David and Beryl Reed, Mary Coles and myself car shared for the trip and drove down on the Wednesday morning. Our remaining crew - Stephen Brownlie, could not get the afternoon off work and joined us later. While David and Beryl went to pick up the pre-ordered provisions from the large Tesco outside Hamble, Mary and I checked the inventory. Eventually the handover was completed, the provisions stored, and the HOEOCA battle flag raised, along with the Club pennant. It was shortly after 4pm and we were certainly ready for a cuppa. Two hours later it was sundowner time, and something stronger was in order. Mary had brought along an excellent Gin - Stratford Dry - which was much appreciated. It really warmed the cockles. Stephen joined us around 6.45pm and later on we made the short stroll into Hamble Village for dinner at The Bugle, where we bumped into Peter Smerdon and some of his crew from Faux Pas. But not everyone was dining locally: David Gilchrist and his crew aboard C’est si Bon had fancied a night sail and had earlier slipped lines to sail over to Cowes for the night. Later we bedded down for our first night aboard. It was a very cold night but we were warm enough, provided that we each pulled our bedding tightly around, cocooning ourselves in for the night.

The butterflies emerged on Thursday to a beautiful, fresh morning with crystal clear skies. It was the first of some lovely sunrises we were treated to. Mary posted some pictures to the Club Facebook group. For Facebook phobes, there are also some on the Club website (maybe you have Rally pictures that could also be uploaded?). Beryl brewed up at 7.30am but we were in no hurry and enjoyed a fairly leisurely start to the day. We slipped lines at 10.45am and enjoyed a good but chilly sail to Lymington, where we moored up in the Berthon Marina.  The nice Berthon folk have installed a small herb garden outside their harbour office there, where yachties can, gratis,  pick the herbs to supplement their victuals. We plucked a small amount of Rosemary to compliment our gin! This piece of free enterprise later earned us a mention in despatches when Mike mentioned the episode in the Commodore’s Rally address. It had not been plain sailing for all today: Michael Skinner and his crew aboard an aptly named Mon Dilemme had hit engine trouble related to the water pump. Some nursing was done and in the immediate term were going to have to wait to see how things went. This evening nearly all boats dined at The King’s Head.

Friday morning brought a very sharp frost indeed, and the decks and pontoons were treacherous if one didn’t take care. Once again the cold start was the price paid for fabulously crisp and clear conditions. As the day progressed it got warmer and warmer and - apart from no wind! - it was a fabulous day, a belter in fact. We slipped lines for Cowes at 8.30am. Out in the Solent, under motor, we remarked on the very large number of vapour trails seen. I suppose it was evidence of the World slowly getting back to “normal” (how long will it be before this six letter word can be used without irony or special emphasis?). Shortly after 9am we nosed into Newton Creek for a quick look, before continuing East on our island “sightseeing tour”, the next stop being Gurnard! Just after 10am, off Gurnard bay, we saw a lone Spitfire flying westwards. It was too early in the day to think about mooring so we continued past Cowes, up the River Medina, and tied up alongside one of the mid-river pontoons, diagonally across from the The Folly, purveyor of ales, spirits, food, and dancing on the tables! But even they would not, I think, do this at 11am, even if it was Friday! Our time on the pontoon here was a lovely, peaceful interlude, and we enjoyed a very nice lunch of baked spuds, cheese and beans. This may have been the first time I have had a baked potato on a cruise. However Beryl and Dave often have them. They are easy to cook, warming, taste great, and can be used with numerous toppings. Perhaps it is surprising that they are not seen more in the sailor’s diet. Our control panel display was not working as expected so Dave put in a call to Fairview to tell them the symptoms. The advice was, in short, to reboot the system (the age-old IT suggested remedy). It did the trick! While we were here we learned that matters had not improved on Mon Dilemme, and a tow back to the Hamble for repairs was looking highly likely. We motored downriver and took our mooring in Cowes. Not long after we invited the crew of Sea Myth onboard for drinks.  There had been no sailing today but it had been really pleasant. Further good news was that Mon Dilemme arrived early in the evening. A new water pump had been fitted at Hamble. We dined that evening at The Red Duster.

Saturday: Rally Dinner day. We sailed over to the mainland, bound for Gunwharf Quays Marina in Portsmouth. We enjoyed pleasant downwind sailing, and enjoyed soup for elevenses. All HOEOCA skippers had checked the tide times correctly so that they could get into the narrow entrance to Portsmouth, where the tidal streams can be very strong. Once the fleet were all moored up safely others yachts could be seen battling unsuccessfully to get into the entrance against the tide. Shopping and/or prop hunting for fancy dress may have been an added incentive for the fleet’s arrival time. Faux Pas and C’est si Bon had visited Bembridge en-route and had an unwelcome encounter with some disgusting muck that had been dredged and ended up on a pontoon. The crews cleaned the decks while in Gunwharf....

The Rally Dinner was held at The Old Customs House, a stone’s throw from our moorings. The fancy dress element seems to divide opinion, some wishing we didn’t have the tradition so often (or perhaps at all), and others loving the opportunity to get stuck in and be creative. Whatever the Rally attendees thought I can report that the turnout was impressive - the crews did a great job. The theme was The Gunpowder Plot and the usual suspects (but looking splendid) were on show. That is to say we had Guy Fawkes and conspirators, a proper Guy (as in “penny for the” and looking remarkably like the Commodore), provided by Keith and crew from Reach4thewind.   A talented crew wore the “Anonymous” hackers mask and there was another real life Guy with a talent for music and cadence. The crew of Sea Myth brought us political hustings. Peter and his crew from Faux Pas were very nicely presented as fireworks. Phil from Mon Dilemme was Dennis the Menace. The connection was not obvious to me, but his costume was brilliant. He was  My contribution for our boat was headdresses for three of the crew, made out of really thick paper. I designed them to be transported and stowed aboard in little more space than that taken up by an A4 pad. They were assembled that afternoon.
                        
The evening was a great way to formally end the Rally - a Rally that went with a Gunpowder plot bang.

On Sunday we had great sailing back to the Hambl ewith plenty of tacking . We stopped to top up with fuel before mooring and getting ready for the journey home. I expect many went to bed that night tired but satisfied. Good sailing, great company, fresh air, wonderful vistas, eating and socialising and crystal clear mornings that make you want to fill your lungs with air. Thanks to all of you for being part of it.