We started, in company with Kouba, with a visit to Bembridge, via Hurst but unfortunately not Round the Island due to poor wind conditions and a successful BBQ was held, with all three boats successfully dried out on the starboard beach, Ripping Yarns having practiced on Ryde Sands on the way round (but you should have seen the size of the fish I was hauling in at the time!! quote Steve).
Unfortunately Kouba had to depart after 1 night whilst the rest of us stayed for a second day to enjoy a walk to Priory Bay, to check out another possible BBQ spot and an ice cream.
During the second night it was a established that it may have been wiser to have moved to the port hand beach as both boats were driven up and across the beach by a combination of strong eastly wind and incoming tide. Driving up the beach to stop the bumping left a couple of large holes in the sand for the next innocent BBQer to find!!
We left bembridge and set off for Chichester Harbour (East head looks like a good potential BBQ spot for forthcoming club rallies!) and had a great sail to Itchenor where a walk through Millionaires Row found us eating in the Ship Inn.
This is the third year running in which the club has attended Ryde Carnival. Elke Fair and Ripping Yarns were joined on the Friday by Ashlett's own Wing Commander, Geoff Taylor in Brill and on the Saturday by Lucky Girl (John and Sam's new boat), Kouba with a guest appearance of the Dolphina crew, Dreamer and Rambler. MMM was also present as an independent visitor.
The carnival was better this year compared with last years storm damaged event. There were many amusing floats and performers including people covered in chocolate, wearing stilts, horse racing and the traditional marching bands. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To my distress a decision was made to rise early for a departure next day to Littlehampton via the Looe Channel and a chance to catch more mackerel, one each for lunch! We thought the Looe Channel was going to be challenging but in the event was not a problem accept for disorientation as the overfalls were only visible on the approach and disappeared once passed, removing a major visual point of reference.
The remainder of the trip was uneventful until the Littlehampton harbour Masters instructions to aim at the wall on the way through the entrance because of the cross tide over the training wall. In the event both boats negotiated the entrance safely and soon tied up on the visitors pontoon.
We spent two relaxing days here sampling good food, playing boule on the beach, shopping in the sales and enjoying being away from home. On the last evening of our stay in Littlehampton we watched the Arun Sailing Club cadets practicing capsize drills.
Our biggest challenge of the week was the passage plan from Littlehampton to Ryde for the ASC Ryde Carnival rally - it seemed impossible on one tide because of the Littlehampton Bar, Ryde Sands and the distance in between. Once again our worries were unfounded as after a cracking sail back up through the Looe Channel we discovered the wind right on the nose and were therefore able to set a direct course and motor the last 14 miles or so keeping an average of 7 knots over the ground which we did with a bit of help from the tide.
Much Pimms and frivolity was enjoyed by all as an intro to the carnival with a delicious BBQ on the sea wall and an exhibition of long range water bombing courtesy of Trevor.
In the true spirit of a Ryde visit the evening concluded in the most popular watering hole the Simeon Arms where live music and busker John (Rambler) entertained us all!
Unfortunately the next day it was time to depart and another good sail was had by all on the way back.