READING SAILING CLUB OFF SHORE 1977 to 1986 Contributed by Bill Davis.

Nine weekly trips took place during the period above.  Interest in going off shore was started by my asking around the club members as to whom would like to join me if I hired the boat. We managed to fill twelve berths on every trip at a cost of £90 per head approx. Most of the people who were interested and took part came from the "SOLO" fleet.

All trips started on a Saturday at Poole, departing late afternoon, usually heading out across the channel at night.

Over the years we visited Le Havre, Honfleur, Cherbourge, Omoville, St. Malo, and all the channel islands.  On the way back on different occasions we visited Fowey, Plymouth, Falmouth, Hope Cove, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Swanage, and all round the Solent ports.

The passage taken on each trip depended of course on weather and tides, returning to Poole on the following Saturday morning.

We all took turns to cook. Nearly every meal was like a party. We enjoyed one meal out in the week. A terrific amount of food was consumed including cakes and tarts provided by the "stay at home" wives. The food was bought in advance and need a van to transport it all.

BOAT  RIVAL STAR.  42' x 12'3" beam. 50' Mast, GRP, 6' Draft, Main - slab reefing, Nos.1 & 2 Genoas, Jibs, Storm Jib,112 sq.ft. Spinnaker, 12 separate berths, 3 cabins, 2 heads, radio communication, dead reckoning navigation - no GPS then!

  CREW   Bill Davis - Skipper*, Maggie Davis - Mate!, George Finney - Navigator, Brian Frost*, Bill Loy*, Ken Turner*, Brian Deppe*, Graham Rich*, Stuart Wells*, Colin Garnham*,  Mike Walsh*, Harry Lewis*, Harold Burton*, Jeff Pullen, Joe Cisneros, Neil Wood, Brian Higgins, Joe Mathews.

*SOLO fleet sailors.

 The last picture was taken at the club. (black & white)

Other pictures from Bill -  ICE AT RSC LAKE click.