Royal Thames Families' Picnic at Hurst Castle — 10 August '08

10 August, 10:45 – 20:46

We have a wonderful clubhouse, we have a rich and varied programme of events that aims to cover all aspects of our members' wide and varied interests, and indeed locations - but maybe the one thing we do not do enough is just... chill out, relax and not do anything. That's the point behind our Families' Picnic, to be held on Sunday, 10th August - right at the end of Skandia Cowes Week.

Please click here for a detailed programme of the day.

We shall that day have exclusive use, including our own Royal Thames entrance, of the entire East wing of the castle. The Castle itself will be open to the public but your RTYC Family Picnic entrance tickets will give you access both to our own private area and the public area.

Come by RIB, cruising yacht, day boat - or by car and travel to Hurst Castle in our own private ferry.

 As well as games of boules, garden darts - we might even try a bit of kite-flying - and just plain relaxing, we shall have our own BBQ range lit and running where, under the guidance of a chef, you can either cook your own food or have it cooked for you. Or you can simply bring your own cold picnic: sarnies and soda or a Fortnum's hamper - whichever suits your mood and taste. Wines and other drinks are likewise BYO.  As well as the grass games for folk to play or ignore as they chose the CSO has put together intriguing Treasure Hunts for over- and under 12 (years of age) that will require you to explore the Castle thoroughly. But be warned. Participation in the Under 12 Quiz and Treasure Hunt will be strictly limited to those who are, truly, under 12. 

The tides are LW Portsmouth 1131, HW 1821 BST so the stream serves nicely for going down the West Solent on the morning ebb, back on the afternoon flood.  In The Solent low water in the middle of the day means the tides are at or around Neaps. Height of LW Hurst is 1.6m, HW 2.6m which means that there will not be much mud but there won't be much water either.  There will not be much room for larger yachts to anchor inside in Keyhaven Lake but the weaker Neap streams will make anchoring outside less tricky. The best place to bring up is at the north end of the eastern arm of Hurst Spit, opposite the conspicuous little wooden tower which is in fact the starting hut for the local sailing clubs. We have chartered one of the smaller Hurst Ferries to take us back and forth to the Hurst Castle landing in the Camber (the inner lake - above) as well as do the occasional run up to the very pretty little quay at Keyhaven.  Those arriving by car should park in the NFDC pay-and-display car park and either take the regular ferry down (return fare £4.50 for adults) from the jetty by the quay or call for the Royal Thames Special.  There may be a longer wait, however, as the primary task for our ferry will be to tend the yachts.

If you are planning on arriving by RIB or small boat or dinghy, please remember that the landing jetty at Hurst Castle itself is private property and strictly for the use only of Hurst Ferries' boats. If not anchoring and using the ferry, plan to bring up elsewhere on the beach, inside or out.

To download the booking form please click here

If you do not already know this lovely spot (or if, outbound for the fleshpots of France, you have often promised yourself a visit but never yet got around to it) take a moment to look here:

http://www.hurst-castle.co.uk/

http://www.explorethenewforest.co.uk/Towns/Milford.htm

http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/hampshire/keyhaven/

and for those who put their faith in Wikipedia: don't forget your passport...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_Haven