Boots, Bikes and Buses Cruise, May 8-12

Good weather for most of the week, three excellent sails, a couple of nice walks, plenty of eating and drinking, the opportunity to dance, and excellent company, what more do you need for a very enjoyable cruise?

After a great sail from Chichester and other parts of the Solent, 13 boats rendezvoused in Yarmouth, 11 rafted on the Harold Hayles pontoon and 2 in the harbour.

The pontoon party was held on the first evening alongside Raven before many crews ate in the Wheatsheaf.

On Tuesday, the first lay day, 18 people took the bus to the Needles for a walk over Tennyson Down followed by lunch at the Red Lion in Freshwater.

Some people chose a shorter walk or a bus ride to lunch with one person cycling. After a short(ish) walk back to Yarmouth, tea and cakes were served on Raven and Bugsy 2.

As the shadows lengthened, the cruise adjourned to the Royal Solent Yacht Club for early evening drinks.

Wednesday 10th we sailed to Port Hamble, where disappointingly we were faced with temporary facilities of a lower number and standard than we expect in this day and age. An excellent meal in La Dolce Vita took place in the evening before a few of the cruise headed to a lock-in in one of the excellent pubs.

Thursday brought the second lay day and a trip on the pink ferry to Warsash followed by a shorter round walk along Southampton water, through Hook-with-Warsash Nature Reserve back to Warsash Sailing Club who again provided a very good and reasonably priced lunch. No-one took the bus, although there was one bike, and a builder with his barrow accompanied us on the ferry.

Tea and cakes followed on Raven and Dawn Chorus.

In the evening a number of crews headed to the Victory where the Wickham Morris were once again performing. CYC proudly fielded its own “side” of six brave participants in one of the dances.

Friday was an early departure for a decent sail back to Chichester with the opportunity for attending the 2nd Friday Yacht Section Social for those not yet partied out.

Thanks to John and Judy Fisher, Quintette, our deputies and to Bugsy 2, Coco, Dawn Chorus, Flapjack, Lady Kate, Libra of Lorne, Magic Touch, Pibbin 11, Seabird, Sweet Lil and Teise for joining us.

Carole Middleton and Bob Spencer