The visit to Historic Chatham Dockyard went ahead on the 29th February. Despite dreadful weather being predicted, six of us turn up in the morning, with the rain generally holding off and not as severe as expected. Mind you, sou’westers were still required.

I planned this trip around my visit to the Dockyard Archive office to hand over my Grandfather’s Naval Papers from his time in service between 1922 and 1937. Chatham Dockyard, or more specifically, HMS Pembroke, the actual Royal Naval Barracks located across the road from the main Dockyard entrance was my Grandfather’s home port when not on board ship. Chatham was one of three of the Royal Navy’s “manning ports” together with Plymouth and Portsmouth.

I’m pleased to say the Archivist was very happy to take my Grandfathers Naval Papers and provided a little more of his history and links with Chatham.

Your Commodore sitting with the Dockyard Archivist signing over his Grandfather’s Naval Papers

If you haven’t been to the Dockyard recently it really has undergone considerable improvement and worth a visit. The single ticket, at £28.50 is good value as it is valid for a year. Those who turned up will certainly be going back for a repeat visit(s) as there is a lot to do; more than a single visit can take in, or to just enjoy being out by the River Medway.

One of the highlights of our visit was the Ropery, housed in a listed 19th century building that is near a quarter of a mile long (over 1,100 feet) and is the last remaining original naval ropeworks still in operation. However, they have been making rope at Chatham since 1618. The Ropery is a Double Ropehouse where spinning took place on the upper floors and the Rope Walk where the actual rope is made, on the ground floor, which today still uses original Georgian and Victorian equipment. The Ropey is actually run as a commercial business taking orders to produce rope in both natural and synthetic fibres.

Intrepid Oxted Offshore Sailors visiting the Historic Chatham Dockyard Ropery

For a couple of us it was pleasing to see that the “health and safety” brigade has not influenced how they make the rope or the equipment being used, with lots of exposed moving parts and rope guides and power “belts” running the full length of the ropeworks. This is certainly a fantastic example of a very traditional works in use producing something of quality and, if looked after, longevity.

The next stop on our visit after lunch in the Mess Room cafeteria (and obligatory gift shop), was a guided tour on HM Submarine Ocelot, an Oberon-Class submarine and the last warship to have been built at Chatham. Ocelot was launched in May 1962 being design and fully built at Chatham Dockyard, and one of 57 submarines built at Chatham between 1908 and 1966. She was powered by stealthy diesel / electric engines which made her suitable for quite secret operations by the Navy, with much of her history still protected Top Secret under the Official Secrets Act.

It was certainly cramped in the submarine with “hot-bedding” by the crew as a norm and very limit facilities. Apparently, they only showered on board at the end of a tour, which could be three months or more, just before they got back into port! It was also incredible to see the number of valves and gauges used throughout to manage and control the submarine. It really took a special kind of person to volunteer and serve on these vessels.

Given it was still the winter opening times with the Dockyard closing at 4.00pm, after our tour over Ocelot and a quick look over HMS Gannet, a Victorian Sloop, we didn’t have time to take in many of the other exhibits or look over HMS Cavalier, a Second World War Destroyer. However, it was still a grand day out and one to be repeated in the near future.

On the 31st January 2024, thirteen OOSC members attended the January meeting of the Club with an evening dinner at the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) club, located at 20 St. James Place, Piccadilly, London SW1A 1NN, on the 31st January 2024.

We all made our way by train up to London for this event, to meet in the RORC bar at 6.30pm for pre-dinner drinks.  We then made our way into the restaurant for an excellent three course meal.  Unfortunately, most of us had to make a dash after the meal to get the 9.50pm train back to Oxted, as ASLEF scuppered our plans for a more relaxed end to the evening as they were working to rule and cutting down on trains going our way.

Despite this, we did have an excellent evening, and my thanks go to all those who attended. 

Between the 23rd to 30th September a number of us flew to Pula, Croatia, for a week’s yacht charter. Some of us flew out on the Wednesday before to explore the delights and history of Pula, which included many Roman monuments and buildings, the most significant being the Amphitheatre.

Of those who did arrive early, included our intrepid explorers and motor caravaners, Catherine and Jeremy who took time driving all the way down (and back again…) taking in some spectacular sights and places en route.

In all we had a total of 27 take part from the Club, including a contingent from Ashdown Sailing Club, with four monohulls and one catamaran, all chartered out of Pomer marina, a short distance from Pula.

The week could simply be put as lots of sun, sea, sandy beaches and bays… and, oh yes, lots of wind.

In fact from day one on the Sunday we were in the grips of a north-easterly Bora channelling down between the mainland and the islands out to the east. Our original plan was to go exploring these islands, but like so often we had to change this on the day. Interestingly, the Bora, which is a katabatic cold wind descending down from the mountains to north, often blows on about a five day cycle, which according to various wind prediction models was the case. Therefore, we were hoping for the wind to ease as the week passed, which it did. There was also reported 3m to 4m waves from the NE, which even if we did try to cross to the islands would make for some very unpleasant sailing conditions… after all we were in Croatia to enjoy ourselves and not make it a survival lesson.

As we came out of the Pomer Bay we turned right instead of left to travel up the western coast of Croatia, which offered better protection against the wind and calmer seas. Mind you we still saw F7 gusting F8 winds for most of the early part of the week, meaning the boats were generally deeply reefed. However, with the calmer sea we still had some enjoyable sailing.

The Sunday night saw the boats moored up on buoys in Uvala Soline, a lovely quiet bay just south of Pula. Amazingly most of us managed to crowd on Jane Fowler’s boat for drinks and nibbles in the evening.

