Cruiser Let's Go West rally Sunday 12 - Sunday 19 July 2026

Published 13:03 on 30 Jul 2026 by Sue PEARSON

Go West Rally or 4,3,2,1 nearly GO! We started with 4 boats. The first dropped out due to a change in time availability, the second after the good news that a crew members listed operation had landed, but during the rally. This left Niobe and Fairwind. With two days to go the occasional 40kn gusts forecast put off Niobe with Bill commenting that it was too much for the two old duffers, particularly the lumpy seas, but at least the crew of Fairwind could now be free to do whatever they wanted. Very thoughtful of Bill. The remaining two and only slightly less old duffers on Fairwind decided after a couple of days, to set off in the better wind conditions.
A six-day cruise west limits travel to Portland/Weymouth. The lesser time now suggested the Poole area. We decided to go back to basics and not bother with marinas and Fairwind left on Tuesday 14 July bound for Newtown Creek. Winds were easterly, still very gusty but manageable. Genoa only until the Forts due not just to the strong easterly wind but a difficult swell on the aft quarter. The main was hoisted in the Solent as the wind and sea moderated. The Solent was almost empty with no cargo ship movements even the IOW ferries did not cause the usual concern. It was very hot and seriously hot when the wind dropped away west of Cowes.
Newtown looked reasonably empty from a mile out, but in fact all the mooring buoys were taken. We could not anchor at the best spot about 175m north-east up Clamerkin Lake, as the 150-foot plus swinging circle of a 55- foot boat on a 20-foot line to the first visitor mooring buoy prohibited this. We anchored further south-west in shallower water. All very peaceful, but the heat demanded the deployment of the wind scoop (in DQ colours of course). Once settled, a seal swam by Fairwind so close that I could have tapped it on the head with our boathook, but Sue would not let me.
High water was perfect for a lunch trip up Shalfleet Creek to the New Inn the next day, but after research, we found that it was permanently closed. It got worse, the Harbour Master informed us that the water tap at the bottom of the field at the Newtown Landing was not working. Luckily, Fairwind has a large water tank! We lazily remained on board taking in the peace and quiet and delightful sights of the wildlife. Our folding briefcase solar panel was engaged to cover the electricity used by the fridge/freezer, so at a respectable time, cold G&Ts followed.
The next leg on Thursday was to Studland Bay, Poole. The tidal flows dictated an early afternoon start which in light winds was helpful as the sea breeze would set in whilst crossing Christchurch Bay. We had a glorious beam reach most of the way. Studland now has 100 eco moorings so plenty to choose from. These 5 and 10 tonne rated moorings are attached to the sea bottom with a sort of bungy and the actual buoys are light in weight. This means that when attached by their strop, the actual buoys above the strop swivel and bob around relentlessly. The answer is to either have a long line to them (plenty of room to do so) or secure the top ring to your boat with a second line to stop the gyrations; we chose the latter. Winds were light but generally in the north or north-east during the morning, bringing in a slight swell but went south and south-west in the afternoon so we were well sheltered Winds dropped away overnight, so all was very comfortable.
We went ashore the next day to get some exercise and to buy a few provisions from the Studland shop. We bought lunch on the beach from Joes café (small hut). This business employs a good number of older school children in the holidays and is very popular. After enjoying our excellent pasties sitting on our dinghy, we swam from the beach in a lovely warm sea. Setting off back, we marched down the beach carrying the dinghy but forgetting to untie the painter from the wall hilarity followed as the dinghy sprung back to the wall. Not the first time we have done that!
Rather than dinghy straight back to Fairwind using the Suzuki, Sue rowed us most of the way around the base of the white cliffs to Old Harry, about half a mile. Good exercise for Sue and some impressive sights ashore. At Old Harry we came across a gaggle of kayakers and a lone paddleboard with two young ladies in swimwear but no buoyancy aids. The sea breeze had picked up with the wind whipping across the bay against our track back to Fairwind; there was not just wind, but tide and chop to battle against. The young ladies were not phased at all making zero progress apparently trying to head back to the National Trust beach area. Luckily, a speedboat took them in tow. When will schools teach safety on the water?
On Saturday, another beautiful day, we left Studland mid-morning for Beaulieu River. The sail across Christchurch Bay was again very pleasant, with another beam reach. On the radio, we heard that an old mine would be exploded in Weymouth Bay and were advised to keep clear lucky we were heading east. We noticed a Minesweeper anchored south of Bournemouth Pier which must have put the wind up the tourists.
After the usual exciting rounding of Hurst Castle coming directly from WNW with 3.5kn of tide under us we made good progress and anchored in the lower reaches of Beaulieu River with the most splendid view of most of the Western Solent at high water. The day was very hot again, so the wind scoop was deployed once more and this time the cockpit tent with its sides rolled up served as a bimini. The HM visited for our £10 and suggested that we leave the dinghy on deck due to the propensity for seals to enjoy sleeping in them. It seems that Beaulieu has eleven seals this year, the increased number due to the plentiful jelly fish which is an a la carte delicacy.
On Sunday 19 July we made a lazy start out of the river heading for the next rally in Bembridge. Much busier down the Eastern Solent now that some schools were out and of course it was a Sunday.
This time there were seven boats in attendance at Bembridge, so the lonely Fairwind was even happier. Alls well that ends well!
Barrie Pearson
Photos by Barrie and Sue