ECA 60th Anniversary Rally to Weymouth
ECA 60th Anniversary Rally to Weymouth (Mid-week rally)
A rally of approximately 60nm to celebrate the ECA's 60th anniversary.
Monday 15th - EYH to Beaulieu - HW Portsmouth 12:06 BST 4.6m
Leave EYH at approx. 10.00am for Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu. Pontoon party at 5.30pm to celebrate arrival. Location to be determined at the time. The cooked food wagon does not visit on a Monday but Henry's Pub in the Master Builders building in the marina will be happy to take individual arrivals. They already have a party booked. Otherwise it's dine on board.
Tuesday 16th - Beaulieu to Studland - HW Portsmouth 13:01 BST 4.7m
Leave Bucklers Hard at approx.10.00am for Studland Visitors buoys. Arrive approx 15.30. There are 87 Eco moorings so, on a Tuesday evening we should be able to find one without a problem. The charge is £15 per night and there are probably no boats on the rally that are bigger than 10 tons so all should comply with the weight limit. Each buoy has instructions on how to pay but you can download the Sippi Mooring app which makes payment quick and easy. Buoys are on a spring rather than a chain to protect the seagrass, rafting is not allowed. Feel free to use dinghy's to spend time with other members. A big easterly wind would be a problem but that will have to be resolved nearer the time. The best website to find out about the moorings is 'Dorset Coast have your say'.
Wednesday 17th - Studland to Weymouth - HW Portsmouth 13:57 BST 4.7m - HW Plymouth 08:18 BST 5.3m
Ebb starts at St Albans Head at HW Plymouth +0525 (~13:45 BST). 9nm from Studland so leave Studland ~11:45 if doing 5kn SOG. It is 15nm from St Albans to Weymouth so arrive around 16:00 on as there will be a favourable spring tide.
We will encounter the Lulworth Firing Range after rounding St Alban's Head. It is very likely the range will be active on a Wednesday and we'll be able to find out for sure in a couple of weeks time when they publish June's restrictions. If it is active, ribs with red flags will be stationed to escort us around the restricted zone. This may affect the time of departure. Berths in Weymouth Harbour are on the starboard side of the river as we enter, there is a useful map on the harbour's website. Call Weymouth Harbour on channel 12 as you approach. There will be a pontoon party at 18:00 if space allows. There are numerous restaurants close to the pontoons for an evening meal, including the fish and chip shop and Wetherspoons.
Thursday 18th Weymouth - Day in Weymouth
There are many places of interest within a bus ride of Weymouth. You can take a bus or ferry to Portland where there's a museum, the lighthouse, the old prison with it's cafe and a lovely coast path. Or you can walk the beach for coffee or lunch at Cafe Oasis in Overcombe.
For the celebratory 60th Anniversary Cruise dinner in the evening we have a provisional booking for 20 at Prezzo Italian Restaurant on the quay. Menu choices will be posted on the website nearer the time.
Friday 19th Weymouth - Day in Weymouth
This can be a do your own thing day or ar possible adventure is to take the bus along to the other end of Chesil Beach where you will find Abbotsbury Swannery, and not far away is a subtropical garden and St Catherine's Chapel. Alternately you can catch a bus to close to Maiden Castle Hill Fort near Dorchester.
In the evening it's a choose your own place to eat at one of the many restaurants in the area.
Saturday 20th Weymouth to Lymington - HW Portsmouth 17:01 BST 4.6m - HW Plymouth 10:51 BST 4.9m
Flood starts at St Albans Head at HW Plymouth -0100 (~10:00). However it is not critical as it would be easy keeping 2nm off when heading for the IoW. It is 37nm from Weymouth to Hurst so you need to be at Hurst around HW Portsmouth -02:00 (~15:00) so leave Weymouth around 08:00 BST. if planning around 5kn. You will be pushing the tide until St Albans but after that you will be going with the flood so may arrive earlier. The Portland Range does not operate over the weekend so that will not be a problem.
Some sailors are heading west on an extended cruise to the West Country (Koto, Bluebell, Sea Us Out). If you are doing so then please tick the appropriate field on the booking form.
We are booked on to Dan Bran pontoon at Lymington. As there will be a smaller number of boats on this return trip we have booked a table for 14 at The Ship in Lymington in the village old harbour. There will be a £10 deposit and menu choices will be posted on the website nearer the time
Sunday 21st - Return to port - HW Portsmouth 17:47 BST 4.5m
Depart Lymington at approx 11.00am for a pleasant trip along the Solent to Emsworth, arrival approx.16:30.
Communication
The OODs for this Rally are: Neil Fuller & Brian Thresh
Contact no: See Members Directory, Boat Name: Koto & Gwendon
Email: See Members directory
Rally Contact: VHF Chan 16/08
When booking the ECA rally ticket please indicate whether you wish to be included in the rally 'WhatsApp' group for up to the minute communications.
Please don't hesitate to contact the OOD if you have any questions.
Participating Skippers are reminded that all ECA rallies and events are carried out under rule 22 of the Emsworth Cruising Association Rules as published in the ECA Yearbook.
Participation in an ECA Rally or event is taken as acknowledgement and understanding of this rule.
The ECA draws to the attention of skippers and crew attending, that full responsibility for sea worthiness of boats and experience of crew attending is held with the skipper of the boat sailing to the rally. All information given should be checked before setting out.
Last updated 8:58am on 19 May 2026