Skipper: James Savage

POB: 5

Yacht: Hebridean Flame Charterer: Gas Sailing Association (GSA)

From: Dunsaffnage ( a few miles N of Oban) To: Dunstaffnage

Total Mileage Logged: 141 NM

21 July 2022

• Took over yacht at 1600 hrs.
• Checked inventory and stowed victuals.
• Slipped from pontoon for a brief sea trial to check-out the yacht and familiarise crew with berthing the yacht
• Evening meal prepared and eaten on-board

22 July 2022

• From Dunstaffnage to Tobermory
• Quick recce of moorings in Lock Aline in case required later in week.
• Lunch on the go
• Plenty of room on pontoons at Tobermory
• Good facilities
• Explored ashore. Walked to lighthouse.
• Evening Meal – Pre-booked reservation at Cafe Fish – Excellent meal

23 July 2022

• Excellent sail from Tobermory towards Loch Sunart
• Recce of Loch Drumbuie in case needed later – Anchored for 11’s
• Wind Easterly F5-F6 so hard going. Had to improvise a Reef #3.
• Late lunch on arrival at Salen jetty. Berthing manager initially not entirely happy we were there due to strong winds and pontoon movement
• Good facilities including small shop.
• Lots of walks ashore.
• Evening meal prepared and eaten on-board

24 July 2022

• From Salen Jetty towards Glendale Bay
• Anchored near Puffin Bay for 11’s
• Anchored in Salean Mor for lunch. Looked tiny but plenty of room once inside.
• Recce of Glandale Bay – Moorings not in use. Didn’t seem appealing.
• Decided to press on to Kilchoan Bay
• Lost boat hook overboard while mooring. Recovered using a lasoo.
• Pickup buoys found not connect to a more substantial mooring warp.
• Visitors mooring. Lots of rain and strong winds overnight.
• Evening meal prepared and eaten on-board

25 July 2022

• Morning sail from Kilchoan Bay to Tobermory Wind N F6 Gusting F7
• Remained in Tobermory overnight
• Opportunity to further explore Tobermory
• Evening meal ashore at the Misnish Restaurant – Excellent

26 July 2022

• From Tobermory to Treshnish Islands (Lunga) to see puffins
• then to Staffa to see Fingles Cave
• then through Sound of Iona to recce Bull Hole
• then through steamer passage to Tinkers hole for overnight anchorage
• Erected the enclosed cockpit canopy to eat on deck. No midges.
• Evening meal prepared and eaten on board

27 July 2022

• From Tinkers Hole (Ross of Mull) to Puilladobhrain for lunch
• then to Loch DonOban
• then to Oban Kerrera marina to refuel £61 Diesel
• then to Oban Transit marina for an overnight berth
• Evening meal – Fish and Chips from town

28 July 2022

• From Oban to Dunstaffnage
• Removed Genoa and replaced with spare
• Repaired saloon headlining that was coming away
• Cleaned and prepared yacht for handover

On the morning of 3 December three skippers and their crews gathered at Hamble Point Marina for the Xmas Jolly. The majority of attendees had elected to attend for an extended event starting at 10.00 on the Friday and finishing at 4PM on the Monday.

Friday – Day 1

The outline plan on Appaloosa was to go with the tide so far as possible and to eat on board. We were on Springs so extremes were to be expected. Beaulieu was ruled out due to insufficient under keel clearance (UKC) at the bar. Instead we targeted New Town Creek.

Arriving at dusk we quickly verified the predicted lack of water. In fact it looked like someone had pulled out the plug.

There was plenty of water in the entrance but once we were in it was as if someone had taken out the plug.

Since it so calm and there was just about enough water, we anchored temporarily between the IDM and the nearby SHM and waited for the tide to rise while we cracked open some nibbles and started preparing supper. The intention being to move to a mooring in Clamekin Lake once the tide was on the rise.

It was cold in the cabin so we got the diesel heater going and then very quickly found that we needed to charge the batteries. Mmm, this was not a good omen.

In the meantime I seem to recall that Mick has rustled up an excellent meal of Lamb Shanks. Once we had enough water under keel we carefully snurged our way onto the mooring. After we eventually turned in we had a really peaceful night until (predictably!!) the battery alarm went off at 6.30 in the morning.

Saturday – Day 2

Luckily, it was only the domestic battery that was flat.

The objective on day 2 was simply to get to our dinner in Cowes on time. The sun soon came out and blue sky bode well for the day which continued to improve as the morning progressed. We had leisurely start and extricated ourselves from Newtown with little of the gravel on display.

