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Southampton Rally to Shamrock Quay (16 - 17 Sep 2023)

Published 14:41 on 21 Sep 2023

Booking on the rally to Shamrock Quay provided us with the incentive to get Kiwi in sufficiently good shape to finally leave her berth in Haslar for the first time this season, and we had sailed over to Cowes on the Friday before in light winds and warm sunshine.

Unfortunately Saturday was overcast, and the sun rarely appeared as we motored over to Calshot, up Southampton water into the Itchen in no wind whatsoever, timing our arrival for just after first high water. Shamrock Quay lies almost 2 miles up the Itchen from the docks, and on the way you pass under the Itchen Bridge, 23m vertical clearance, that had excited some of our crews as they passed underneath.

Bonito and Dreamcatcher were already there. Dreamcatchers crew had walked to the Boat Show, falling into an excellent Italian restaurant on the way, so presumably had little time to spend their money. Misty Moon was on its way in soon after we arrived, followed by Morning Mist.

In the evening, we gathered on Bonito, hosted by Steve Derbyshire and Vizma, starting on the flybridge, and then overflowing onto the stern deck. We were joined by the crews of Trolinger, still missing a propeller, and Kraken, who were obviously better at reading forecasts than the rest of us and had come by road. We enjoyed a meal with good service in the largely deserted Bistro restaurant by the marina, and as usual many tales were told.

Leaving early in the morning, earlier would have been better, there was little wind to start with, from dead to windward, but some menacing clouds in the distance. As we threaded our way through a race fleet off Hill Head, we were quite suddenly faced with increasing wind, thunder and lightening, and driving rain. Reduced to 50m visibility by the rain, it was almost impossible to open your eyes as boats came at us from all angles, while Misty Moon recorded a 47 knot gust. We all made it back ok, though.

Thanks to Michael Sword-Daniels and Anne for excellent organisation and remembering what we had ordered, and to Steve and Vizma for their hospitality.

John Walker