Royal Air Force Yacht Club

Article & Photos Paul Oliver Calsara

You can experience a lot on RAFYC rallies, sometimes much more than you could have ever imagined. The Newtown Creek rally proved testament to this.

 We were tested by winds of varying strengths from changing directions all weekend. Not that the sailing was testing. It was fun, even allowing for a vigorous squall north of Cowes on Sunday afternoon.

 Anchoring was a different matter.   

 Finding a position which allowed enough scope of chain to be paid out, to avoid the anchor dragging during the foul weather forecast for overnight, took more than a little judgement. Anchoring in mud against strong tides and winds can lead to problems, so after a night of strong winds and torrential rain, we were comforted to find Calsara laying in much the same position when we emerged from our bunks the next morning.

 More experienced members had sensibly taken up the visitor moorings, having arrived earlier, several returning from the opportunity to enjoy lunch in the New Inn at Shalfleet. Another lesson learned.

 The beach barbeque on Saturday evening actually took place amongst the shelter of trees in a remote car park. This proved an inspired choice. RAFYC rallying folk are renowned for making the best of things and the barbeque was enjoyed in high spirits. Many different types of barbeque were on display, sporting a variety of imaginative dishes; very tasty. The normal tradition, apparently, is for the evening to progress into campfires and well oiled voices engaged in a heady gusto of traditional songs. So it proved.

Quite heartening and very welcome, a few rally virgins had turned up to join in with all the usual suspects, for what turned out to be an entertaining evening, par excellence. If you were there enjoying a club rally for the first time please let club members know of your experience, warts and all, by posting a few words on the forum.

Darkness descended well before the evening ended. Several dinghies were later seen to take curious routes back to their mother ships. I had not previously thought it necessary to create a passage plan and a course to steer for a short trip in an inflatable, but then again; well at least we had taken a torch. Thankfully all returned safely, if a little later than anticipated.

Some intrepid members decided to make a race of the return passage. The crew on Calsara decided on a late breakfast setting off an hour or so later. The wind had dropped and with the rest of the day to make the short passage home, we sailed lazily under balmy skies taking in the sunshine.

That was until we were hit by the squall off Cowes. I wonder how many other skippers experience their crew making for the shelter of the cockpit cover at the first drop of rain?

Still, it made for a sporting sail back up Southampton Water before experiencing another regular incidence. Why is it that in stark contrast to just outside, the weather in the Hamble is often sunny and benign when you get to your mooring? Those members who had returned earlier could be seen taking advantage of this phenomenon on the club terrace. They may have been there for some time. However this presented an always happy opportunity to repatriate a young lady with her (wet weather) trousers. The attached photos give a clue. See if you can spot who.