2018 Events
Saturday Special to Greenwich and tour of Thames RNLI station – 17th November
21 members met at Island Gardens DLR station for 10.30 start on 90 minute guided walk around Greenwich. This was guided by Chris Rhodes (a Blue badge guide). It was a cold but fine sunny day; you can see us reflected in the windows of the Cutty Sark building during the guided tour.
Then a pub lunch at the Old Brewery(excellent..) and Clipper boat to Embankment for 90 minute guided tour of the RNLI station.
Many thanks to Bernie Smallman for organising an excellent day out.
2018 Summer Rallies – Rallies are organised by Nick Lemon and James Burkitt
15/16th September at Island Harbour
7 boats and 20 people attended, having arrived on the afternoon high water. It was a very enjoyable weekend with fine weather on the Saturday. For once we could sit out in the sunshine on a GXSA rally. The Breeze restaurant looked after members well and there was live music afterwards. On the Sunday morning we walked up to Newport and had a pleasant coffee at Quay Arts before setting off home on Sunday afternoon.
Booking Details for Island Harbour Rally
Mini cruise: The Island &Yarmouth 29/30 June
The continuing hot weather and lack of wind forced a re-think on the planned ’round island’ part of the mini cruise. In the event most yachts made their way directly to Yarmouth. Several of those that started on the Saturday anchored in Thorness Bay for lunch, where some enjoyed a swim.
Avalon played an excellent host boat for the pontoon party in the still hot evening before we all made our way to the Yarmouth Sailing Club where we were made very welcome and enjoyed an excellent meal.
On the Sunday morning there was some wind and several skippers elected to forego the possibility of a walk and make the most of the wind and tide to head back east towards their home ports. Quite good sailing was enjoyed as far as Cowes, when the wind dropped completely.
A further element of excitement had been added to the Rally when the engine on Stuart’s boat decided not to play on the Friday whilst in a Portsmouth Marina. This necessitated sharing out the full complement of five between several other yachts. On Sunday morning not all those boats were heading for home and those that were, were not necessarily going to the marinas where cars had been left… Ray Bridges came to the rescue in Dunkirk spirit and took on people and their accoutrements for the run back to Portsmouth.
Second rally was 9th June at Dan Bran pontoon, Hamble.
This was an excellent event. Thank you James for organising !
First rally of the season was 21/22 April at Bembridge.
The previous Thursday had been the hottest April day for many years. We assembled on Saturday in pleasant but misty conditions with just a light wind to help sail to Bembridge. High water Portsmouth was at 16.20 on the Saturday. Seven GXSA boats berthed in a rafted group on the long pontoon and Burnadebt was ready for the usual welcome drinks at 18.00.
During the evening, the rain we normally expect at GXSA Bembridge rallies started and there was an impressive thunderstorm with lightning. Fortunately Nick arranged taxis to take us to the excellent meal at Dan’s Kitchen in St Helens. On Sunday morning there was beautiful, clear sunny weather so there was a good turnout for a walk to Seaview, a rest at the cafe and then return in time for lunch.
Boats departed on the afternoon high water and we had a fast sail back in SW 3-4. A very enjoyable weekend. Thank you Nick for organising !
Annual Dinner for members and their guests was on Saturday 24th March at Gerrards Cross Golf Club, Chalfont Park SL9 0QA.
2018 Annual Dinner invite can be downloaded here as a pdf file.
Saturday Special, 10th March 2018
Tour of North Sails loft in Gosport, lunch and presentation by accomplished sailors there, followed by transfer to Gunwharf Quay and opportunity to go up Spinnaker tower. All by coach from Gerrards Cross. More details and booking