After 19 long months, HOEOCA at last managed to get back onto the water on 21 May albeit in a slightly limited way with just five boats taking part and activities confined to UK waters due to both the effects of COVID and Brexit. We were on three boats chartered from Fairview in the Hamble plus owner boats, Sea Myth and In the Mood.

Initial ambitious plans to get as far as Brixham were much curtailed by the weather forecast which was, quite frankly, foul. Consequently, we all stayed put for the first night before the charter boats; Avant Garde, Apres le Vent and Tres Jolie managed to get to Poole in reasonable, if windy, conditions whilst Sea Myth ventured as far as Yarmouth. The Poole contingent all dined in La Lupa Restaurant.

The forecast for Sunday was awful, wet with strong SW winds so most stayed put. In the Mood managed to get from Haslar to East Cowes. The crew of Avant Garde took the open top bus to Bournemouth in a failed quest for a crab sandwich. Walking along the front and looking out to sea confirmed very vividly that a day ashore was the right decision.

Monday’s forecast was better than Sunday's and the Solent seemed to be the safest place to be, so Avant Garde and Apres le Vent left late morning to catch the Needles tide c1630. In the meantime Alistair and the crew of Tres Jolie set out for Weymouth but turned back after very unpleasant conditions past Old Harry. During a very nasty squall it was alarming to hear In the Mood send out a Mayday as they had picked up a lot of fishing net around their propeller on passage from Cowes. Happily, the incident ended with the lifeboat towing them into Yarmouth and a diver attended the following day. Monday was obviously an unlucky day as our Commodore confessed to having taken an unplanned dip in the waters of Haslar, simply slipping on the pontoon.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the various boats reacquainted themselves with many of the ports of the Solent although rarely in company. Yarmouth, Lymington, Bucklers Hard, Gosport, Bembridge and The Folly all received visits. The marinas were welcoming and were busy getting boats back into the water and accommodating cruisers such as ourselves who couldn’t go any further. Many of the high streets have been ravaged by the lack of visitors over the past year and the pubs weren’t at all busy with the usual drinkers, probably something to do with the inclement weather.

Thursday dawned sunny and warmer and saw us all come together in Cowes Yacht Haven for our rally dinner, an unexpected bonus given all the restrictions. We assembled for drinks on the terrace at the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the view overlooking the Solent was something else, even better than at the RYS. Dinner was served in a marquee although we were denied the Commodore making his usual speech. Sadly, no post dinner drinks parties were possible although a few hardy souls visited the pub!

Huge thanks are due to David and Beryl Reed for persisting in their attempts to organise rallies throughout 2020 and at last managing it in 2021! Also, to our boat owners and skippers without whom these trips would not be possible and, lastly to Peter Smerdon, who celebrated a big birthday during lockdown and kindly bought us wine to go with our rally dinner. Belated Happy Birthday Peter from all of us.