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.
Southampton Town Quay Rally Friday 2 May – Monday 5 May 2025
The first rally of 2025 will be held at Southampton Town Quay from Friday 2 May – Monday 5 May 2025.
The hosts for this event are Antony and Sarah Joint (Zingara of Largs)
The rally will be an informal event with a pontoon drinks party on Saturday 3 May and an afternoon cream tea pontoon party on Sunday 4 May 2025.
Please note we have not planned an evening meal get together for this rally so we would encourage members to make their own arrangements.
On Sunday morning for those who are interested we plan to make a visit to the Southampton Sea City Museum, a 30 minute walk or a 12 minute bus ride away.
Please complete the attached BOOKING FORM if you would like to attend this rally indicating the number of nights you require a berth and if you would like to visit the museum.
There will also be a Dixon Series Timed Passage, details of which can be found HERE
Buckler’s Hard Rally - Friday 23rd May to Monday 26th May 2025
Over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend we shall be holding a rally at Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River. Andy and Karen Billowes (Safina) will be co-ordinating the event.
15 berths have been booked on the visitor pontoon at the Buckler’s Hard. Yachts can arrive either on the Friday or Saturday. We shall have a social and barbeque at the marina on Saturday evening. On Sunday we shall have lunch at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club that is located at Gins near to St Leonards Grange. A 2mile walk or 1.4nm by tender. The rally will finish on Monday morning.
Local attractions include the Buckler’s Hard Museum, Beaulieu village is a pretty 2mile walk away and a further mile will take you to the National Motor Museum that includes Beaulieu House and grounds.
There will also be a Dixon Series timed Passage that can be sailed either on the way to the rally or when sailing home, see the Calendar section above to download the sailing instructions.
Please complete the attached BOOKING FORM if you would like to attend this rally and send it to Andy Billowes using the email address on the form.
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