| Offshore Foolishness |
CategoryMiscE & F Pontoon's Christmas RallyFor the past several years a small flotilla has attempted to leave Southsea in early December to party somewhere in the Solent. Some years we're successful (in leaving that is - the party in the evening is always a success) and some we are not (fog or high winds are the usual culprits).Last Saturday morning the folk of the E & F pontoon gathered to discuss the forecast for Sunday - quite how soon would the Gale 8 arrive? HW was early afternoon so could we get back in time? Woudl the smaller boats cope? Crews of bigger boats remained ambivalent and evenutally after changing the destination to suit those who needed 'leccy to power their fairy lights, 8 boats carrying 20 crew but this year no dog (Colette & Martin - if you read this - we missed you and Jazz) headed for Shepards rather than our planned destination on the basis it would be a shorter return journey if the weathermen got it wrong. Temptress was amongst the last to leave waiting for the depth over the sill. Once out in Langstone Harbour we set just the genoa and, beyond the entrance reached down Southsea beach towards the "inside passage" in unseasonably warm, fine weather for December. Gradually, as we passed Stokes Bay the wind went forward but the sailing remained easy. Our crew, Peter, was a little worried about the Skipper's lacksadaisical attitude to lookout but as the only boats anywhere near us were mostly part of the Southsea fleet heading the same way there were no worries. The mobile rang - Shepards wanted to know how to identify members of the fleet we'd booked in earlier. "E & F Pontoon, Southsea's Christmas Party" seemed a mouthful to the staff so we settled for "Southsea Marina". Why is it that 3 boats constitute a race? One which given our relative size (the other competitors were a HR 38 and a HR34) and despite our lack of sail, when the wind rose a little, we were bound to win. Off the Red Jet pier the gennie was furled and we headed in to Shepards. Much practised at cruises in company the Southsea crews moored up - 4 boats on the inside of the pontoon and 4 boats rafted along side these. Those who hadn't managed lunch on the move headed off to raid the fridge and we all agreed to meet up later for mulled wine at 4 on the pontoon. Later 20 storybook characters ranging from Dracula (all the way from Sardinia) to 3 Men in a Boat to Mary Popins and Cruella De Ville (mother and daughter respectively!) gathered on Temptress with plates of nibbles and bottles of favourite tipples. Another wonderful evening enjoying one another's company for the last time this year was had. It was followed by a great downwind sail on Sunday arriving home just before it started to blow (and rain). Another Christmas party over - roll on next year when we'll have yet more tales of summer cruising to share no doubt. 10:24 PM - Dec. 13, 2006 - post comment
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Description When you reach a certain age and have done more than a few offshore races the time comes to look for a little more comfort.  Home User Profile Archives Recent Entries - Happy New Year - End of the Line - The project becomes a Project! - eBay: Not Exactly Where You'd Look for a Classic Boat... - Its been a while |