Lymington - Horse and Jockey Rallies

by RSrnYC on 28 Oct 2016 Rally to Lymington September sixth and seventh

With equal numbers of sail and power boats this could be described as a hybrid rally, with five of each! A great two days, with a pleasant beat to Lymington for those with sails, and a calm ride for the motor-boaters. We moored on the Dan Bran pontoon, just downstream from the Royal Lymington Y.C., an excellent viewpoint for watching activity on the river - ferries, dinghy sailing, all the usual sailing and motor boat traffic, and a few paddle boarders too. Perhaps we should be thinking of paddle board rallies?

Dan Bran is a great base for a pontoon party, as it simply doesn't sink, no wet feet or neither does it lurch drunkenly as can be experienced elsewhere (the pontoon not the people). The Mayflower Hotel provided an excellent supper for 24 people, the really must be commended for their helpfulness and prompt service. Suggestions of walking along the seawall to Keyhaven the next day fell on deaf ears, and boats variously took off westwards and eastwards, with several being sighted in the Medina. An excellent September rally!

The Annual Voyage to the Horse and Jockey September 22nd

Our usual flotilla of six or seven boats including the club launch was reduced to two ribs and Tim Harrison's Julie Jill this year, perhaps because of the later date. This didn't detract from the great sense of adventure when passing under Bursledon Bridge into the relative unknown. The sunshine and blue skies contributed to the tranquil scenery of the Upper Hamble, I am always amazed that one mile upriver from the last of the moorings there simply isn't a boat in sight, though we did encounter an intrepid swimmer.

As ever, we had the traditional grounding as we turned into the Curbridge Creek, which appears to be full of large mullet. Not too long a wait though, before we could travel the last 200m to tie up. By tradition we sit outside by the creek for lunch, and were served in good time to allow us to escape on the ebb tide, for a peaceful and pleasant voyage back to the Royal Southern.

Thank you to Tim Harrison, Tim Stokes and Chris Russell for providing the water transport.