The 2022 Spring Rally ran from Monday 23 to Sunday 29 of May, with four charter yachts from Fairview at Port Hamble and the owner’s yacht Sea Myth who took advantage of sailing over the prior weekend.

Our charter yacht was Femme Fatale, and the others were D’Artagnan, Soirée and Trés Jolie skippered by Allen Busby, Martin Woods and Peter Smerdon respectively.  On Femme Fatale, I was ably supported by Alistair Kingham (1st Mate), Jacqueline Forsyth, Janet and Brendan O’Connell and Ash Hemming.

What was different this year?

There were two standout differences on this Rally.  Firstly, for many this was the first long trip since the end of COVID Lockdown.  So perhaps, the first time back on a yacht in three years.  Secondly, we intended to leave the UK Waters 12-mile limit for the first time since Brexit.  So, if you ever wondered what the purpose of the yellow ‘Q’ Flag was, all was about to be revealed.

Planning for the Spring Rally

Members often ask, “Who plans the Spring Rally?”  This year the Rally Organisers were our Rear-Commodore Cruising Beryl Reed and Commodore David Reed, though it’s true to say that with everything from passage planning to victualling, the Skippers and the Crews all do their bit to make the event a success.

However, with the charter yachts planning to sail into French Ports and all the yachts wanting to moor in Braye Harbour, Alderney for the Rally Dinner, an understanding of the Customs and Immigration formalities in UK, France and the Channel Islands was essential.  Thanks to Beryl for all her detailed research, we all set off with a full suite of completed forms.

Outward Bound

Sea Myth set sail on Saturday 21 May with a rapid beam reach down Southampton Water and then on to Yarmouth for their first overnight stop.  Not deterred by a bit of fog in the Channel, Sea Myth headed to Braye and then on to Sark and St Peter Port.

With handover of the charter yachts at 10am on Monday 23 May, most crews had a very early start from home, to catch the early afternoon flood tide to Bembridge Ledge before setting a course to Saint Vaast La Hougue or Cherbourg.

Femme Fatale caught the easterly tide out of the Solent and initially a NW F2-F4 allowing us to make good time on our Channel Crossing.  However, the wind backed W/SW F4-F6 and the rolling motion of the yacht brought on bouts of sea sicknesses for some of the crew.

With Cherbourg outer harbour wall in the distance, we dutifully raised the ‘Q’ Flag to let the authorities know we needed immigration clearance once alongside.  The inner harbour was a very welcome sight for all of us on Tuesday morning.

Cherbourg

Being in Cherbourg with an intermittent drizzle was not what we’d hoped for, however it did give everyone time to recover from the uncomfortable crossing.

The highlight was unquestionably an excellent dinner on Wednesday evening in the Café de Paris restaurant with our Commodore and the crew of D’Artagnan.

Over to Alderney

I had a fortuitous conversation with the other Skippers regarding the Alderney Race and the upshot was that my planned departure at 05.30am  LT could be rescheduled to 08am LT, much to the delight of the crew.

Despite the forecast of a westerly wind, we had a great sail over to Braye on Thursday, arriving just after midday, and flying, you’ve guessed it, our ‘Q’ Flag!

We then had ample time to get spruced up for Commodore’s Drinks at the Alderney Sailing Club followed by the Rally Dinner at the Braye Beach Hotel.  Even the Water Taxi agreed to run on after the normal 10pm finish!

Congratulations to David Reed for his first rally speech as Commodore.  The food, service and company were great, and we all had a marvellous evening.

The beach at the Château de Longis

The weather in Alderney was excellent and with a free day on Friday, the crew of Femme Fatale and others, took the opportunity to explore the island.  Great work by Janet, Jacqueline, Brendan and Alistair who walked the full 10 miles around whilst Ash and I kept to routine and cycled one and a half times round.  There are beautiful beaches, many WWII monuments to discover, a cobbled High St and a golf course (for future reference!).

Amazing day to explore Alderney by walking and cycling

Homeward bound – Channel Day sailing

You can bet that at some point in the Rally there will be an early rise and as we wanted a day sail to Lymington and to arrive in time for a pub meal, it was skeleton crew on deck for 04.30am to leave the mooring in Braye Harbour.  Being efficient, we’d the main sail up whilst on the mooring though with a wind from the N/ NE it was a motor sail for most of the day.  The crew members staying in their bunks for the early hours of the sail said later that they wished they’d also got up at 0430, as trying to get dressed in the forepeak in choppy seas was quite a challenge!

As we passed the Needles Fairway Buoy, the ‘Q’ Flag was hoisted for the last time and an email and phone call to UK Border Force allowed us to lower the flag in Berthon Marina.  We arrived in time for a meal ashore and enjoyed several night caps with Peter Smerdon and his crew on Trés Jolie, conveniently alongside in front of us.

We’d a leisurely sail/ motor sail back to the Hamble River on Sunday and congratulated ourselves with a job well done and a great time together on the Rally.

To conclude, I’d like to thank my crew for all their hard work in preparing for the Rally and for doing all the important jobs on the yacht while we were away.

Also, on behalf of all those who took part, I’d like to thank Beryl and David again.  They did a marvellous job in running the event.