BTOSC is a sailing club with historical links with the telecoms industry.
We organise a programme of sailing events every year
We communicate with our membership by email
The majority of our events start and finish in the Solent and we organise cruises elsewhere too
Our skippers are experienced, RYA qualified, Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Coastal skippers
We charter whatever yachts we need for our events
To find out more about BTOSC and our Sailing Programme please explore the menu at the top of the page. If you are interested in joining us please get in touch with our Membership Sec or any member of the committee through email, linkedIn or our facebook group.
Current Status. We are operating normally and our sailing programme for 2022 has been published.
The first sailing event is a Skippers Refresher (11-13 March). The Boat Handling event was over-subscribed. The west country cruise is coming together and other events are coming together.
Yachts are likely to be in high demand this summer since more people will be holidaying in the UK so when we do announce an event please book early.
For the BBQ Weekend at least one yacht will once again enjoy some extra days on the water. See reports on last years extended BBQ Weekend and the Trafalgar Weekend below. The season ends with our Xmas Jolly and at least one yacht is likely to have an additional day on the water. Please check your email and respond promptly to avoid disappointment.
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.
View of New town Creek at LW Springs. Note the ‘island’ in the centre of the picture to the left of the buoys
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
It was noticeable from the photos that there was very little shingle on view.Wind over tide conditions approaching Gurnard
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.
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.
First stop, before cowes, was a familiarization recce of the mooring field near the jetty at Calshot. The Fawley Chimney might well be history by the time you read this.
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.
Photo bombed by a hot air balloon flying from Bembridge area towards Hayling Island or Havant
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.
Off 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.
Our route during the two days
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
For the record we chartered three yachts Gull, Aphrodite Spirit and Freyja of Orwell. Gull and Aphrodite Spirit were chartered for the weekend. Photos of the BBQ itself are at the bottom of this report.
This report from James who skippered the extended version of this event on Freyja a 38′ Najad. The outline plan was for 4 days on the water sailing out of Hornet Services Sailing Club in Gosport. In theory, and weather permitting, this provided enough time to get down to Poole and be back for the main event – our annual BBQ on the Saturday. We victualled for all but two evening meals to be eaten on board.
Outline Planv Actual
Date
Objective
Remarks
15 Sep
Shake down & Night Sail
The Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Wooton Creek has long been on my list of places to stop for a meal and it was in a useful direction. So time for some tidal planning:
mmm Neeps…. Not a lot of height of Tide. The water around the pontoon dries about 1.5-2m so it could be tight but should be OK. HW at 1915 on the other hand is perfect. And we will have the last of the daylight too. This seemed like a plan. Also in our favour was Freyja’s 1.6m keel. So how did it go?
Well no plan survives first contact with the enemy. In this case, it was competition from other yachts so our only option was to raft up against a smaller vessel. We had 1.1m UKC on arrival at RVYC Pontoon in Wooton Creek at about 1845, saw nothing more at HW and we had 1.1 when we slipped. Weds was Pie night so we all had an excellent meal of pies, chips and peas at the clubhouse.
We then had a moonlit night sail down to Yarmouth where only option given was a mooring outside. 23 NM run (2 Night hours)
16 Sep
Check out some anchorages, Recce of Brownsea Island, Get to Poole
0730 slipped mooring. Favourable tide all the way to St Albans Head and then on to recce anchorage at Chapmans Pool. View of west side of the approach. Ate lunch on the go as the tide turned. Moored in Studland mid afternoon then entered Poole Harbour. Used Wych Channel to approach anchorage at Pottery Pier on Brownsea Island. Minimum of 2m UKC. Moored at Poole Quay Yacht Haven. Evening Meal eaten on board. 46.8 NM run
17 Sep
Return to Solent
Tides allowed a late start that in turn provided an opportunity to diagnose and fix some issues with the anchor winch. With those issues resolved we tried out a mooring at Brownsea Castle while waiting for the tide to turn. We decided to target Beaulieu River as Chichester was too far. Ate lunch on the go. No pontoon berths offered so we selected an empty buoy just above Buckers Hard. Tender used to get crew ashore. Evening meal eaten on board. 32.5 NM run
18 Sep
Get to BBQ on time
Early start for some who wanted a walk using the tender again to get us to Bucklers. Slipped mooring at 1000hrs just before the top of the tide. First leg was to New Town Creek where we anchored for lunch. Second leg of passage was to Lymington. Moored up by 1520 hrs. BBQ was held in Lymington Yacht Haven – Food was excellent (thanks Mike) 14.6 NM run
19 Sep
Return to Hornet by 1500 hrs
0830 Slipped lines. Shadowed a racing fleet up the Solent towards Cowes. Anchored off Lee on Solent for lunch. Used inside channel approaching Portsmouth. Moored up in Hornet by 1430 hrs. 18.6NM run. Total mileage logged: 135.5 NM
The BTOSC Skippers Refresher is an annual event to which club skippers are invited to refresh skills. This has never been more relevant than after the disruption caused by the Pandemic. To this end, and to avoid having all skippers on the same yacht at the same time, the BTOSC committee agreed on a 5 day midweek charter with a RYA YMI on hand for one of those days to help put us through our paces.
