Gallery

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September 2011 - Solent

Starting on 30th September 2011 with temperatures of 26 degrees, 10 members boarded a 50 foot Bavaria yacht 'Lily of Hamble' for the weekend cruise around the Solent, skippered by Noel Lightfoot. After a short briefing, lines were slipped and a very enjoyable sail across the Solen to Cowes began. Winds were perfect for a close reach across. The perfect start to the weekend.
After a fishermans pie, followed by home made carrot cake aboard crew went to the Lifeboat pub in East Cowes to wash the meal down.
Saturday saw more perfect conditons for a gentle sail across the Solent and up the river Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard for lunch. Winds remained light throughout the afternoon and after 3pm, it became too light to sail against the ebb tide and the motor was reluctantly started for a steady motor to Port Solent, Portsmouth. It wasn't a surprise to hear that there had been record temperatures for October of 29 degrees on the South Coast. It was a pleasure to eat outside in a Mexican resteraunt in Port Solent, in the evening heat.
With only a breath of wind on Sunday, it was a gentle motor to Stokes Bay where 9 of the 10 crew decided to jump in for a swim. Following lunch, we sailed for another hour before motoring the final couple of miles into Hamble where we handed the yacht back.

Sea Survival Course - Sept 2011

The Section has a commitment to develop the skills of its members. Not least of all is the skippers who are the lifeblood of the Section.
In September 2011, 4 skippers and 2 ordinary members took part in a Sea Survival course.
Members were given a valuable opportunity to launch several liferafts. It was also useful to learn how to right a capsized liferaft then board from ashore and from in the water. The course also familiarised members with flares, EPIRBs, Life Jackets, drogues and other safety equipment.

June 2011 - The Solent..... and beyond.

This year, SYP joined 'forces' with Humberside. 28 crew took part in this 5 day cruise of the Solent on 5 identical Beneteau Oceanis 37s. We arrived on Sunday evening and made ourselves at home on board before a couple of pints in Hamble. Monday was fairly lights winds which enabled the crew to practice sail handling, some tacking and heaving-to before staying the night in Berthon Marina, Lymington. Tuesday was a good Force 5 - 6, enough for the Coastguard Helicopter to practice the highline transfer on one of our yachts; a very useful

exercise. SYP yachts then had a very exhilarating sail to Poole, with Humbs staying at Yarmouth. Wednesday saw a stonking downwind sail from Poole to Cowes, surfing down waves at 12 knots! Thursdays activities comprised of a very competitive race, quiz (prepared by Steve Cooke) and gentle cruise to Port Solent for the final night meal at the local Indian Restaurant. Humberside won the quiz which raised £50 for the RNLI. On Friday morning, once we'd refueled it was a short hop in light winds, back to Hamble.

The 28 crew including 7 from Humberside.

March 2011 Training Trip

This was a training trip for the 4 skippers taking part in the June 2011 trip. Steve Cooke also came along to build his miles and experience in preparation for a Day Skipper course. We joined the yacht Mange Tout in Port Hamble Marina at 6pm and eat aboard, before going through a safety briefing. The next day we headed out into light winds and practiced sail handling. We were joined in the afternoon by Rescue Helicopter 104 who performed a Hi Line exercise. This proved a very valuable and interesting exercise. We stayed in Newtown Creek on a buoy overnight Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday saw more maneuvers, including pile mooring, close quarter maneuvers, reefing and heaving-to. We visited Yarmouth, Lymington and stayed in East Cowes Tuesday and on another swinging mooring in Beaulieu on Wednesday. The winds freshened to Force 8 on Thursday with wind strengths of up to 40 knots! After entering Port Solent we spent some time practising berthing in heavy weather before a meal ashore. Friday morning saw a short sail in force 6 conditions back to Port Hamble.

Route from Beaulieu to Portsmouth in F8-9 winds on Thursday.

September 2009 - Suffolk / Essex

The September 2009 trip started on Friday evening at Levington Marina, on the River Orwell between Felixstowe and Ipswich. We chartered a Jeanneau Performance 36i from East Anglian Sea School. Within an hour of joining the yacht, we set off and had a gentle cruise to Woolverstone.
On Saturday morning, we had perfect conditions for a broad reach to Bradwell Marina, on the River Blackwater. On the way we took in views of Walton Tower, Frinton, Clacton pier and Mersea Island and landed early enough to shower, change and get a cheeky beer. The evening was spent in the Green Man pub, bringing back some fond memories for Noel, who worked in Bradwell as a sailing instructor 20 years earlier and mis-spent numerous hours there.
Sunday stared with a gentle cruise out of the Blackwater, while eating a nice bacon sandwich. Winds freshened in the afternoon, and we had to take a reef but made the River Stour for lunch.
Anchored off Holbrook we took in views of the Royal Hospital School, the HMS Ganges mast at Shotley, and Harwich Ferry terminal.

June trip 2009 - Solent

In June 2009, 32 members took part in a 5 day cruise around the Solent from Hamble on 5 yachts. There were 4 Beneteau Oceanis 37s, and one Bavaria 50. We were treated to temperatures in excess of 30 degrees, and with light winds the only obvious option was to jump in and swim. During the cruise, we visited Yarmouth, Poole, Lymington, Beaulieu and Cowes.