New Neighbours

The moorings are filling up for the new season and Greta has some new neighbours. I saw the owners of the dark blue boat being dropped off by the yacht club launch, so as I rowed past I stopped to say hello, asking “new boat or new mooring?”

“Both,” came the reply, what a great start to the season new boat and a new location.





The boat looks like a Wauquiez Centurion which were built around 1973, I believe to a Holman and Pye design. I really like this type of boat, with fine lines they typically sail well and have a nice motion, even when the going gets rough. The downside for such characteristics is space, especially interior volume.

Back to the Sailing Future with Tillerman’s writing challenge.

I was thinking about Tillerman’s latest writing challenge “Sailing in the second space age” while I was dozing on the train.

For some reason I just couldn’t shake off the image of Rodney Mathews “The Ice Spirt”, a sci-fi come middle-earth poster, which hung on thousand student walls during the 70’s; that decade which brought us the musical horror that was the band Sailor (“I’ve got the music, I’ve got the lights, you’ve got the figure full of delights…”) and of course the Morris Marina (nice nautical link there!!).

In my dream, Sigourney Weaver joined Luke Skywalker in a post, punk, apocalyptic, wetland, world defending the bulk carrier Nostromo against belligerent and slimy, alien pirates attacking the ship from their Lasers and Toppers.

We escaped to Tennyson down on the Isle of Wight, for a close encounter with an over large Fairline Flybridge, lit up like a Christmas tree, which was playing four note jingles, while the crew waved good bye to ET, who was sailing out past the needles on his way home.

I will stress that at no time during the 70’s or since have I ever experimented with mind altering drugs.

Perfect Morning

Saturday I went for an early morning run, the sun was just coming up over the trees on the eastern shore, the river was about as good as it gets.

Sometimes you just don't need words.

Race Day

With the Frostbite Series just a dim and distant memory, plus the recent warm weather, local racers were out in force on Sunday morning.

The cliffs above Hill Head are a perfect vantage point to watch a Solent Sunday.

Right across the Solent to Cowes Roads the large boats were gathering pre race(pic above and below).

While off Hill Head the sailing club was taking advantage of the morning high water.

Out in Southampton water there was another fleet, the boats in the foreground look like SB3's while in the background another group are on the spinnaker run.

Mirrors off the entrance to Hill Head harbour entrance.

Heading out for a mixed start.

With the Lasers.

Westerman Sold

I thought it was a bit odd when local pilot cutter Westerman turned up on the hard at a local marina. She was built for yachting journalist Tom Cunliffe and has been up for sale over winter.

I bumped into Tom's daughter at the Hamble River Rowing day and she confirmed that Westerman had been sold the previous weekend.

Designed by Nigel Irens as a modern day interpretation of the Bristol pilot cutter, Westerman was the first in a series built by Covey Island Boatworks, Nova Scotia in 1997. Since then Tom has sailed her far and wide, as well as being a regular race winner with the Solent Old Gaffers of which Tom is area president.

Local Heavyweight

This work boat always amuses me, it's used by Tucker and Munday, the local mooring contractors for laying and maintaining moorings in the river.

It's fitted with some heavy lifting equipment and is appropriately named "Charles Atlas"

Hamble River Rowing

Saturday's kickoff event for the Hamble River Rowing was blessed with some of the best weather of the year and a really good turnout of local people keen to find out about recreational rowing on the river and join in.

Around 80 people turned up at The Jolly Sailor with a mix of experienced rowers to complete novices.



Several Bursledon Gigs were on hand and were kept busy rowing out around Lands End Point and back. The Bursledon Gig has four rowers plus a cox, there were also smaller boats like the 12 foot Egret (above).



With the sun out and the river at it's best it was a great day and everyone seemed to have a good time. The next HRR event is evening rowing on Tuesday 4th May, starting at 6.00 pm.

The full rowing diary is available on the HRR website along with membership details.