner for British Forces Germany and is a qualified Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor.

He has sailed as volunteer Watch Officer on the Sail Training Association ships Sir Winston Churchill and Malcolm Miller. After moving to Poole in 1994 he joined Parkstone in 1995 and was soon deeply involved in the life of the Club, serving on the General Committee and the Cruising Section Committee where his cousin Amanda Bowley now serves. He took over responsibility for the French Cruise from David Hailes in 1997, since when he has organised and led fourteen Summer Cruises including one to the West Country. The largest was in 2010 when thirty two Parkstone boats enjoyed three weeks in French waters. As Mike has lived his life and moved from one episode to another his motto has always been: “Nice to have done that - now what next?” Twenty four boats signed up, crossing the Channel on Saturday 8th June for a two week jaunt to Jersey and the West Cotentin coast. A number of sailors chose to cross a week earlier to participate in the D Day 75th anniversary events. The main cruise departure was delayed to Sunday as storm Miguel had by then passed through. We eventually motored across with a zephyr on the nose and residual lumpy seas from the storm. On arrival at Cherbourg the fleet tied up on P pontoon, however Mike Parsons was disappointed as his usual berth of many years at the ramp end had been replaced by a toilet block! Next day the ritual visit to the wine warehouse was organised for 10:00, to sample and purchase their wares. Guillaume, the manager, laid on an excellent choice of wine and nibbles. Early to bed that night for a 03:00 start on Tuesday morning to catch the west going tide towards Jersey. Most weather forecasts predicted benign NW winds so we expected a smooth rounding of Cap de la Hague into the Alderney race. This was not to be. The one weather forecast that gave a different prediction, of further west, proved to be correct. The Met Office inshore forecast for the Channel Isles gave F5-7 westerlies to the west of the area; unfortunately for us this crept across to where we were. Suddenly we were motor sailing in huge, confused seas with wind over a strong tide. There was no option but to clip on, hang on, and wait until we cleared the Cap and turned south at longitude 2 o W (and no earlier!) At the height of the melee a calm voice called on channel 77 from Espera to inform us that they had wrapped their genoa sheet around the prop and had steering problems. There then followed much discussion of pan-pan options and the relative merits of calling the RNLI vs French assistance. Mike Jackson on Espera sounded cool and calm throughout which was very reassuring for the less experienced sailors amongst us who must have been wondering if the conditions could get worse. Eventually the problem was sorted out by pulling the sheet whilst in reverse gear. Mike Parsons was understandably concerned about the status of the fleet and pleaded with some to get clear of the potentially lethal lee shore; this while he sailed single handed and was swamped by waves. We were all grateful to turn south in the rain to Des Ormes and NW Jersey. On arrival at St Helier we had a recovery day when a hardy group walked to St Aubins Bay. That evening we enjoyed the hospitality of St Helier Yacht Club. On Friday 14th June we moved to the holding pontoon before 07:00 to clear the sill and wait for the tide to take us across to Carteret via the Violet Channel. Good visibility but no wind so we had another motoring leg. We arrived at Carteret at the top of the tide and a trouble-free entry to the marina. On Saturday we took off on a bracing walk in light rain to visit the weekly market at Barneville only to return in pouring rain! That evening at the Barneville-Carteret Yacht Club the Harbour Master, Jean-Marc, gave us all a complimentary drink, which was followed by a delicious buffet with enough food to feed the five thousand! There was so much left over we were invited to take some back to our boats. This was the twentieth year that the Parkstone French Cruise had visited the club so we posed for a photo so they could publicise the event. The following day we walked along the coastline to take in the spectacular views across to Guernsey. We set sail again on Monday 17th June for the relatively short hop up the coast to Dielette. Yes, we actually got to sail for a while in a F2/3 tight reach past the headland dominated by the huge new nuclear power station. We crossed the sill and moored at the visitors’ pontoon in bright sunshine. Espera had decided to return home from Carteret but we were joined by Lola Mae who had crossed from Guernsey. Most ate at the new Eclat restaurant on the quay - although (untypically) moules were off! The next day a walk was Dinner at Jersey YC