We assembled early (12:00) on the Monday at Hamble Point, hoping to pick up our vessel (Blue Otter) up with minimum delay. However, the fates conspired against us and it was after 16:00 when we finally slipped from the pontoon. Our aim for the first half day day was to refresh ourselves on boat handling under power including:
Standard mooring and departures from pontoons
Springing off
Perpendicular Parallel Parking (aka ferry gliding into a restricted berth)
General reversing practice
Reversing into berths
Blue Otter
The second day we had a YMI join us. He was tasked with stretching us and helping us refine our skills. He recommended that we should tighten-up on a few aspects of good practice, namely:
keeping lines tidy in the cockpit and off the floor
descending the companionway backwards, and
closing the cockpit hatch closed whenever any crew are forward
He recommended that if crew are sent forward, skippers should instruct them not to return of their own volition but wait for the evolution to complete and a signal to return. He also provided some new insight into turning in restricted conditions and he also taught us all a new method for MOB pickup under sail and engine. This was really a “sailing skills” exercise which looks very much like MOB practice. The advantage of this new method are that it is simple to remember and explain and the results appear to be more repeatable. Time will tell on this but our initial impressions were universally very favourable.
A moment to relax near NewTown Creek
Day 3 saw us investigate Bembridge as the tides were suitable. The afternoon found us saw us anchoring in Osborne Bay. This revealed an unwelcome tendency for Blue Otter’s anchor chain to “back up” and jam the windlass. At the end of the day, we said goodbye to Ian and hello to Colin. This evening was the only real opportunity for a night sailing exercise which we conducted up Southampton Water where we moored and ate (on board of course!) at Marchwood SC pontoon while waiting for darkness to fall. Lots of tug activity with a Container Ship, Disney Magic and views of the Queen Elizabeth moored at Southampton Docks.
Disney Magic
Queen Elizabeth
The night sail itself was a straightforward passage back to our berth at Hamble Point. Something most if not all of us have done several times before. It never ceases to amaze me how even the biggest ships can somehow manage to hide themselves even when they are directly ahead down a waterway such as Southampton Water. There is plenty of room of course, but it can still come as a surprise when the mysterious shadow morphs into a massive ship quietly making its way up to the docks.
Day 4 and 5, which was a half day, was an opportunity to demonstrate and then practice the “sailing skills” exercises with Colin.
Overall, this event was a great success. It was great to be back on the water after so long, honing our skills and learning new ones too.
The BTOSC Christmas is a annual event that combines some winter sailing with a informal seasonally themed sit-down meal at a restaurant close to where we have moored. In previous years the meal has been booked at the Folly in Cowes, the Red Duster Cowes, the Ship in Lymington and SeaShells in Hythe. This event often delivers some enjoyable sailing.
We had two yachts out for this event and were joined for our Christmas Dinner by one or two members who traveled separately. This report is from Viola. Sea Essay was the second yacht. Viola slipped on the Friday for an uneventful evening passage to Cowes. We moored in Cowes Yacht Haven for the night.
The forecast promised some good sailing albeit with the possibility of showers that didn’t trouble us.
Next day, our initial focus was a bouy’s challenge which took us out towards the Eastern Solent before our planned meet up / dinner with the crew on Sea Essay later in the day.
Rounding our most easterly buoy
Fawley Powerstation being dismantled
The last bouy we targetted was the red PHM at the North end of Southampton Docks near Elling Mill.
After which our passage was blocked while a huge container ship was turned with the aid of tugs near Marchwood….
Ian Davis Skippering
We then locked in at Hythe Marina and managed to secure a berth near Sea Essay.
