Round Up 2004/5
By Gordon Stollard
IPOA(UK) Cruise to Beaulieu River & BBQ
Friday 6th, August 2004
Buckler’s Hard is a delightful spot on the Beaulieu River. It was created by the 2nd Duke of Montagu, who planned to build a free port on the river banks for the import and export of sugar from the West Indies. This never got off the ground as the French captured the islands, but from the 1740’s the site was used for the building of ships for the Royal Navy. Over 80 naval and merchant ships were built at Buckler’s Hard, many by Master Shipbuilder, Henry Adams. These included the Agamemnon (64 guns) on which Nelson served between 1793 and 1796, and which took part in the Siege of Calve, near Corsica, at which Nelson was wounded and lost his right eye, the Swiftsure, (74 guns), and the Euryalus on which the despatch containing news of Nelson’s death at Trafalgar was written. Once the hulls were launched, they were towed by rowing boats to Portsmouth where the masts and rigging were added.
The end of the Napoleonic Wars, followed by the advent of iron ships, saw the demise of shipbuilding at Buckler’s Hard, but by the late 19th century activity increased again as pleasure steamers started to bring day trippers to the village. In the early 1900s, there was still some commercial traffic on the river which was policed by Lord Montagu’s boatman, Jim Thomas. From his home in the Master Builder’s House, he was able to see the arrival of visiting yachts and organise the laying of moorings for them. In 1926, his house was converted into a hotel, and as traffic on the river increased, Lord Montagu appointed his first official Harbour Master, Frank Downer, in 1927. During the Second World War the Admiralty requisitioned the River and sections of the Mulberry harbours were built in the old oyster beds. Hundreds of landing craft and their crews gathered on the River before leaving for Normandy and the D-Day landings. In the post-war years, private yachts returned to the river and in 1963 a Maritime Museum was opened in what had been the New Inn, to tell the story of shipbuilding on the river. As visitor numbers grew it became necessary to close the high street to traffic and relocate yachting activities further upstream, 48,000 cubic yards of mud were dredged to make way for a marina with a new chandlery and boatyard. The Beaulieu is one of the few privately owned rivers in the world, and its custodianship by Lord Montagu and his ancestors over four centuries has ensured that riverside development and the number of moorings have been carefully controlled.
In common with all the Solent’s waterways, the Beaulieu River benefits from a double tide and a secondary high water. The flood takes six hours to come in: then, after a gentle fall, there is a second high water, not quite as high as the first, some two hours later, followed by a period of slack water for about an hour. Then the ebb sets in, and low water is reached in just two and a half hours. This secondary high water has a number of advantages. First there are more hours of flood than of ebb (mariners prefer to proceed upstream on a flood tide); second there is a relatively current free period of about three hours around high water, and six hours out of every 24; third, the fast ebb has a scouring effect on the river bed which minimises silting.
The Vice Commodore whilst cruising in the West Country was detailed off to organise this event, as all other committee members were away. Fortunately he put into Bucklers Hard on his way west and perhaps, with some premonition, had already spoken to the Harbour Master so a disaster of organisation was narrowly averted!
Some eight Island Packet yachts made their way during the afternoon of Friday, 6th, August, to the Beaulieu River and rafted up on the Swiftsure jetty by kind permission of the Harbour Master. After drinks aboard Pipe Dream, the past Commodore Andy Brooking stood in for our Commodore, Bob Harris, who was away cruising, and preformed the traditional lighting of (and splendidly maintained) the BBQ. Our ladies provided sumptuous fare and we were blessed with wonderful fine weather. The following morning was quite eerie in the mist and one could let the imagination run riot with thoughts of the ghosts and ships of the past in this historic venue. After breakfast and short tours of the village and museum, we departed from the pier by 1130 to allow the daily pleasure cruiser her berth.
Boats in attendance:
Jalan ~Jalan – IP 380/40 Andrew Brooking + 3
Soulmate – IP 380/137 Antony & Julia Chilvers
Fidlers Dram – IP 350 Cedric Coupland, Margaret Smith, Brian Wragg
Morwyn – IP 380 John & Georgina Davies, Linda Shields
Demo – IP 370 Bob & Caroline Stokes, David & Denise Cadish
Pipe Dream – IP 420/82 Gordon & Rae Stollard
Akimbo – IP 420 Peter & Kim Vincent
AGM & Spring Dinner
27th, March 2004
Originally booked for the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Rope Walk, Hamble our secretary was able at short notice when that venue became impossible to find an alternative venue virtually next door at the R Bar & Restaurant. The minutes of the previous AGM were approved and the existing officers duly re-elected. Anthony Chilvers was proposed and seconded as an additional Committee member and elected nem con. The Commodore reported on the events of 2004 and outlined the plans for 2005. The Hon.Secretary & Treasurer reported on the growing membership and the healthy state of the Association’s finances. It was agreed that funds would be provided for an IPOA(UK) burgee and the Vice Commodore was asked to arrange. Under AOB it was suggested and agreed that the Associations funds should be moved into an interest bearing account. Some 28 members and their guests then enjoyed a pleasant meal and future plans discussed.
Attendees:
Clive & Anne Stephen, Cedric Coupland & Margaret Smith, Bob & Carol Harris, Laurie & Alicia Strangeman, Gordon & Rae Stollard, Richard & Jacqueline Power, Eberhard & Rolland Leitz + 2 guests, Bob & Caroline Stokes, Ian & Gill Malby, Alyn & Elizabeth Jenkins, Anthony & Julia Chilvers, Peter & Kim Vincent, Richard & Gill Dearsley, Tony & Chris Dickenson, David Drew & Alan Bishenden.
London Dinner, HMS President
14th, January 2005
The London Boat Show Dinner was held at HMS President, the HQ of the London Division Royal Naval Reserve near Tower Bridge. Some 26 members and their guests attended. We welcomed Bill Bolin from Island Packet Yachts, Florida. The Vice Commodore sang for his supper and gave a short history of the London Division, RNR, and some Navy customs. The Commodore welcomed our guests and had everyone speaking on why we had Island Packet Yachts and members’ future plans. The dinner was excellent and we were most grateful to Cdr. Clare Hughes RD, RNR and the Mess President Lt. Cdr. Paul Hill RNR for permission to hold our dinner there.
Attendees:
Bob & Carol Harris, Paul & Elaine Bragg, Clive & Anne Stephen, Gordon & rae Stollard + guest Philip Sasson, Bob & Caroline Stokes, Bill Bolin, Mike & Ching Tubbs, Anthony & Julia Chilvers, Chris & Jemma Cowley, Andrew & Jane Brooking, John &Phil Shanahan, David & Maureen Maker + 2 guests, Ken & Diana Bayton, John & Jackie Worsp, Tim from Opal.
Southampton Boat Show Dinner
18th, September 2004
Bob and Carol Harris setting a sailing example were the only two members to arrive by sea. Gordon and Rae Stollard with guest Alister Hutchin on board set out to do so but in trying to flatten the main in the strong wind blew out the main car and returned to their berth at Chichester and proceeded by a different car. The dinner was held in the Merry Mouse, the converted light ship at Haslar Marina. The atmosphere was cosy and convivial, some 21 members and their guests attended.
Attendees:
Bob & Carol Harris, Gordon & Rae Stollard + guests Alister & Sue Hutchin, Anthony & Julia Chilvers, Bob & Carol Stokes, Paul & Susie Boissier, Clive & Anne Stephen, Paul & Elaine Bragg, Chris & Jemma Cowley, Ian & Gill Malby, Bob Wells + guest.