Espera in full sail Winston with PYC ladies on 75th D Day

Rafted outside St Helier harbour

planned to Flamanville despite the heavy rain forecast. Later, the Parkstone Yacht Club Rally were invited to a special reception at the new Capitainerie where the newly appointed Harbour Master, Emilie Olivier gave a welcome speech expressing her pleasure at seeing us again. This was followed by wine and nibbles. David Rickard our Cruising Captain thanked Emilie for making us so welcome and invited Mike and Sheila, on behalf of all Skippers and Crews, to a meal at the Eclat as a “thank you” for organising the Cruise so well. On Wednesday we walked on the cliffs to Siouville and had a yummy crepe lunch in a clifftop hotel. There followed much discussion about weather conditions for the return crossing to Poole. Many felt that Thursday was feasible but the next morning a F6/7 forecast for the UK coast put most off, however Neil in Cable Call decided to go for it so we bid him farewell. The remaining fleet took off for Cherbourg but once again the Cap de la Hague proved unreliable. A light wind should have given us a smooth rounding but we were met by a nasty chop that only abated once we had rounded the corner when we had a lovely reaching sail to Cherbourg. In the afternoon we had drinks with Phil Simmonds on Equinox to celebrate his birthday, with music provided by Nigel Waite and his guitar. The majority decided to return to UK on Friday 21st June in WNW F3-4 and sailed the whole way. This 20th Anniversary cruise was a real test for the novice channel crossers with colder than expected weather and a nasty surprise at Cap de la Hague. We had the satisfaction of overcoming difficult conditions and coming out battered but not cowed!

TREVOR SMITH - OUT TO PLAY Nigel serenades on Phil's birthday Moored at Dielette

HEADING WESTWARDS IN A FOLKBOAT

For several years I have wanted to visit Salcombe and beyond in my Nordic Folkboat Trombone and the summer of 2019 provided a three week window of opportunity for a solo cruise.

Day 1 - Thursday 1st August 2019 PYC to Bridport Harbour With a near 100% Spring Tide and light SW winds I planned to be at or beyond Anvil Point by 11:30 to pick up the west-going ebb. At 15:48 I proudly made the log entry: “Passed due south of Portland Bill, N50 o 26’ W002 o 28’” - i.e. five miles off and with another hour of ebb to enjoy. This was my first rounding of Portland. I noted a SOG of 8 knots with an indicated 4 knots through the water. Two miles past Portland I turned towards Bridport, motor-sailing with my trusty 5hp Honda on an easy port tack across a lovely flat sea on a beautiful summer evening. I was tied up at 19:25. My log noted: “56nm in 9hrs, 45mins. Thank you, spring tide!”

Day 2 - Friday 2nd August 2019 Bridport Harbour to Torquay An early start to enjoy the 9 knot NW breeze gave me an enjoyable coastal cruise to Golden Cap. In Torquay Marina, Trombone was berthed amongst some very big neighbours. One night amongst all of the bling would do! Dressed for the evening in smart shorts and polo top, I was welcomed into the Royal Torbay Yacht Club dining room. As I enjoyed dinner, I reflected on life forty years earlier when my girlfriend’s father took me racing in his own Folkboat and afterwards to this very club.

Day 3 - Saturday 3rd August 2019 Torquay to Dartmouth I was concerned about the strengthening SE wind and what the sea state might be at the Dart entrance where I would be on the coach roof taking down the sails. I opted for caution and changed to my smaller mainsail. Sea state at Berry Head and in places down the coast to the Dart were uncomfortable. The day’s lesson: give headlands far more room especially at spring tides!

Wind-bound in the River Dart for eight days If you have to be wind-bound, where better than the River Dart? Thankfully I had my walking boots and day rucksack. Local coast paths and the Dart Valley Trail were well worth the walk and why not do something useful like scrub Trombone’s bottom on the harbour’s scrubbing post?

Day 12 - Monday 12th August 2019 River Dart to Studland Bay I wasn’t the only yachtie in Darthaven Marina waiting to return to Poole. On Sunday 11th I enjoyed a sun-downer on John Chiver’s Cornish Crabber, together with Barrie and Nina French. We exchanged notes on plans for an early departure the following morning, Monday 12th, as the forecast for Tuesday onwards was not good. I do not have the ability to reef sails, so whatever sails I leave port with have to remain up for the duration. The forecast was +20kts SW, about the time I would be off Portland so I left with my small 9.3m 2 mainsail instead of the full 17m 2 . Most of my passage to Portland would be against tide and with this little mainsail it was going to be slow. I am very grateful to Barrie for his radio contact and recording my position throughout the passage from his yacht Charis. With my handheld VHF near water level, five miles was the best range we could manage. Charis was probably past Anvil Point before I made Portland! It had taken over ten hours to reach four miles due south of The Bill. The east-going tide had been running for about an hour. With wind and tide running together, I was surprised how uncomfortable the sea state was; some cresttrough differences of up to seven feet but thankfully no breaking waves. As expected, the wind was building and, tired after a long passage, I made it into Studland Bay to drop anchor at 21:15. Nearly home and it didn’t seem to matter that the 73nm passage had taken fourteen hours.

What have I learned? The Folkboat is lovely to sail and very seaworthy. However, F4 is enough and F6 is a definite ‘stay-in-marina’. I’m courting the idea of a bigger boat with sails I can reef from the cockpit and confidence to be out in a Force 6/7 if I have to. Since drafting this log, I have become the proud owner of a Sadler 29.

PAUL CHESTERMAN