Chichester Harbour Weekend Cruise - June 2nd/3rd 2001

Persistent and severe windy weather in the week preceding this event whittled down the number of members initially expressing an interest [12 or so] to an actual attendance of 4 boats.  However the weather did improve and a great weekend's sailing was enjoyed.

Pictures of Sat cruising courtesy of John Collins click here to view.

Those who braved the F4/5 winds for the weekend were W1432 [Sat only], Bev and Gwyneth Woolard and daughter Suzie, W992, Mike and Alison Hamilton, W1000 [Save The Children], Roger Worraker with Alan Collins [Saturday] and Jon Ponsford [Sunday] and W863 Terry Pullen and Judy Porter [cruise organisers]. Jeff and Marion Hall [W9] joined us for the Wanderer Dinner on Sat evening.

The Cruise was based in lovely Chichester Harbour launching from the expansive Public Hard at Itchenor. Roger Worraker sailed W1000 [originally auctioned for the Save The Children Fund and sporting their logo on hull and sails] single handed up from West Wittering SC to join us for the 10 am briefing . 

Bev Woolard sailed from Bosham to join us at Itchenor and Alan Collins, who had originally intended to sail his Wanderer round from Portsmouth harbour, was persuaded to drive round to us instead by the wind and early start.  Alan spent the day crewing/helming with Roger in W1000.

The weather on Saturday was initially overcast with strong but steady wind but soon improved with the appearance of the sun soon after we went afloat at about 10:30.  All boats were well reefed and once we had accustomed ourselves to the conditions we set off to explore the Bosham Channel before heading down with the tide to East Head for lunch in the sun drenched sand dunes!

In the afternoon a brisk sail across the harbour entrance saw us all safely to Hayling Island where afternoon tea was taken at HISC [currently undergoing a major reconstruction of it's Club House], however we were able to make use of their facilities and the refreshments on offer.

On our return sail to Itchenor a brief excursion up Thorney channel was cut short when the wind got up from f4/5 and gusted to F6.  Although relatively short lived this was not pleasant and we quickly decided to retreat and continue to Itchenor where we came ashore at about 16:00.  This was the only time that any of us got wet during the whole weekend!

In the evening we reassembled, joined by Geoff and Marion Hall W98, at the Ship Inn Itchenor for a superb meal and to recount the days events.

Sunday was much improved with regard to weather - brighter and warmer but still windy! Bev and his family could not join us today and Roger was joined by Jon Ponsford whose own crew had pulled out at the last minute.  Mike Hamilton was joined by his racing crew for the day and so it was only these three boats that launched in marvelous sailing conditions and shot up toward Dell Quay passing Birdham pool and Chichester marina before making land fall at dell Quay for a coffee break. Lunch was again planned for East Head but Roger would have to leave us before lunch due to the falling tide and the tricky access back into WWSC.

After lunch, in the sun and sand again at East Head, the two remaining boats crossed the channel and landed on the expanse of sand between Stokers Lake and East Head now fully exposed at low tide.  We explored this 'approximation to an uninhabited tropical isle' before setting off to sail in the shallows round the rear of the 'island' and making our way back to Itchenor and the conclusion to a fine if windy weekend's Wanderer sailing.

Terry Pullen  W863 'Nebula'.

Note: Jon Ponsford is the Cruise organiser for the popular Poole Harbour Cruise on Sept 9th.   Also don't miss a WCOA 'first' cruising on Derwent Water in the Lakes - Sept 15/16 with Ken Dickinson.

Click here for Programme details and email / contacts.