|
Social Events
Club Socials Join us at a bar in Port Solent for a night of good conversation and humour. These are run once a month and are in addition to our social programme both on and off the water. Meet members of our committee and share your ideas on future rallies and events, make new friends within the club and plan adventures near and far. The location will vary around the boardwalk so please check back later for more information. Winter Walk No 3 – Northney Circular
How lucky were we? After a week of almost continuous rain, all awoke to sunny skies and a gentle breeze. Our WhatsApp chat proved useful before departure, as illness forced a couple of absentees to get in touch. The leaders set off early to re-recce part of the route, as we had previously found deep pools of water barring the planned route. Enquiry with local dog-walkers had given us a potential detour and the group had been warned that, if invoked, Plan B would entail extra distance to that published. We found the flooding was still there, so we returned to The Ship Inn to await arrivals at the already bustling car park. Given the slight frost early on, clothing had been donned by most to suit and one member, in training for an arduous Scottish trek, was carrying a hefty rucksack. Two more had shown equal enthusiasm for exercise, forsaking mobile transport and choosing to walk to the start from Emsworth. We were joined by additional members but ended up with a same net number of 22, as expected, together with an extra four-legged companion. After a short briefing, to stress caution with the uneven and slippery conditions and to confirm the longer route, we set off on time – firstly dodging traffic to cross the busy Hayling access road and over the bridge. Safely across, we re-convened briefly at the small water-side car park before heading for the Hayling Billy Trail [where a notice board informed that the train ran from 1867 until closure in 1963. Hmm, wonder who did that?]. Competing for space with other walkers, cyclists and joggers, we turned off the track after 300 yards to follow the edge of Langstone Harbour. To our side, we could see the old oyster beds, the demise of which came in 1902, following sewage outflow causing deaths from typhoid – including the Dean of Winchester – after eating the shellfish.
Half an hour into the walk and enjoying great views across the water, we had a coffee break at the ‘truck’, where by now many were peeling clothing back, having regretted putting on the extra layers. We assembled for a group photo, with The Spinnaker Tower in the distance as back-drop and then, grouped tightly, we used the pedestrian crossing to traverse again the A3023, before passing the entrance to the footpath of our original route. A not-so-pleasant stretch along the main road footpath was then endured, before turning into a side lane leading towards Northney Farm. A sign off to the left, to avoid the farmyard, took us through a heavily-sodden energy-sapping field, before emerging onto a more pleasurable wide hard-core track. This soon met up with our originally planned route and we followed it past the sunflower fields, which though not obvious with only stalks remaining from last year’s crop, these glorious flowers are grown by the farmer and sold on site.
With the group now spread, another stop before taking a narrow footway through a ‘kissing gate’ and into the tranquility of the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, North Hayling. This Norman church, built in 1140, is now the oldest on the island and still in regular use. Dodging the stream and daffodils, a few of the group made a short detour, to find the headstone of Russian Princess Catherine Yourievsky [1880-1959], a daughter of Tsar Alexander II. Onward along the designated path and again treading across heavy wet terrain, we rounded fields until briefly joining Northney Road. 150 yards further and taking care to avoid traffic on the sharp bend took us to a farm track, heading westwards. A zigzag along the ensuing paths brought us to a stile, at the rear of the petrol station and the end of our walk. Members then made their own way back across Hayling Bridge to The Ship and to their cars, which were still secure at low tide. Thanks for your company and conversation: Deborah and Chris, Ann, Julie and Derek, Marian and Hugh, Debbie and Martin, Gail and Nick, Val and Tony, Paula and Peter, Jan and Paul, Stuart and Angela, Keith. Richard and Carole [and Ruby] [‘Thomas Hardy’]
Trafalgar Night Dinner - 21st October 2023
FINAL SIGNAL : Report on PSYC Trafalgar Night Dinner - 21st October 2023 It is sometimes said that any naval The PSYC TN Dinner followed suit, did not disappoint and no foreign warships were spotted at the lock gates. The battle plan was put into action early on the morning of the 21st. Flags were hoisted, ‘walk-throughs’ executed and much ‘tooth sucking’ done by the Vice President on the risk of ‘alarms’ being sounded during the planned ‘Parade of Sail’. Calmed by a ship’s captain, who has experience in these matters, a voyage plan was filed for the route. In the evening, ninety-two crew reported for duty. Embarked on tables of different ‘ships of the line’ and wearing finery seldom seen around the pontoons, the scene was set for a night which promised to blend tradition with fun. Dining, fortification, a ‘touch of history’ (superbly delivered by our President and his table captains), and toasting were the standing orders of the day. As the evening progressed so did the banter, not only between the omnipresent ‘power’ and ‘sail’ contingencies but also the crew showing support for their own captains and ships. The ‘Parade of Sail’ was introduced With no smoke detectors activated during the spectacular parade, Madam Vice finally relaxed, so much so that she tried to offer a glass of port to all crew before the President had received his final reports - Hooray tio! ( Horatio). The President then delivered a eulogy to Nelson culminating in the most important moment of the evening, a toast to ‘The Immortal Memory’. Following a few songs led by ‘Deck & Fo’c’sle’, all crew stood to attention with a rousing rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’ which was a patriotic and fitting close to what, by common consensus, was a fabulous evening.
