Solent Branch
Latest Information
The Branch Committee has made plans for the following Events in 2026.
Event Coordinators are needed for most of these Rallies in 2026, 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.
MOA Rally to Island Harbour Marina, Friday 22nd – Monday 25th May 2026
Plan for the Weekend
We have 12 berths pre-booked at the marina. Please email us at solentcaptain@moodyowners.org for a booking form and we will then advise the Marina of the boats registered. On arrival at the Marina, each skipper is to pay their marina fees directly to the office and also advise them on your anticipated departure day & time so that a locking time can be booked.
The Marina lock operating times are 0800 until 2100 daily. Opening times are roughly 3 hours 30 minutes before to 3 hours after HW based on 5’ (1.52mt) Draft. See the Island Harbour Marina website for other drafts https://www.island-harbour.co.uk/
Daily Schedule:-
Friday 22nd May
Arrival Day
HW – 1721 BST Cowes
Saturday 23rd May
Late Arrivals
HW – 1827
There are several options for walks from Island Harbour Marina such as Osbourne House, Newport, Cowes (via east Cowes and Chain Ferry) or across to Wooton Bridge / Fishbourne.
If you are in Newport, I can recommend the terrace café at the Quay Arts centre for a light lunch stop.
From 6pm onwards we have arranged an evening BBQ & Drinks at the marina. We will provide the BBQ Charcoal, Wine and snacks. Please bring your own food, cutlery, plates, and cooking utensils plus any additional drinks. Seating is limited so you may wish to bring your own camp chairs.
Sunday 24th May
Day Ashore
HW – 0639 & 1934
Why not join in the annual Moody Owners Association Boules competition. We will be on the lawn behind ‘The Spice Bus’ at 2pm.
We will arrange dinner at the Cockle Restaurant in the marina for 4:00pm. We will pre-order the meal. The menu selection is on the booking form.
Monday 25th May
Departure day – Please advise Marina Office your anticipated departure time after you arrive.
HW – 0748
Booking forms and restaurant meal pre-orders to be sent to David by Saturday 16th of May.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at solentcaptain@moodyowners.org
David & Fiona Baddeley – Rally Organisers
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