Chichester Harbour Event.

Chat about CVRDA events
Michael Brigg
Posts: 1663
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Gosport, UK

Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Michael Brigg »

667 Bosham.jpg
(23.5 KiB) Downloaded 515 times
I have had a positive response to my enquiries to Bosham Sailing club about a possible event at Bosham in Chichester Harbour. The details need to be discussed however I would find it very helful to know what the concensus would be for which kind of event and particularly how many of you might regard it as a venue that you would travel to.

ie: 1.) A One day event, perhaps having a start on the Club regatta. There could be an option to have the preceeding or next day as a "Cruising Day." (East Head is one of the best beaches between Brighton and Brixham) a "Club picnic and Beach games day."

2.) A 2-day week end "open meeting" perhaps with a view to setting up a permanent event, perhaps as part of a Traveller's circuit or possibly independent from but along the lines of the CVRDA ethos.

3.) A bank holiday event/open meeting/Classic "festival." Again with a possibility for developing along independent lines.

4.) Not perhaps possible just yet, but a "National Rally" type event. I would not envisage this until the CVRDA and Bosham sailing club got to know eachother rather better.

Chichester harbour has alot to reccomend it as a CVRDA'ble venue. It is relatively central, and good for London and the South East. Many of our craft have considerable historical class links with the area, Hayling Island having been home to large fleets of Fireballs. Canoes, Hornets and Flying Fifteens, Fireflies and i14's at Itchenor and Finns Albacores Solos and GP14's at Bosham. Charles Curry still looks out over Itchenor Reach, and Jack Holt retired quietly to West Wittering.

The waters are sheltered but extensive and challengeing, and although busy in the summer this would present an ideal show case opportunity for what can be done with "retired" racing craft.

A difficulty is in the relatively exclusive nature of many of the harbour clubs, which to be fair are all very highly stocked with active membership, and have already got very crowded racing schedules. An additional problem is the shortage of affordable accomodation or camping within easy reach of the sailing venue.

Bosham Sailing Club I think has none of these problems. It is a friendly and welcoming club and there is already an established "Classic Dayboat" (handicap) series throughout the season and at their club regatta.

http://boshamsailingclub.com/index.lass ... KJFFBE5815

Moreover I have discovered that Bosham Sailing club's Dinghy racing site (at Cobnor Point in Chidham) has a small "Natural" (ie limited toilet facility) site adjacent to the dinghy park whose owner would be happy to accomodate "mature" campers over a Weekend at costs comparable to the Roadford site. For an early or late season event there might even be an opportunity to book accomodation in an indoor bunkroom at the Cobnor Activity centre assuming there are no Scouts/Guides etc in residence.

I would feel very excited about the prospect of bringing the CVRDA to Chichester Harbour and would value your opinions and a staw poll expression of interest.
Michael Brigg
Rupert
Posts: 6255
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:40 pm
Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Rupert »

That picture sells it for me!
Rupert
roger
Posts: 3031
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:08 pm
Location: Frome Somerset UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by roger »

Micheal, I rather fancy the idea of a beach day and a racing day. It would give us more time to play boats and Angie is happy to sit on a beach while I play. If the timing was right I would be up for it. and for me its not to far to travel.

Rog
Hornet 191 Shoestring,
Hornet 595 Demon awaiting restoration
Hornet 610 Final Fling
Hornet 353
User avatar
Ancient Geek
Posts: 1133
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:50 am
Location: Sletten,3250, Denmark and Hampshire GU33 7LR UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Ancient Geek »

It is of course the venue for much of the action in that excellent CVRDA must read "Shakewell Afloat" it should include a pilgrimage to "Tatlers Hard", "Wyche Marine", and "Seething Beach" Beware that this year East Head has been inundated with students of the noisy boistrous kind, quiet pot smokers not being apparent, despite the £3.00 a car charge if you go by car. Not the quiet delightful place it was, hopefully it will revert.
It is all very CVRDA, wonderful idea.
Simples.
Michael Brigg
Posts: 1663
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Gosport, UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Michael Brigg »

I think "Seething beach" (Hayling Island) and "the Tumbles" (East Head) have always been a venue for boistrous events where people do what we used to do when we were young.

Barbeques and "other stuff" seems these days to have given way to Boom boxes and inarticulate shouting.

As distance and time separates us further from or youth I wonder if the noise we made also sounds quieter.

The important thing is that it is only accessible with ease from the water. If a problem arises it is going to be due to the increased numbers of Ribs available and used by those usually more at home behind tinted windows and LED Blue underlighting. Anyone with the energy to walk the 2miles to East Head from West Wittering in my book has earned the right for at least a small amount of obnoxious behaviour, as long as they get back home in time for the ASBO and Tagging device to be in order.

It is still a beutiful beach.
East-head-007.jpg
(58.35 KiB) Downloaded 475 times
Last edited by Michael Brigg on Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
Michael Brigg
alan williams
Posts: 1650
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Devon

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by alan williams »

Count me in.
Al
Nigel
Posts: 1238
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:51 am
Location: Thornbury SC, Bristol

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Nigel »

Me too!

