Eastern Venture Cruise Report

There are many things for a Cruise Leader to think about when arranging a cruise, including tides, marina berths, group meal and of course lastly weather, but that is not in the Cruise Leader’s control.  One other thing that was not predicted was the timing of the Women’s Football World Cup with England being in the Final!  On Sunday the cruise set off at just about kick-off.  It did not deter the seven crews who had a good sail to the Forts and arrived in Gosport for 17.30 drinks at The Boathouse.  Six boats moved on to the Great Wall Chinese for their fill of the traditional buffet menu.

Monday morning saw the fleet leave Gosport at 08.00 at low water (nobody aground this year) to catch the tide for the Looe Channel off Selsey and were joined by Dawn Chorus coming from Chichester. Between Main Passage and Boulder and Street buoys the S wind picked up for the one tack before being downwind for the heading to Littlehampton entrance. Arrival for entry to the harbour around two hours before HW, as recommended by the Harbour Master, still saw a strong flood tide, but all safely rafted on the East Bank Pontoon.  The drinks party on the pontoon included telephone orders to Oscars for Fish ‘n Chips in cockpits later.

For Tuesday’s lay day, the weather and tides were good for dinghy trips to Arundel and the Black Rabbit.  Another successful trip for three electric outboards and one two-stroke, (sensible and nothing unsurprising in taking a can of spare fuel!).  The HW stand at Arundel allowed for extended eating and drinking with perhaps a later than expected return to Littlehampton.

The return to the Solent and Chichester on Wednesday gave us the best ever sail from Littlehampton to Boulder and Street buoys in a fair NW, and allowed those in Chichester to berth in the marina only half an hour after the end of freeflow.

The weather and sails were enjoyed by all those participating (in whole or part) namely, Sounio, Quintette, Coco, High Time, Raven, Dawn Chorus, Pim and Selene IV.  It will be hard to beat next year.

John Fisher