The Westerly Owners' Association - South Coast Group

Littlehampton – A Triathlon Approach

Maintaining our 100% record, the third South Coast Group event of this year was matched by the third dreadful weather forecast. As Buckler’s Hard Boatbuilders had not completed the agreed winter work on Mouette Blanche, we suggested to the event organisers – Jan Wise and Jeremy Smallwood – that they use Busiris as a base and accommodation for the weekend. The plan was to go down to East Head and anchor on the Friday evening, to break the trip into two stages.

A sudden flurry of work on the Friday morning resulted in a late (midday) start and missing the tide; this would not have mattered too much except for the light headwinds, which resulted in very slow progress down the eastern Solent. Plan B was being formulated to go into Haslar Marina, but by the time we were off Gilkicker Point, the tide was easing and so we decided to press on to East Head, enjoying a pleasant and sunny evening’s sail in the light breeze. Although the tide was now favourable, the winds became even lighter and it was not until 21.00 that we finally dropped anchor at East Head. Another rally boat – Carina arrived and anchored at the same time. Planning for the morning, we discovered that our chart software had failed, rendering all the newly updated electronic charts useless, so it was back to traditional methods, with paper charts and the slide rule!

The following morning, we awoke to grey skies and a NE’ly force 4/5, gusting 6 at times. The forecast obtained confirmed NE Force 6 soon. As the Looe Channel is not recommended in strong wind-against-tide conditions, the proper course would be south of the Owers. This would add at least ten miles to the distance and there was every prospect we would end up with an unpleasant 12-mile beat directly to windward on the final leg. The extra distance also meant that we should have been under way an hour previously, to carry the flood tide all the way to Littlehampton. The forecast was also depressingly poor for the rest of the weekend. Discussing with Carina, they advised they had already decided to run back to Portsmouth and complete the trip to Arun Yacht Club by car. We could see a lot of merit in this; it certainly seemed more attractive than slogging to windward round Selsey Bill! It also gave us the germ of an idea, which would get us all to Littlehampton in good time, and provide overnight accommodation for us all.

Without further ado, we completed our breakfast and weighed anchor. A deep reef in the main and the No 1 jib was enough to set us flying back towards the Solent. We completed the distance from Chichester Bar to Hamble Point in just 2½ hours, with the log even touching 10 knots at one point, as we came through the forts.

Busiris’ wake at 8 knots	Our companion for some of the journey back

Once on the mooring, the boat was quickly put to bed, and we drove round to Fawley to get the four-wheeled yacht (motor home). We arrived in Littlehampton (and met Jan, who had come by car) just in time for the drinks and nibbles on the pontoon alongside Forever Friends – and not a little ribbing about not sailing round. I used to get teased when I did not motor – now I am teased when I do!

The fleet on the Harbourmaster’s Pontoon, Littlehampton

We then retreated to the Arun Yacht Club for an excellent three course dinner, accompanied by a testing nautical quiz devised by Jan. The First Prize – by a whisker - was Butch Hobbs of Forever Friends, who won the bottle of bubbly. Jan had also provided the core of a bring-and-buy book stall, which raised a total of £51.71 for the RNLI, during the evening.

The forecast rain came in heavily over most of Saturday night, but the weather amazingly relented on Sunday, and the morning developed with blue skies and sunshine. This enabled the boat crews, in their dinghies, to motor up the River Arun in glorious sunshine, to the Black Rabbit pub, about a mile above Arundel. The pub was very busy with Bank Holiday visitors, but there was still plenty of time for drinks and a pleasant meal before returning back down river to Littlehampton on the ebb.

Lunch at the Black Rabbit	Joyrides in the dinghy

Having not brought our dinghy, we all decided to walk the riverside path to the pub (just over 5 miles in total), enjoying the scenery on the way. On the way back, we had the opportunity to do our own boating however, hiring a couple of small rowing boats on Swanbourne Lake – and feeding the ducks.

Jeremy and Jan feeding the ducks	A Mandarin Duck on the river bank

Having allowed us that day of sunshine, the weather reverted to type, and the rain came in heavily again on the Sunday night. We had already moved the four-wheeled-yacht from the Arun Yacht Club car park to a nearby campsite at Ford, and awoke to find ourselves almost surrounded by standing water – if it had been much deeper we would have been better off in the boat! Most of the nearby tents had disappeared during the night, and it was with great trepidation that we set off across the soggy field towards the exit. With faltering speed and spinning wheels, we just made it onto the harder ground at the exit to the field. With driving rain and gusty winds on the way home, we felt much sympathy for those (real sailors!) sailing home. One major consolation was that – contrary to some earlier forecasts - the wind had stayed easterly, giving the fleet a fast trip back to the Solent. In any event, we were happy to get home and moor-up the FWY in its place on the drive.

Many thanks to Jan and Jeremy for organising the event and all the hard work they put in to make it so successful. Many thanks also to the Arun Yacht Club for making us so welcome, and inviting us back for future events.