P.S. by "limited toilet facilities" do you mean nothing other than a hedge?
User avatar
Ancient Geek
Posts: 1133
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:50 am
Location: Sletten,3250, Denmark and Hampshire GU33 7LR UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Ancient Geek »

Nigel what hedge? It is all marram grass and sand dunes!
It's the jet skis that are the real trouble. Illegal they may be in Chi' Harbour but they get there somehow.
Michael you are right, it is a lovely spot, and out of season a good walk too. Last winter we were walking a borrowed dog along the beach there and bumped into Shakewell himself, on a family visit from the West Country which (I do not know how) reminds doesn't Keith Richards or one of the other Stones still live in West Wittering his house was the scene of a rather famous party involving Marianne Faithfull, an event she has always deined saying it was a twix.
I'm sure we made as much noise as we could but without the aid of boom boxes etc a "tranny" was about all we could muster or a 8 track in the car!
Simples.
Michael Brigg
Posts: 1663
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Gosport, UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Michael Brigg »

"limited toilet facilities" do you mean nothing other than a hedge?
No, I mean 1 or 2 cubicles in a portacabin, and a Chemical facility in the woods. I think the whole area has no Main drainage so a Soakaway is all thats available which means there is no extensive Shower /Wash block as found a la "Key Camp." It is essentially a farmers field, like in the good old days of camping.

If a longer stay was likely I would imagine you would use Sailing club facilities for the serious stuff.

Bosham has a curious arrangement of a split site, in order to allow full tidal access to its dinghy fleet because Bosham Quay dries out completely at the lowest tides. The problem is that the Cobnor dinghy park is some distance from the club. This picture shows the launch site, with the Bosham Quay (and clubhouse) in the distance.
East-head-022.jpg
(89.16 KiB) Downloaded 461 times
However I do remember the pleasures of bead curtains, bakelite crockery and evapouration fridges.
Attachments
East-head-022.jpg
(89.16 KiB) Downloaded 459 times
Michael Brigg
Pat
Posts: 2555
Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:42 pm
Location: West Wiltshire (Wessex)

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Pat »

Sounds good to us. A start in the regatta would be a great introduction to the venue, especially if the local classics are there too. Better pack the Porta-Potti as well!
JimC
Posts: 1721
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Surrey
Contact:

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by JimC »

Ancient Geek wrote:doesn't Keith Richards or one of the other Stones still live in West Wittering his house was the scene of a rather famous party involving Marianne Faithfull, an event she has always deined saying it was a twix.
Yep, Mr Richards still lives there (when he's there!): he's regarded as a good neighbour, and has even been seen taking part in a march in aid of saving Chichester Hospital from closure...
http://www.chichesterweb.co.uk/frameset ... l.htm~main

Ms Faithful has always denied the Mars Bar, and certainly there was plenty of "enhancement" of those parts of the Police story that made it into the official record, and that bit was something they only spread as a rumour...
User avatar
Ed
Site Admin
Posts: 3486
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Plymouth
Contact:

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Ed »

Would love an event anywhere on Chichester Harbour....

Have windsurfed many many times on south coast of Hayling and often driven past.

What are the tide issues with sailing there? 3-4 hours either side? How many good dates are their in the year?

cheers

eib
Ed Bremner
CVRDA


Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
Michael Brigg
Posts: 1663
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Gosport, UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by Michael Brigg »

The tidal issues are really to do with the fact that they can be very strong (up to 5knots in some parts of the harbour) and when the tide is out, the harbour has lots of shallows to navigate, is surprisingly narrow, and short tacking up a shallow shelving muddy lee shore is a skill that can be an aquired taste.

There are no real problems with drying out unless you are boating from Bosham Quay, which could be the case if we were doing a one day event. This is really only a problem at extreme low tide.

In the event that we wanted to use the Clubhouse for socialising, or to explore Bosham Village, a 2 day event might require a night or evening sail from the club to the Cobnor site if you were camping, or a 15 minute drive round the top of the harbour (I know which I'd prefer) Alternatively I could probably organise a water taxi. There is also a lovely Pub in Chidham (near the Cobnor site) which could easily manage a meal for 20 or so.

The prevailing SW sea breezes mean there is often a strong wind over strong ebbing tide. Running by the lee a capsize/death roll can be easy and the wind over tide has a tendency to invert your boat if you dont get it up again sharpish. This is not a good thing to happen if you have a fragile wooden mast, as the capsize often happens at a shallow point!

If we're looking at dates I'd love an event in May June or July when not too many people are away on summer hols. The club programmes are a little less crowded then as well with many younger dinghy sailors away at boarding school or university.
Michael Brigg
User avatar
JB9
Posts: 416
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:52 am
Location: BBSC, Kent, UK

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by JB9 »

Fantastic sailing area, lovely club, tides not a major issue if you launch from the Cobnor site. Cobnor does have a proper toilet and a shared/mixed cold shower too. I did not get a very warm welcome when I asked about joining in the Classic Dayboat Regatta with the Jollyboat though.

Bough Beech SC sails from Cobnor and camps for the first week in August each year. The campsite is lovely and just a stroll to the launch area. There are two activity centres adjacent too.

I would try my best to go for as many days as possible.
Harrier 25
505 7163
bert
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:09 pm
Location: all over the place

Re: Chichester Harbour Event.

Post by bert »

I have never sailed there before & would bring the harrier + down for the fun.
Post Reply