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Report on the estimated time cruise for the
Marquess of Willingdon Cup
on Saturday 20th September 2008 to Boulogne, not Eastbourne!
By Thursday evening it was evident that the mutinous mob was not going to go to Eastbourne because the return on Sunday would be a long hard slog against an ENE gusting F6. So the destination for the Marquess’ Cup was changed to Boulogne. As many as possible were advised by text. And the jungle drums seemed to get the message around fairly efficiently, too. But I would like to apologise for any inconvenience and to anyone who was not advised of the change. Please let us know if you are thinking of sailing so we can let you know about last minute changes.
So, by 0900 hrs on this bright calm Saturday morning, Birdy, Blue Point, Crystal Star, Karibia Breeze and Rush and had all left Western Entrance and looked a fine sight from New Limit, all heeled gently as they beat against a light easterly breeze. The winds became variable and veered as we crossed the shipping lanes which were busier than usual. Many of us put our engines on to maintain speed and most of us had to alter course three or four times to give way to vessels in the TSS. Then the bitterly cold wind increased and backed and gave us a fast close reach into harbour.
On leaving Dover’s Western, the fleet had texted their ETA’s and in Boulogne they reported their actual arrival times at the Digue Nord as follows:-
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Boat
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Leaving time
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Arrival time
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Elapsed
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ETA
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Diff. mins
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Place
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Blue Point
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0850?
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1302
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0412?
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1305
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3
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1
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Rush
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0842
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1224
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0342
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1220
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4
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2
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Crystal Star
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0835
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1410
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0445
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1410
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5
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3
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Karibia Breezes
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0834
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1218
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0344
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1226
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8
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4
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Birdy
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0830?
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1215
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0315?
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1235
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20
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5
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New Limit
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0843
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1253
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0410
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1228
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25
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6
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The elapsed times are interesting – does Birdy have wings?
Once tied up we were pleased to find Bob and Carolyn Uden had arrived that afternoon in Star in the Wind, as well as friends from Folkestone, Nice Lady and Nordlys. In the Yacht Club Boulogne (YCB), where we were warmly welcomed by their President Jean Georges Vincent and ‘Freddy’ their lovely club steward as well as Carole and Emmanuel, yacht Marie Claire, and Bea and Herve, yacht Bijou. I had been unable to welcome them when they recently visited Dover on 27 August, but they said that Callum had looked after them very well in the RCPYC.
There was great excitement in the YCB and on the pontoons which were crowded with friends and relatives of YCB’s young Nicolas Courdent and his two friends, who were about to set off on a round the world tour in a their excellent Wauquier Amphrodite, Sai Sai. They were waiting for an engine part and were eager to leave, hoping that the high northerlies would hold for a direct crossing of the Baie de Gascoigne (Biscay to us!). We all wished them well and were invited to join their leaving party that evening. Their progress can be followed on www.saisaiworldtour.com.
In the evening we returned to the YCB where Jean Georges kindly presented the enormous Marquess of Willingdon Cup to Elaine and Roger Hunter for coming first in Blue Point. Having forgotten to bring the crystal tumblers, I failed to announce that Rush and Crystal Star came a close second and third respectively each just a minute behind. Hungry, we made our way, after some navigational disputes, to the Welsh, where we enjoyed dinner and excellent wine. We returned to the YCB and found Water Wraith and Thermopylae had also arrived from Dover. Sai Sai’s leaving party was still going strong with a lovely young crowd listening and counter clapping to wonderful Spanish singing and guitar playing.
On Sunday, after a lazy start most of us left the pontoons at midday, only to wait for nearly half an hour for the Speed One to enter and berth. Do they ask for clearance at ZC2? Once clear of land the ENE to E wind increased and the seas mounted, so we had a fast, lively and sometimes wet reach to Dover. We all arrived within about 20 minutes of each other except Karibia Breezes who had helped a boat with problems and escorted a boat them into harbour.
It was a good weekend and I think we all enjoyed getting out at last after a long grey summer of storms.
