Mercury HAMBLE    April 15th and 16th

Due to foul weather predictions, the night ex was cancelled.  However, the crews of Wreckless and Hawkeye, Nexus and Brinsmead did meet up for the Tallships sailpast in the Solent on Sunday.

Saturday 15th April

Due to Gale warnings issued late on Friday, and a few boats calling in to say they would not be coming, the Night Ex was cancelled.  Calls were made to Mercury, Nexus and Wreckless to let them know that the night ex part of the weekend was cancelled, but with the possibility of improving weather Sunday should be good.

Wreckless and Hawkeye’s crews holed up in Port Solent and watched the weather both out of windows and on the tele.  Nexus did not call in, but more of them later.
Decisions had to be made as to whether to launch Wreckless for Saturday evening’s fireworks display in Southampton or go round to Hythe by road and watch from the shore.  As there seemed to be no improvement on the weather front, it was decided to keep shore side.  As usual when a decision is made to stay ashore due to the weather. Half an hour later and too late to do anything about it, the clouds cleared, the wind dropped and a beautiful evening was provided just to make us feel totally fed up as we looked at all the flat water in front of us from our viewing position at Hythe.

Now Nexus, we did not know what they got up to during the day. But they were on the water for the fireworks and they did stay on board overnight.  The temperature dropped well below zero, and there was ice on boats and pontoons Sunday morning.  Wreckless and Hawkeye’s crews were nicely tucked up ashore, in separate beds before any adverse comments.

Sunday 16th April

An early start on Sunday. Wreckless needed to be launched and Hawkeye brought round from Port Solent to be off Hamble point by 08.30hrs.  Previous arrangements had been made to meet up with Brinsmead and Nexus.

08.45hrs and Wreckless and Hawkeye were in convoy up to the Docks. Ahead we could see a massive water arch created by 2 fire tugs.  Behind them the first of the Tall ships.  Unfortunately they were all motoring as the wind direction was almost straight up Southampton Water, but the effect of so many square riggers gave a glimpse of what it would have been like in the days of sail.  After a quick tour of the Docks to see some of the ships casting off, we went back down to moor off Calshot.  As we did so contact was made with Nexus and Brinsmead both of which hung off our stern so that we could all see the Tallships sail past into The Solent.

We then moved out and held station off the brand new Cunard cruise ship Arora.  She is magnificent, again a wonderful sight as the Tallships passed by with sirens and ships horns being sounded in salute.  So although the Night Ex as planned was cancelled, the sight of all the Tallships on Sunday did make it a special weekend.

As you have seen and heard on the News, the Tallships are currently scattered in Ports around the Channel coast due to bad weather, and the start of the race postponed by at least 24hrs.  We wish them all the very best for a safe and challenging race across the Atlantic.

Colin Harris