Sea Essay in Hythe
Sea Essay from Viola
If I recall correctly we won the Bouy’s Challenge and the crew on Sea Essay won the Quiz. Many thanks to Mick for organising both of these these and the event overall.
Dinner that night was at a restaurant the village. This was followed by ‘afters’ : Cheese, Biscuits and some refreshments back on Sea Essay as the larger of the two yacht.
Sea Shells Restaurant
Sea Essay preparing to slip from Hythe Marina
Sunday
On Sunday, we had a leisurely sail back to Hamble where we explored up the river before refueling and and clearing the boat by about 4PM.
The BBQ Weekend is one of the highlights of the BTOSC Sailing Programme. In Sep, for the first time, we chartered both Sea Essay and Freyja from Channel Sailing Division and East Coast Division of the CSSA as well Viola from Hamble Point Yacht Charters.
Freyja was chartered for 3 days from 1200 Thursday 13 Sep until 1800 on the Sunday. We took her over at Hornet Services Sailing Club. The outline itinerary for the event was:
Thurs PM: Hornet to Southsea Marina (Langstone Harbour)
Fri: Passage to Newtown River, Cowes or Beaulieu
Sat: Passage to Lymington for Annual BTOSC BBQ
Sun: Return passage to Hornet
This report covers Thurs 12 Sep – our passage to Southsea Marina.
Before embarking on the 8NM passage to Southsea Marina in Langstone Harbour we took the opportunity to do some boat handling practice north of Burrow Island in Portsmouth Harbour itself.
The following report is from Ian Davis – entitled “Round the world to Dartmouth” :
The July West Country Cruise proved popular this year with eleven club members setting sail from Queen Anne’s Battery, Plymouth in two vessels chartered from Liberty Yachts. Many thanks to Hazel for the organisation.
We had three yachts out for our Spring Rally weekend (3rd Event of the year). Once again one yacht (Freyja) was pre-booked for an extended weekend based out of Hornet SSC. The other two, Apaloosa and Viola, were chartered from Hamble Point Yacht Charters. Several members also joined the AGM and meal on foot.
All yachts converged on the central Solent on Saturday evening for our AGM, prize giving and an excellent rally supper at Hornet.
We had some rain on the Friday and Sunday but otherwise the weather was mainly mild and warm with light winds.
Moorings at Itchenor
For the record, Frejya”s 3.5 day itinerary was as follows:
Thurs PM: Portshouth Harbour (Hornet SSC) to Itchenor (Chichester Hbr). Excellent meal at the Ship
Fri: Itchenor to Hornet then to The Folly Inn (Cowes)
Sat: Cowes to Bembridge. 3 hrs ashore then to Hornet
Sun: Hornet to Langstone Harbour then back to Hornet
Six club skippers, MG, NW, JS, CJ, ID & RD, descended on Hamble on 22 Mar 2019 for the Annual BTOSC Skipper”s Refresher.
Friday: An 18.30 briefing followed by a night passage from Hamble to East Cowes with each skipper taking turns different sections of the passage provided good material for later discussion and feedback. Discussions on a variety of skippering topics followed. Sharing of lessons learned and generally putting the world to rights over supper: Pasta bolognaise, garlic bread and the obligatory cheese board.
Saturday: Boat handling on Medina River in tidal conditions in and around East Cowes and at the Training pontoon near the Folly. Lunch – Beaulieu. Overnight at Lymington Yacht Haven. Reacquainted ourselves with the Ship.
This bookable BBQ Area found in Lymington Yacht Haven could prove useful
Sunday: Lymington BBQ Area Reconnaissance. Man-over-board techniques off Beaulieu. Lunch anchored off Calshot.
Lunch anchored in 3 m with Luttrells Tower in line with Fawley Chimney.
I am sure that just thinking about the Christmas Jolly makes some people shudder. However, once again we were not disappointed either by the weather or the level of enthusiasm and support from members.
We chartered three yachts for this event. Appaloosa was booked for the weekend. Sea Essay for the Fri, Sat and Sun and Viola for Sat, Sun and Monday. Our pre-booked Christmas meal was on the Sat night in Hythe.
Ate lunch on the go as the tide turned. Moored in Studland mid afternoon then entered Poole Harbour. Used Wych Channel to approach anchorage at Pottery Pier on Brownsea Island. Minimum of 2m UKC. 
Evening meal eaten on board. 
32.5 NM run
First leg was to New Town Creek where we anchored for lunch.