We slipped our mooring before HW but

Then with the wind on our quarter, we enjoyed a good sail back up the Solent. We were moored in Cowes by 3PM and soon joined by the other yachts.

A Contessa Rally had also booked into West Cowes. They brought some festive lights and colour to the place.

Our group meal in the Red Duster was so good that I don’t think there are any photos. The menu certainly offered something for all tastes and plenty of variety. I have vague recollections of cheese and wine and maybe even a few tales from the high seas back on Appaloosa afterwards…

Sunday – Day 3

We had a late start. Plan was to undertake a short passage to Bucklers Hard in daylight and then to have a night sail on passage towards Southampton after dark.

Our initial objective was a lunch stop at Bucklers Hard followed by a possible night sail up to Ocean Village or Hythe later in the day. The sail across to the Beaulieu was a lively and energetic beat (F7 / G8) and I will go so far as to admit that it was bitterly cold. But once we were in the River, the Beaulieu was as delightful as ever. A relaxing lunch was had on the visitors pontoon at Beaulieu while a shower came through. We were all still up for a night sail but decided that Cowes would be a more suitable berth for the night and would give us more time to enjoy a meal of pasta and meatballs on board. As night sails go, this was a dark one. Most of the posts could only be observed as silhouettes against the cloudy night sky on a few occasions the silhouette of the top-marks were vital clues. We had some excellent teamwork spotting and identifying each of the unlit posts on the river as well as all the other obstacles. The tide was flooding and the wind speed had all but died so it wasn’t as cold as it could have been and it wasn’t long before we were once again alongside in West Cowes.

Monday – Day 4

Forecast for Day 2 Saturday 4 December:

Our plan for the day was to be back in Hamble to drop off one crew by 11 AM. The

We slipped from West Cowes Marina with southerly winds. These soon became westerly and then strengthened quickly to 30+ kts as we entered Southampton Water.

Our sole objective was to return to Hamble where we had an appointment to refuel the yacht. We slipped promptly behind Viola who had also returned to Cowes and had an enjoyable sail back to Hamble. The weather was about to break as we entered the Hamble so we expedited our return and were able to bring forward our refuelling booking although we did get a little wet in the process.

All in all this was yet another successful Christmas Jolly. A thoroughly enjoyable weekend of winter sailing with good food, a little wine and excellent company. Many thanks to Mick Curran, Hazel Bagnell, skippers and crews for organising, delivering and supporting what was yet another successful event for the club. I don’t recommend chartering Appaloosa again until we are sure the Domestic batteries have been replaced.

James Savage

Chairman

We chartered Sea Essay – for this weekend. We sailed with 6 POB one of whom was a new member. The outline plan was to eat ashore at the Waters Edge on the Friday evening, slip on the Saturday morning and sail across to Cowes (Shepards Marina) for an opportunity to explore the town and lunch on the pontoon before going east with the tides for the rest of the day. This worked well as the skipper and all of the crew had all recently sailed in the western Solent on a separate event.

Port Solent was selected as our target for the Saturday evening. It has been many years since BTOSC has chartered from there so this was an opportunity to re-familiarise ourselves with what it has to offer.

We booked a table at La Casa Flamenca rather than leaving the evening meal to chance. As it turned out we were secure along side in Port Solent by 17.30.

We ate well ashore and returned to Sea Essay for the cheese course – of course.

Next day, early risers were treated to a beautiful sunrise. Breakfast menu was scrambled eggs, fruit and yogurt. At 0950 we eased ourselves out of our berth on a long bow spring and were then one of the first yachts out of the lock on free-flow.

With the tide still flooding and a light breeze building we took the opportunity to practice mooring under sail before leaving the harbour via the inner passage towards Gilkicker.

Our return passage was originally envisaged as being via Hill Head. However, with gentle breeze from the West we decided to anchor for lunch at Osborne Bay and then once the pasties, salad, remaining eggs and cheese board had been consumed we made our way back to Hamble.

15 Oct 21 Hamble to Cowes 9NM Cowes to Port Solent 13.7NM  wind F2
16 Oct 21 Port Solent to Osborne Bay 10.1NM to Hamble 7.8 NM wind F3-F4

This page contains links to summaries of the results of the membership conducted in May this year:

• 25 members completed the survey within a week of it being published.

• What do members think of BTOSC? Would members recommend the club to others?