The Portsmouth rally 2010

The Portsmouth rally did not start well for us.

First rig of the year took that little longer, and the f4 on the slip didn't help. Leaving the big ratchet strap on to steady the boat was a major mistake as moving the boat into wind to hoist the genoa up stopped with a load crack as the ratchet tail went under the rear trailer wheel. a nasty chunk out of the cockpit gunwale will remind me not to do that again... especially as I hone my grp skills to fade the evidence into memory.
So we set off as the sun sank with the promise of a life event, a moonlight sail towards a rather distant destination. Pushing weather forecasts of high winds n rain to the back of my head I tried to re-assure my first officer that all was perfectly safe and we'd look back on this romantic trip for years to come.

Touched by my romantic side she cheerfully made me a cup of tea eager for the adventure of gliding through a serene silver scene with her captain skillfully bravely and in a most manly way adjusting the sheets as the moon danced over the gentle swell of the sea…

We got out of the harbour just in time to see the winds drop and thick clouds obscure what was for a fleeting moment a gorgeous orange full moon.  No more tea for me.
A brief argument with a lobbypot and a boring motor trip through the swell saw us in Yarmouth for about 03:30. We chugged in as quietly as we could till we spotted a suitable spot to raft up. Putting her gently into reverse shattered the night calm as the engine revs screamed up instantly, and we were still drifting full speed ahead... oh.. a brief repeat of the same in forward told me that this was my first experience of losing a propeller. By this time the river current had picked us up at quite a remarkable speed considering the calmness of the water. We frantically put all the fenders to port and assumed crash positions. We landed full broadside against the sleeping yachts, touching down between two 37-40's. All in all it turned out to be mercifully graceful and we tied up quietly.
Tied up I watched the dawn straining through a dirty sky and began considering the situation. Our neighbor had popped his head out of the hatch and informed us that he was staying put in the harbour for another day due to forecast 6 to possible gales. My heart sank a little further. The plan had been to catch the spring tide through the solent that was just starting to turn in our favour... that was just not going to happen now. Where was I going to get a prop, how was I going to get the boat back.. oh crap. At least we could have a bit of a sleep in and try out our new tailored and extended vee berth.

The morning (about 9) announced itself with howling rigging and a thorough test of our new canvas door panel as the rain lashed down. I phoned friends and acquired numbers to hunt down a prop. In my mind I just knew there had to be an old forgotten prop sat quietly in a corner looking for a new home, somewhere...
After several offers of ordering one for monday I was beginning to lose hope. My last call began "oh, we're not open today.. I just walked in the door... " However that was the route to finding my forgotten prop. An hour and a half later I met a chap at the Lymington ferry terminal holding a brand new prop, together with 2 new thrust washers and even spare split pins. He looked like an angel, smiling broadly as I gave him the agreed £30 cash. He told me he sympathized, how he once had a gearbox seize on the one day the coastguard went on strike. Eventually a dredger picked him up as he was swept out past the needles.

The new prop went on in minutes, so we ate and hung around a bit for the tide to turn and the weather to lighten up. By 16:30 we left in reasonable enough conditions to head for Portsmouth, or so I thought.
The Solent was pretty churned up as we headed for the north channel( better current and smother seas, allegedley) It looked like a strong F6 at least. When asked I told Mandy it was a good 4. "You're a ******* liar!" she snapped back grabbing a rail as the boat slamed and screwed as the conditions played havoc with her plans to get somer sax practice in.
Helm going lock to lock as the waves built up, but at least it wasn't raining! We were also making pretty good progress, covering a good 7kts og. Cowes brought further heavy sea and general confusion, and a bit of peace as the screams of hatred and divorce coming from below fell silent. Peering through the rain screen revealed a collapsed figure. When this one gets seasick she just can't move. We were in the lee of the i-o-w eventually so I got her on deck with a warm cup. A good revival technique. Portsmouth harbour was soon slipping past us and by 20:20 we were tied up and heading for the clubhouse for some dinner. Exhausted, we met with familiar friendly faces and quaffed and guffawed till late, retiring into the warm comfort of restless creaking against the pontoon. The rally had begun.. we had made it to Hardway with 3 other boats. Aranah, Vega & Milestone.