Four WPCA boats attended an impromptu overnight cruise to Studland Bay on the first day of Autumn, 1 September. They were, Stella - Paul and Margaret Roberts, Minnehaha – Patrick and Jacky Crawley, Wyruma – Alun and Liz Harfoot and Jim Long in Adelaide. The northerly wind gave a bit of a chop at our destination, Studland Bay, but otherwise it is a very good anchorage as long as the wind isn’t too fierce from the north and east. We had glimpses of aircraft from the Bournemouth Air Festival, and later, fireworks lit up the Bournemouth sky.

The Bankes Arms beckoned us for a meal out. In the car park the spectacle of a dog in a motorcycle sidecar that gave a few amusing comments. When it got dark there was the usual problems of identifying our boats in the gloom for the return back, but at least during the night the rolling boats settled down. By morning the sun rose from the east that promised a good day for our return to Weymouth. From Swanage Bay to St Alban’s Head the north wind accelerated down from the Purbeck Hills giving Adelaide a fast sail touching 8.5 knots over the ground with a record travel time of 4 hours 50 minutes back to Weymouth! Two of the boats stopped off at Worbarrow for lunch to take advantage of a lovely day.