The next day was a longer passage up to Futana where most of us managed to get into the marina. This passage included passing the Brijuni Island and Nation Park, the one-time holiday home of the former President Tito, but at some 200 Euros just to stop even for the day, this was certainly not on the agenda.

Unfortunately, when we got to Futana there was no room for the catamaran which moored off nearby in the bay. The marina was reasonably priced at 60 Euro for the 47ft yacht I chartered, with very good, clean facilities. After some supper ashore, the Commodore’s “flag ship” hosted the Black and White theme night for yet more drinking and music.

Given that the winds were predicted to ease on Tuesday meant that we could travel south back down the coast in the hope of getting across to one of the islands. We looked into Uvala Paltana for an overnight stop but this was quite a busy bay and a little industrial for us, so given that Uvala Soline was so nice and just up the coast we stayed for a quiet overnight on a buoy.

The following day we decided it was still not advisable to cross over to where we wanted to get to so elected for a passage back round the southern tip of the mainland and call in and stay the night in the bay off Medulin. Some of the boats managed to get a berth in the marina at somewhat a more costly stay than the Futana marina, but unfortunately with poorer facilities.

Thursday saw the wind easing as predicted which allowed us to make our way across to Unije island. This was an approximately 25Nm passage under very pleasant wind and sea conditions (at last). Our stop for the night was in Uvala Maracol, a really beautiful inlet on the east side of the island where we all took a buoy and figured out the double stern line system which kept our boats very stable for the night.

OxtedOffshore (and others) moored up in Maracol inlet on Unije

I’m afraid to say that we did ruin the quiet of the bay, at least between 6pm and 8pm when the crew of the catamaran hoisted the Mamma Mia night. Much dancing (to Abba tracks, of course…) and drinking ensued to make this a spectacular end to our week. I’m not sure what the other boats moored up thought of our antics but we enjoyed ourselves, and sensibly stopped just after nightfall to hand the bay back to some peace and calm.

Mamma Mia!

Friday meant we had to get back to Pomer to end the charter. The passage back was a complete contrast to the beginning of the week and at one point meant we had to get the donkey going to make some headway. Once safely back, we had a pleasant end-of-rally meal at the marina restaurant.

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.

19 – 21 May 2023

The Rally went ahead as planned with some interesting weather predicted coming out of the N to NE. 

In total we had five yachts; Paul Jeffs skippering his new (to him) 38ft Island Packet, Jus Lymin, crewed by yours truely and new members Duncan and Sarah Southcott, Nick & Gail on NickNack, Peter Puttock skippering Magnus Tao with one of his regular crew, Perdo plus club members Richard Aust, Babs Frazer and Nick Frazer, and Stewart Coia skipping Azanti with his regular crew, Paul, Phil and Peter.  In addition we had Howard and Nikki on their new (to them) 37ft Sealine, Riptide.

Jus Lymin, Magnus Tao and Azanti took part in the “fast-cruise-in-company” on the Saturday all leaving Portsmouth for the 09.00 start, the start line being the transect between No Man’s Land and Horse Sand Forts. NickNack was otherwise committed to a charity event in Chichester on the Friday and thus could not make the start line in time due to tide and Riptide was to act as the Committee Boat at the finish to take final times over the line.  Being the Spring Rally, the Club’s Rose Bowl was up for grabs for the fastest time.

The first leg was out to Nab Tower where the three boats encountered a reasonable swell and F4 winds.  Fortunately we managed this leg with the tide which then dropped as we approach high water on the return leg back through the forts and into the Solent.  The wind and tide stayed with us for the rest of the cruise down through the Solent taking Solent Bank to starboard before cutting over to the finish line at 2F Berthon and a race buoy close by to the north, where Riptide was waiting for us to take our times.  It wasn’t a particularly challenging sail, other than the leg out to Nab Tower where the wind and swell picked up.  The only tack was round the Tower and once that was done it was effectively a broad reach and gibe down the Solent, to harden up for the finish.  However, the sun was out and as a result the three boats had fairly fast times over the course.  In fact the results were very close indeed, as follows:

Magnus Tao – 4hrs 3mins
Azanti – 4hrs 4mins
Jus Lymin – 4hrs 6mins  

Given the vagaries of the handicap systems, the handicaps provided by Azanti and Magnus Tao and that I couldn’t find one for an Island Packet, I have come up with the following corrected times (Commodore’s decision being final):

Azanti – 3hrs 49mins
Jus Lymin – 4hrs 3mins
Magnus Tao – 4hrs 9mins

So it pains me to say that Stewart’s name will be on the Rose Bowl this year, even though the Commodore was on Jus Lymin (I just couldn’t fudge the results in my favour any better and still have a clear conscious) – a Committee’s Inquiry really should be held to question Azanti handicap for future events ….

On completing the course, and with NickNack joining us a short while later, we berthed up at Lymington Town Quay, which we all through was a lovely setting and has been improved with new finger quays and reasonably good toilets and showers.  After a suitable rest we mustered on Jus Lymin for some pre-dinner drinks and nibbles before retiring to the Ship Inn, literally located at the end of the Quay.  The Ship Inn was fantastic in their organisation, having had all our meals pre-ordered which helped enormously – everything for all 18 of us come out promptly and correctly, and very good value for the quality of their food.  The bill at the end was even correct to the penny, which made my life much easier.

The Sunday was an early departure to beat the tide back down the Solent.  Jus Lymin needed to get back to Chichester and after leaving Lymington we settled down to a single tack through the Solent to Chichester as the wind was still out of the N to NE.  However, it had increased in strength from the previous day – we certainly saw a wind speed of up to 35kts. 

All in all it was a great weekend with some good sailing, no disasters and great company.