9th/10th July - PYC Weymouth Rally
At the end of a week of variable weather, high winds and rain the weather forecast was for a fine sailing weekend. So on Saturday at 09:30 Calero and Leila Maria set sail for Weymouth. The plan was to follow a favourable tide to St Albans Head and then punch a neap tide across Weymouth Bay. The weather was fair and with a SW5 gusting 6 we had an exciting time in moderate to rough seas beating our way to St Albans Head where we arrived an hour later than planned. Calero took the inner channel crossing a mild race into Weymouth Bay and heavily reefed made for Lulworth Cove. Leila Maria headed out to sea to avoid the race but unfortunately met a stronger tide offshore. On a single tack Calero reached Durdle Door where, as time was moving on, we decided to motor sail the final few miles into Weymouth. We arrived at 17:30. Leila Maria were not so fortunate and after a frustrating sail, 5 knots through the water but only 1 knot over the ground arrived some 2 hours later. Weymouth Harbour was alive with activity with the Dorset Seafood Festival in full swing. On the water there were a number of boats with PYRA there in force. There remained enough room to squeeze us in and Calero and Leila Maria joined the rafted vessels some 4 boats out.
In the evening we visited Prezzo and enjoyed a pleasant meal overlooking the Town Bridge. We retired early after an exhilarating day.
At 05:30 Sunday we arose to let two German yachts leave the raft to go West. For us this was too early and we returned to our bunks to rise later at a respectable 08:00. After a shower at the now refurbished Harbour Masters Office we bought a paper and made our way to Upstairs Downstairs for a hearty full English Breakfast. After breakfast we walked around the Dorset Seafood Festival and slowly made our way back to the boat.
Midday we set sail for home. In a pleasant SW4 and bright sun we made our way out to sea to catch the tide past the St Albans race and back in toward Anvil Point and home. Leila Maria who had left earlier arrived back at their mooring at 17:15. Calero arrived some 20 minutes later.
To sum up. The sailing conditions were excellent with plenty of wind. Passage making up wind can often be frustrating but the excitement of the sail made it all worthwhile.
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V14.0 11 July 2011 17:01