2022 Cruise » Cruise 5 - Round the Island

(Cruise 5 was originally scheduled for Sunday 10 July)

Round the Island Cruise - 2022

This is a significant cruise and should not be undertaken without serious assessments of the dinghy's condition and the crews abilities. Approaching this cruise as 'a number of dinghies sailing to a common destination' should set the tone for the preparation required.

The cruise will only depart if there is a reasonable level of confidence in a favourable weather forecast including the wind being from the west/south-west by mid day.

The route around the Island will involve passing Cowes, the Needles, and Bembridge Ledge. There will be a breakfast stop at Colwell Bay where a final decision will be taken to proceed to the Needles or return to Hill Head. There will be a tidal gate cut off at the Needles (HW Portsmouth +4). If this time constraint is not achieved then returning to the Club via the western Solent is still an enjoyable sail in flood tidal flow. There are possible stops at Yarmouth, Gurnard, and East Cowes.

If you are interested in taking part in this cruise, contact the Cruise Secretary, Clive Dakin.

Portsmouth high water 07:41 and 20:16

Round the Island Cruising - Background

Round the Island: These cruises, aimed at the more experienced, began at the beginning of the 1980s and appeared in most annual programmes from 1980 to 2004.This article by John Glover published in the summer 1984 SSC magazine sets the scene:

The 2004 Round the Island cruise was eventful. Just after 6am on Sunday 27th June, two Wayfarers and a GP14, accompanied by a 24ft motor-sailer, set of to circumnavigate the Island. Having made good time past St Catherine's Point, as they turned northeast they ran into gusty conditions and increasingly heavy seas. One of the Wayfarers capsized off Shanklin and inverted. The crew eventually righted the dinghy and landed at Shanklin to "take sustenance". The GP14 capsized a little further north losing its transom flaps. The crew righted it and managed to beach it at Sandown. The two Wayfarers, in winds up to Force 7 and very rough seas, eventually reached Hill Head by 7pm. One of the crew, John Hills, had survived the whole trip with a broken ankle. Having repaired the boat, the GP14 crew spent the night on the beach at Sandown - listening to the lions roaring in the nearby zoo. After a very pleasant morning sail down the Solent, they reached Hill Head at 9am on Monday.

Crew needed and available

Last updated 10:45am on 9 July 2022