The Tuesday dawned cloudless and very hot, with a gentle breeze for the planned "raid" to Gweek. Diana and her friend, Julia, expertly sailed "Flat Sea", our 10' Anarth Lugger, up to Gweek, while David took various passengers in the rubber dinghy, with outboard. We enjoyed a quick look around the boatyard and some coffee, and acquired pasties for lunch. Two up in the Anarth proved too much to win the rowing race from Tremayne Quay to Groyne Point, on the return tide. A further impromptu picnic at Penbilly beach was enjoyed in the evening.
The race took place on Wednesday and, once the start had been located, we
enjoyed just enough wind. With Diana helming and only one crew, we completed the course in a timely fashion, conceding to "Roxanne" but only just!
The Helford River SC was our venue for the prize giving. This was Don Garman's last Helford Rally, as he was to be stepping down from his role as Cornwall representative. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend, as he and several others had, or were contracting, Covid. Despite this, the rest of us enjoyed an excellent dinner and eight of us repaired aboard "Arianna", where a fine selection of rums were sampled into the early hours.
The following day, after some fettling aboard, David drove back to Somerset, to review the new dog's progress.. Molly was much better for being at home but David developed Covid very suddenly in the early hours. For the first and, hopefully, only time, it was almost certainly the Omicrom variant and he was fully recovered by the following weekend, ready to return, with Julie, to "Susan J", in preparation for the Plymouth Rally on Monday.
The weather remained kind and, after a pleasant sail in company with " Picottee", we anchored in Cawsands not far from "Passager" a 35' gaff cutter belonging to Janet and Mike G. We had a pint a shore and a good night's sleep.
As always we came alongside at QAB marina, with plenty of helping with lines throughout the afternoon. By tea time, various refreshments, including Rawlins cider were being enjoyed on the pontoon. Penny Jolly had produced a lovely birthday cake and sparkling wine as it turned out she was a much older gaffer than many of us!
Fiona arrived by train, just in time for a drink and to introduce us to Phillipe, from Bourg St Maurice, for the first time. Phillipe's English, was excellent and he seemed to enjoy the somewhat unusual setting for a "meet the parents", as much as we did!
(At the time of writing, in January, they have returned to the Alps, Fiona with her cat and a visa for the whole of 2023, they are just waiting for some snow!)
We repaired to Chandlers, now called the Waypoint, Bistro for an enjoyable meal and good company, before a good night's sleep aboard.
The day of the race was another glorious one. Phillipe a very experienced skier, uphill as well as down, had sailed a little before and proved to be a competent helm. We managed a respectable third place on correction and retained the Tyrone Trophy.
The main meal at The Stable on the Barbican was preceded by the usual prize giving, including the Victory Block, which contains a piece of her copper sheathing, for "Susan J" having travelled the furthest to attend, 400 yards further than "Picottee"!
Wednesday's activities didn't happen, several boats needed to catch tides and it remained very hot and windless. As treasurer, we had to wait to settle the bills and to help Tim with "Picottee's engine. A replacement battery was averted, once the strange multiple 12 V switching was identified and connections improved! By the afternoon we decided to forego our third night and sail off to Cawsands, where it would be cooler and ready to start our leisurely cruise along the south coast.
No comments:
Post a Comment