And so for now, just one final toast…. ' Mr. President, Ladies & Gentlemen’ ‘Port Solent Yacht Club’ Yours Aye Susan | Proclamation on Winterfest ‘Hear ye, hear ye…’ I am pleased to proclaim that the ‘Winterfest’, thrown for the villagers of PSYC was a very well attended affair with 86 places set at the table. Fishermen and pirates alike, left their boats and ships to gather with the labourers of the land for a night of hearty comradery, eating drinking, dancing, and general merriment. The village square was transformed by fairy lights and pennants, fishing nets stowed above, and the bench tables setup and assembled close together so that the village could congregate and trade compliments (or insults) about their clothes. What an effort everyone made; quite a sight to be seen. Some villagers were barely recognisable (you know who you are) and in a few instances , fishermen had kindly brought some fish around their necks to add to the feast: ‘Bravo Zulu’ (= well done! ed) to everyone. The pirate group ,‘Jim & Splice the Main Brace’ kicked off the evening and kept up a good pace throughout,There was, however, an element of ‘head scratching’ before the meal when it became apparent that many in the village didn’t ‘know their knots’ and couldn’t easily establish their place at the table. It was interesting to watch some villagers take out those newfangled instruments called smart phones and photograph the knot, hoping that,the little person inside would give them the answer. This did give rise to a moment of concern for the head villager who thought people might tell her ‘to get knotted’ but, then again, her olde sea dog was on hand to help. Funny, I wonder whose idea that was? Ration cards were handed out before the meal and the village folk made their way to the food stalls to collect their fayre, and very scrummy it was too. Sitting down to tables, bedecked with check tablecloths and tea lights, the chatter and banter continued, interspersed with laughter as ‘Ye Olde Photo Boothe’ caricaturist sketched some villagers in action. Villagers Alan and Alison Bowie, playing guitar and drum, did a few songs to much applause and the night continued as the village dancers encouraged others into the square. Winterfest also had a few side stall attractions to tempt the adventurous but clearly there was some ‘cheating’ on recorded scores. ‘Colouring the castle’ became a bit of a hit, particularly towards the end of the evening when a mixture of names, flowers, designs, and even a White Ensign were coloured onto the ramparts. So, overall, ‘twas a good and memorable night in the village. And, as someone so kindly wrote to me after the event, ‘a splendid start to the season…’ ‘Hear Ye, hear ye…….’tomorrow we will sail’ Susan Post Proclamation: A big ‘thank you’ to John S, John H, Sarah, Jane, and Steve who kindly helped with the set up in the morning. Building the castle did take slightly longer than anticipated. And in particular, to ‘my old sea dog’ who very patiently, sometimes not quite so, helped me place 258 colour coded stickers, in the correct order, onto 86 individually printed ration cards; perhaps not to be repeated! Finally, the blue check tablecloths and tea light holders used in the village square, were pillaged by PSYC. If any rally leaders would like to borrow them for forthcoming rally activities, then please let me know. Club Christmas gathering Sparkles and Christmas Jumpers in abundance! December’s ‘First Friday’ kicked off the festive season with a very acceptable array of Christmas jumpers, a good display of sparkle, a grinch and some impish elves to boot. Everyone seemed to be in fine fettle although Santa Claus was sadly missing on this occasion – clearly a little early in the month for him. Attendance had to be limited to 50 members; we were at full capacity throughout. The upstairs bar was opened for us, seasonal nibbles provided, and a general sense of bonhomie prevailed. |
power wishing to invade the shores of England, would be best placed to do so in the early hours of the morning of the 22nd of October when many of that nation’s naval officers would be retiring to their bed after a good Trafalgar Night Dinner, replete with tasty food, wine and port.
Luckily, our President (Dave Fortey), Vice President (Susan Scott) and ‘speaking’ Table Captains (Heaton, Jump, Selley, Scott, and Bowie had planned for such an eventuality and Command HQ was set up at No 51 Bryher to ‘rehearse’ the evening’s operation. Doug Latta and Roy Clarke were called upon to back up the plan. Unfortunately, Ian Bourne was always ‘adrift’ but more than made up for it on the night! 
by the club’s only serving RN officer, Surgeon Commander Alan Bowie, resplendent in his mess undress and wearing miniature medals as, it should be noted, were some other crew members.