There was a lot of interest expressed in this cruise with eighteen enquiries. The forecast probably reduced the numbers to the ten boats which arrived at Baiter on a cool and blustery morning. One unfortunate had omitted to bring his tiller and no spare could be found. Sailing without a rudder can be good practice but is best not undertaken in a force 4 to 5 with rather lumpy water to negotiate! So nine of us launched with the intention of making Bramble Bush Bay, to the south of the harbour entrance for lunch.

The group sailed south towards Brownsea Island and then ran east on a broad reach on the north-westerly. However a couple of us came to grief and got wet. Tacking with a cleated jib sent my crew and me into the water too fast to manage a dry capsize but we righted the boat and baled! We followed the course most of the other boats had taken only to find Don Murray, W1377 and his wife in a worse predicament with their mast stuck in the mud. Wind against tide conspired to prevent them recovering the position and they were eventually helped by the inshore lifeboat crew. 

Having been in the water a long time they quite correctly returned to the slip and warmth. However they were both fine. The two Wanderers that had 'stood by' during their predicament then continued.

Robin Lamb,W797 and two other boats decided the conditions were not suitable for their needs, especially as a couple of them had to leave early for the return home.

Five of us rounded the eastern end of Brownsea into wind shadow with shifts of the airs through 360 degrees. We all made the bay for lunch in very good time and agreed to the original plan of sailing west to the south of Brownsea. We all set off under reefed mains and tacked south of Furzey Island and then headed towards Arne, making a landing at Shipstal Point. There the sun came out, the wind lessened and we spent a pleasant half an hour before setting off on a reach towards the ferry terminal and back to the slipway. 

Graham Andrews, 469, Terry Pullen, 863, John Butterworth, 1253 and Chris Stracey, 1460 made the whole day arriving back at 15.30, having had a very lively but enjoyable sail.

John Ponsford W 909