Solent Branch
Latest Information
The Branch Committee has made plans for the following Events in 2025.
Event Coordinators are needed for most of these Rallies in 2025, all event booking has been organised by the Solent Events Secrerary but Coordinators are needed on the day for each rally, anyone prepared to become an event coordinator should email solentevents@moodyowners.org to find out what is required or contact any other Solent Commitee Member.
Circumstances at the time will dictate if events are able to proceed or will need to be cancelled.
Solent Branch 40th Anniversary Dinner and laying up supper - Saturday 8th of November 2025 from 7pm (meal served at 7:30pm)
We hope that you can join us for the MOA Solent branch 40th Anniversary Dinner and laying-up supper to be held at The Royal Air Force Yacht Club, Riverside House, Rope Walk, Hamble. SO31 4HD. Both members and visitors are most welcome for the evening. The menu is provided below, and the cost is £24.00 per person for two courses or £30.00 for three courses.
If you can join us, please let me know by email to solentvicecap@moodyowners.org with the names of those attending and their menu selections using the option codes below and any dietary requirements or allergies.
We need to order the food in advance and would also ask that you pre-pay the MOA Solent Branch for your meal. (Sort Code 40-19-22, Account Number 51583263) and annotate with your name and event. i.e., SMITH-LAYINGUPSUPPER.
The closing date for bookings is Sunday 2nd of November.
Starters
S1 – Roasted butternut squash and cumin soup with crusty bread and butter
S2 – Torched mackerel salad with pickled cucumber
S3 – Country style pate with sour dough toast
Mains
M1 – Beef Bourguignon with parsley mash and seasonal vegetables
M2 – Homemade salmon fishcakes with hollandaise with new potatoes and tenderstem broccoli
M3 – Butterbean, spinach, harissa and ricotta stew
Desserts
D1 – Chocolate tart with cherry compote and vanilla ice cream
D2 – Rhubarb and ginger cheesecake
D3 – Cheese, biscuits and chutney
David Baddeley, MOA Solent Branch Vice Captain
Welcome
Solent Members Forum
You can view the Solent Members Forum via the Forum Dropdown menu or by clicking the link in the box immediately below the Latest information area on the Solent Homepage. If you access the Solent Members Forum via the Information Exchange you may find you have the discussion tab highlighted – if so click the overview tab to view the full version of the information. You need to be logged on to the website to view the Solent Members Forum in the same way as you need to be logged on to access the Technical Library or to view entries on the Info Exchange. If you have forgotten your password or username please visit the Members tab on the Main Menu where you will find help.
We issue periodic email updates and a copy of each email can be viewed in the Solent Members Forum.
Informal Meets
Sometimes Solent Branch members will suggest an “Informal Meet” – a simple gathering!
The idea is that people will simply turn up at a particular location and be responsible for making their own anchoring or berthing and dining arrangements. The whole idea is based on informality and spontaneity.
If you spot an opportunity to propose an Informal Meet, why not take a chance and send a message via the Solent Branch Discussion Board. Alternatively, if you are already afloat you could try using your VHF radio or its DSC function to broiadcast a message.
The Solent Branch uses VHF Channel 77 and has adopted a group call sign of Compass. Our group DSC MMSI number is 023200031.
If you do enjoy a successful meet please send a short report with photos (if you have any) to our team of website updaters to help encourage other Branch members to participate.
The Dixon Series
For members attending Solent Branch events we do want to encourage participation in the Dixon Series. The intention of this email is to provide an overview for members who aren’t familiar with the series.
The ‘Dixon Series’ is a set of time trials over a short ‘Planned Passage’ linked to Solent events throughout the sailing season, typically 7 or 8 depending on the number of rallies. Each planned passage has a defined starting gate and finishing gate (between two buoys), with a few passing marks between.
Who can take part? All MOA Solent members.
Do boats have to pre-register? No.
The passage can be undertaken en-route to or returning from the linked event. Each yacht can start their passage at any time (not a fleet start) by recording the time they pass through the starting irgate and then again as they pass through finishing gate, then calculating the ‘elapsed time’. These timings then need to be sent by email to our Race Officer at solentrace@moodyowners.org within 2 weeks of the event. Include name of skipper, yacht name and model. Also confirm use of white sails only or additionally coloured sails.
Does each boat have to take part in every Planned Passage? – No, yachts may take part in as many, or as few of the Planned Passages as they wish throughout the season.
There is an award made to the yacht for the best time (corrected on handicap) for each Planned Passage. Points are awarded according to place achieved for each passage and at the end of the season these points are totalled up and the yacht achieving the best overall score is awarded the ‘Dixon Trophy’,
Traditionally the prize-giving for the Dixon Series is part of our Laying-up Supper.
More information and the full rules can be found by clicking HERE