The Westerly Owners' Association - South Coast Group

Easter Weekend – Poole Rally

Ten boats made it to Lymington for a pleasant dinner at the Kings Head pub on Friday evening. The following morning, ten boats assembled off Lymington for the start of the pursuit race to Poole. The wind was very light but the tide assisted the boats on their way. Four boats took the Needles Channel and the other six took the North Channel. The winds remained light, and as there was little prospect of the boats making the finish line in time for the evening, the course was shortened, and the finish positions were taken as the distances from the finish line at 3pm. White Magic took first place by just three-hundredths of a mile from Scallie II with Busiris and Moonstorm in equal Third place, one tenth of a mile further behind.

On arrival at Poole Town Quay Boat Haven, drinks and nibbles on the pontoon were followed by the presentation of prizes for the race. A free evening ashore was followed by the Easter Bonnet parade.

The following morning, after distribution of Easter eggs, two dinghies, from Scallie II and Busiris set off for the trip up the river to Wareham. Unfortunately, shortly before arrival at Wareham, Scallie’s tender lost its engine cooling water and was towed for the last half-mile to Wareham. After a pleasant meal at the Old Granary at Wareham Quay, the working engine was transferred to Scallie’s rigid dinghy, the other dinghy deflated and put inside, for the trip back to Poole with a skeleton crew. A taxi was chartered for the remaining crew, and all made it back safely and in good time for good dinner at the Antelope Inn.

Scallie II’s crew, crossing the harbour (with fluffy Easter Chick mounted on Busiris’ outboard)	Easter Chick suffered a little when some water slopped into the dinghy on the way back!

The following morning, we set off early for the trip back to the Solent in fine sunshine. Unfortunately, the morning was windless and we had to motor all the way across Poole Bay. A fitful light breeze allowed a little sailing from the Needles to Hurst, before it was once again time to put the engine on for the rest of the way back to Hamble. Just as we approached the river entrance, the breeze picked up again and we were able to sail most of the way up to Burseldon.