ECA Rally to Poole
ECA Rally to Poole via Yarmouth returning via Lymington - Thursday 7th August to Monday 13th August
Thursday 7th August - Chichester to Yarmouth. HW Chichester 11:10, 4.2m
For those in EYH with sailboats leave around 09:30, punch the tide out of the harbour and head to Yarmouth with the ebb. It's about 23NM from West Pole to Yarmouth and you should have between 1 knot and 2 knots of tide with you for most of the passage. When you are off the entrance call Yarmouth Harbour on Ch 68 and ask for berthing instructions. Mention you are part of the ECA rally. You will be met by harbour staff in a launch by the entrance and they will guide you in. We have provisionally booked 10 berths here, but you may be asked to raft. Latest recommended arrival time to avoid the adverse tide is 16.00. No payments are required prior to your arrival.
Pontoon drinks at 18.00 nearby or on-board Sea Us Out and own arrangements for eating.
Friday 8th August
Day at leisure in Yarmouth. In the past we have done walks to view the Needles and returned via Freshwater. There is a frequent bus service around the island.
For example, The Breezer bus leaves from Yarmouth to visit the Needles Park (Timetable here: https://www.islandbuses.info/services/SVCT/TNB?date=2025-08-08&direction=outbound) which includes a monument to Guglielmo Marconi and his pioneering work on wireless communication. The details here: https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/the-marconi-monument-p1067191 If you fancy something different there is Alpaca walking nearby. http://www.westwightalpacas.co.uk
Dining is booked at The Bugle Coaching Inn for 19.00. I will need to provide your menu choices and any allergies. There is no deposit payable. The menu is shown below or the link is https://www.thebugleinn.co.uk/_files/ugd/b958f8_4e645cd7cb7c444b807958f123822452.pdf
Saturday 9th August - Yarmouth to Poole. HW Portsmouth 12:40, 4.5m
Leave Yarmouth around 10:30 and head to Poole with the ebb. Ten places provisionally have been booked in Poole Town Quay Marina but if you would like to anchor around Poole Harbour instead on Friday and/or Saturday night(s) then please state when booking. No payments are required prior to your arrival.
Suitable anchorages are Goat Horn Point, Pottery Pier or Blood Alley Lake. If you choose to go to the Marina, drinks will be on or near Sea Us Out at 18:00. There are numerous eateries along the town quay so do your own thing or make local arrangements.
Sunday 10th August - Various Options
There are various options to consider depending on what you wish to do and whether you are anchored or not. Examples include: -
- A good bus service across the ferry towards Swanage,
- Boat trips to Brownsea Island,
- Move your own boat within the harbour for a picnic at anchor,
- For the adventurous and risk takers, how about Wareham for lunch on the tide? It is about 6NM with a lot of twists and turns. On arrival, turn around immediately before the bridge and tie up port side to against the wall in front of the car park and pubs. Local HT at 11:50, 2.1m. Tidal range 1.1m. Some of the upper reaches dry (at Springs up to 0.6m) so that on this day the least depth in the river at LT 18:30, is 0.4m you should do the planning yourself but for a 1.0m draft I suggest you enter the river around 09:30 and make sure you exit back into the harbour no later than 16:00 and go slowly!
- Shopping
- Anchor and swim in Studland Bay - wet suit advised!
********** The choice is yours ***********
Tables have been booked for nominally 20 people at The Riggers Restaurant, RNLI College at 7pm. We have visited this venue before, and everyone agreed it was a good choice. It is a relatively short walk from the town quay. Details are here https://rnli.org/rnli-college/eat-drink-and-relax. Please book a ticket per head dining so far, they have not asked for advanced meal choices or a deposit. Cancellations within 24 hours of the reservation will incur a £10 per person charge.
Monday 11th August - Poole to Lymington. HW Portsmouth 13:50, 4.7m
Leave around 08:00 to make the most of the Flood tide. It is 18NM to Hurst and we need to be in Lymington by no later than 12:30 to avoid the adverse tide. Call the HM on CH 66, Call sign: Lymington Harbour, when close for berthing instructions on Dan Bran North Pontoon where we have provisionally booked 12 berths, but you may be asked to raft.
IMPORTANT:- I will have sent details of attending boats, their owner's email and 'phone number to the Harbour Master 10 days before we arrive. They will send you an invoice for the berth for payment in full no later than 48 hours before arrival. If you have not paid by this time, you risk them reallocating your berth. Mention that you are part of the ECA rally.
Pontoon drinks at 16:00 on or near Sea Us Out.
Food suggestions are:- JUST EAT/DELIVEROO fish and chips? Or eat on board. Or An American supper why not bring your leftovers? Rotate around boats between courses? It is August so perhaps a salad would be in order?!
Tuesday 12th August
Day at leisure in Lymington. Suggestions are:-
- In the past we have organised walks through the saltings via Solent Way to lunch at The Gun Inn at Keyhaven.
- The train takes one to Brockenhurst, Beaulieu Road and Ashurst with New Forrest views en route.
- Being August, the swimming pool may be open.
Dinner has been booked at Eat Pizza (my contact is Marina ladies name, not the berthing location!) with Table service at 18.30. If fine, we will have the whole garden to ourselves and if wet, we will eat indoors downstairs. The menu is reproduced below or can be found at https://www.eat-pizza.co.uk/menu/
I need to pre-book your choices and advise them of any allergies. There is a deposit of £10 pp payable a couple of weeks beforehand.
Wednesday 13th August - Lymington to Chichester Harbour 23NM
HW Chichester 15:00, 4.8m (Northney for EYH is 15:20, 4.8m)
The tide turns in our favour at about 07:00 and stays with us until about 12:30. Boats managing about 5 knots might leave Lymington around 08:00 for a leisurely sail to Chichester Harbour with the tide. Mobos need to leave no later than midday to arrive at EYH near to high tide.
Communication
The OOD for this Rally is: Derek Ellinor (with Sheila in support)
Contact no: See ECA Members Directory Boat Name: "Sea Us Out". MMSI 235066365
Email: See ECA 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.
Remember to book a meal ticket per person for each arranged venue and provide your menu choices and any allergies for The Bugle Coaching Inn, Yarmouth and Eat Pizza at Lymington.
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 available on our website.
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.
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Last updated 4:43am on 15 June 2025