Hilary Graves RCS
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REPORT ON THE BASTILLE DAY CELEBRATION CRUISE
Saturday 12th to Tuesday 15th July 2008
‘Le Quattorze Juillet’ was a working day for us this year. As a result it was not possible to arrange there-and-back within the weekend to suit both, Dover and Calais, so sadly Augustina, Karibia Breezes, Panteleon, Savoir Vivre and Sandpiper, were unable join us.
Water Wraith sailed to Calais on Thursday and returned with the Calais fleet in blustery conditions on Saturday afternoon. Six French boats were expected, Lady Be Good, Cassina, Pimboli, Frija, Christobal and Doux Virus, but on Friday we heard that Doux Virus would be replaced by three of their racing fleet, Red Hot, Zephyr and Jolie Brise.
Somehow, despite limited space Dover Marina managed to pack them all in without a problem. On Saturday evening the RCPYC was overflowing with sailors. There was a good turnout of club members and, together with our 22 guests, we all enjoyed Jenni’s BBQ.
On Sunday 13th many of the Dover skippers wanted to get over to Calais early, for shopping, relaxing and beachcombing so with a dull sky and the wind too much on the nose to sail Full Moon, Merganser, and New Limit motor-sailed to arrive for the Henri Henon bridge opening at HW+1. Fortunately at the next opening many yachts left the basin, so Star in the Wind, Crystal Star, Water Wraith found berths easily. Some of us made for the town which was bustling with live music and a flea market and some just relaxed and enjoyed the sun.
The French fleet wanted to spend some time in Dover, so they returned with the remaining RCPYC yachts, Les Jours, Moonlighter,, Corbis and Morning Star, late in the afternoon. By 1900 hours there was a large number of boats waiting outside the Henri Henon Bridge to get in. Two canny RCPYC yachts phoned me for berthing information, so when they entered they were able to motor directly to empty pontoon spaces. Rush was missing! Packed with expert sailors, she sauntered in the next morning having spent a frugal night on a mooring buoy. Saturday evening, the early birds enjoyed an excellent meal at l’Entre Deux Mer on the sea front on whilst others went to the Detroit or ate on board.
Monday 14th, was a beautiful clear day; a lazy start and a stroll into town for bread and food was the order of the day. More crew arrived on the ferry incl
uding Viv Hills and Tricia, who arrived by bike. We met up in the Club bar for pre-lunch drinks and then went our own ways for the afternoon.
On Monday evening we were welcomed into the Yacht Club of Calais with a speech by Bernard Sennecourt, who has been their Commodore for over 20 years. He also welcomed their founder Dr Plancke, who has been a member for over 50 years, as well as our Dick Davidson, an old friend and rival. The Race Officer, Philippe Bidal, continued the welcome by inviting all to try their delicious punch and we replied with thanks and apologies from our Commodore. Bernard and Philippe were both presented with RCPYC engraved whisky tumblers for their immediate personal use.
The large pool table was laden with bowls of excellent salads prepared by Philippe and members’ families, whilst outside spicy sausages and pork chops sizzled aromatically on the barbecue. After a really delightful and relaxing evening, we thanked our hosts and some of us joined the huge throng of people and families walking the mile to the beach to see and hear the Jeu d’Artifice. Sitting on the sand, we watched and listened to a series of fantastic firework displays together with music, themed on different countries from around the world. Total magic!
Tuesday morning was windier than the forecast SW 4/5, so many of us reduced sail before setting off at HW+2. Most found a good beat across although a confused sea was chucking back a lot of spray. Our pedigree racer, Morning Star, even had her skipper out on the foredeck, changing to a larger genoa when he saw Rush coming up over the horizon. As the returning yachts came into the Tidal they rafted up, waiting for the Granville and Wellington gates to open, and chatted. All agreed that thanks to our generous friends at the YCC we had had an excellent cruise.
Roll on next year’s Bastille Day - a Tuesday! HW1800 FST, so put it in your diary.
Hilary Graves, Rear-Commodore Sailing
Participating Yachts
YCC
Lady Be Good, Cassina, Pimboli, Frija, Christobal , Red Hot, Zephyr, Jolie Brise
RCPYC
Corbis, Crystal Star, Full Moon, Les Jours, Merganser, Moonlighter, Morning Star, New Limit, Rush, Star in the Wind, Water Wraith
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Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club
