Coordinators: Val and Geoff Lucas

Although the rally did not officially start until Saturday six boats arrived on Friday. We had pre-dinner drinks on Imogen & those who had not brought any supper with them repaired to The Wheatsheaf for a meal. We were joined later by the other crews for pudding & a drink.

Unfortunately, Hayles Boatyard  was unable to accommodate all the boats who wanted to attend, so the remainder berthed in Yarmouth Harbour. By lunchtime Saturday all the boats had arrived and we adjourned to the green for eliminator rounds of boules. Everyone enthusiastically joined Richard Beeson’s rope throwing competition. This was designed to help both crew & skipper to throw a rope correctly & especially to give the ladies confidence. Boats competed against each other with the crew first throwing the rope to reach a marked out imaginary pontoon (this had to be repeated until achieved) & then the skipper had to do the same.

Laurence Gandar was time keeper & the clear winner was Gannet. A lot of fun was had doing this and also in playing boules. (It was noted that there are some very competitive people!!!) The winner of the boules was Black Morwenna, whose crew insist that they have never played boules before.

There was just time for a quick cup of tea before changing for the Pontoon Party, which inevitably sunk the pontoon alongside Moon Shadow, the host. Seven o’clock saw us walking round to the Royal Solent Yacht Club for dinner. The Commodore of RSYC just happens to be a Moody owner so Tony & his wife Jane joined the rally without having to move their boat! We had a lovely meal with fantastic views over the Solent and watched the sun go down.

Sunday morning we walked via Golden Hill Fort to the Red Lion at Freshwater for a pub lunch and back to Yarmouth along the River Yar. It had been planned to have a BBQ Sunday evening however the forecast for Monday was awful. Those who were still there chose to abandon the BBQ electing to catch the late afternoon tide by which time it had started raining.