The Summer Rally went ahead between Wednesday 23rd and Friday 25th of August with three boats from the Club taking part. These were Jus Lymin, owned and skippered by Paul Jeffs and crewed by (new member) Lynne Garne, and Fran and JT; Boomerang, owned and skippered by Graham Blake and crewed by Jeanne (Bubs) Frazer and Peter Puttock, and finally Howard and Nikki Richadson’s power boat Riptide acting as Flagship with your Commodore and Lady Commodore (Kevin and Penny Roberts) onboard.

All three boats arrived at Yarmouth during Wednesday afternoon from different home ports; Jus Lymin from Chichester Harbour, Boomerang from Hamble and Riptide from Port Solent. The weather was reasonably kind to those sailing, although the tide was not so favourable for an early start during the day, with High Tide at Portsmouth set at 16.22. Yarmouth was surprisingly busy with boats rafting up three deep on the visitor pontoons. However, the Harbour Master was kind to us and managed to get our three boats together with Jus Lymin rafted against Riptide. Needless to say, drinks and nibbles were partaken aboard the Flagship before the ten of us went for an enjoyable dinner at “On the Rocks” in Yarmouth town.

Thursday was an early start for the sailing vessels to get through the Needles before the tide was against them, to make their way to Poole for Thursday afternoon. Riptide made her way out of the Solent a little later and across to moor up in Studland Bay to await the arrival of the yachts. The weather was less kind that day for those sailing with some heavy rain, but fairly light winds at F2 to F3 from the SW. Those on Riptide however, enjoyed a pleasant lunch on board and followed the yachts into Poole mid-afternoon. Once in and moored up safely at the Poole Quay Marina, the Commodore and Lady Commodore hosted nibbles and drinks onboard Riptide again before we all adjourned to the Poole Arms pub for a fabulous fish supper. Poole was particularly busy with the Quay Road closed to traffic, and street entertainment in progress during the evening before a splendid fireworks display put on by the town at 21.00, which happens every Thursday evening during the summer.

Friday saw all three boats head back to their home ports. The weather was a little kinder than the day before with a reasonable breeze out of the SW and no rain as such apart from the odd shower. Riptide did not have to worry as much about tide and wind so made its way back to Studland Bay to moor up for a while, have lunch and for Howard and your Commodore to have a quick swim.