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Kraken

From: Dublin Bay

Registered: 2011-02-24

Posts: 333

Royal Harwich Yacht Club Rally 2010

The rally took place on Saturday, 11th September 2010 and was attended by four boats: Volante, Redwing, Margo and Linnhe. It was organised by Anne Grubb, who is both our Chairman and East Coast Regional Organiser. Anne came by road, as did John and Wann Sadler of Maria Frances, Peter and Jenny Cosker of Jenter, Arnold Robinson of Shikara and Glenys Hunt to join Redwing. We were also pleased to welcome guests, David and Judith of Frith. This made for quite a gathering at the pre-dinner party and for the dinner itself at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club.

Redwing, Volante and Margo in adjacent berths at the Royal Harwich Y.C.

Strong wind warnings, the biggest tides of the year and difficult departure times, meant that this was not going to be an easy rally to attend and the crews of the four boats that did arrive are to be congratulated.
   
In fact, by the end of the afternoon the threat of rain and showers had passed away and all was calmness and light. This can be seen in the photograph, on the left, of Volante.

Volante acting as the host boat for the pre-dinner party

Peter Allen had offered Volante to be the host boat and members can be seen gathering initially in the cockpit. Later the party would spill onto the decks and the finger pontoon as well.

Peter and his crew, John, had been sailing in the area for some days and would continue to do so after the rally, before returning to their home mooring at Benfleet Yacht Club.

Martin Hunt had sailed alone on his Frances 26, Redwing, from Creeksea in the River Crouch taking the afternoon ebb tide out of the Crouch on Friday and anchoring overnight. He said he had encountered some lively conditions.

Chas Argent must have had similar conditions aboard his Frances 26, Margo, while sailing from Maldon on the River Blackwater.

Stern and cockpit of Redwing

Jenny, David, Judith and John in Volante's cockpit

Arnold with Peter in the companionway

John Sadler

Martin and Glenys

Martin Hunt

Chas Argent

Glenys and Wann

Linnhe does not feature in any of the photographs because she had not arrived when we went up to the yacht club for our meal.

Nick Morrell and Stephen Roche had not been able to sail Linnhe out of the River Ore until almost high water. Not only did this make for a late start but meant that soon after they were faced with a very strong foul tide once the ebb started to flow.

Nick was in touch with Anne Grubb on his mobile telephone and we knew he was getting close but it still took a long time to come up the River Orwell from Harwich.

Eventually he was spotted. He and Stephen arrived in time to join us for a fine dinner in the Royal Harwich Yacht Club.

Jenny, Arnold and Judith

David, Stephen, Nick, Anne and John

Chris, Glenys, Peter, John, Jenny and Arnold